Carolina Panthers Schedule 2026: Printable PDF, Times, TV Channels
The Carolina Panthers schedule 2026 opens at home on Sunday, September 13 against the Chicago Bears at 1:00 PM ET on FOX. Carolina defends an NFC South title with nine home games, eight road games and the earliest bye week in the league.
Preseason is over. The Panthers finished 3-1 after beating Houston 16-13 on August 28.
Below: every date, kickoff time and TV channel, the players ruled out for the opening month, and two free printables sized for US Letter paper.
Jump to: Full Schedule | Preseason Results | TV Schedule | Printable PDF | Wall Calendar | Bye Week | Who Is Out
Carolina Panthers Schedule 2026 Quick Facts
| Season and home opener | Sun, Sep 13 vs Chicago Bears, 1:00 PM ET (FOX) |
| Season span | September 13, 2026 to January 2027 |
| Stadium | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC (75,037 seats) |
| Head coach | Dave Canales (3rd season) |
| Coordinators | Brad Idzik (offense), Ejiro Evero (defense) |
| Quarterbacks | Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett, Haynes King |
| 2026 captains | Bryce Young, Chuba Hubbard, Derrick Brown, Devin Lloyd, JJ Jansen |
| Division | NFC South (defending champions) |
| Home / road games | 9 / 8, all nine home dates in Charlotte |
| Bye week | Week 5, weekend of October 10 and 11, earliest in the league |
| Prime time games | 3 (Weeks 4, 8 and 12) |
| Networks | FOX 8, CBS 4, NBC 1, ESPN 1, Prime Video 1, Weeks 16 and 18 TBD |
| Radio | WRFX 99.7 FM, Panthers Radio Network |
| 2026 preseason | 3-1, including a 33-30 Hall of Fame Game win over Arizona |
| 2025 season | 8-9, won the NFC South, lost 34-31 at home to the Rams in the Wild Card round |
Carolina Panthers Schedule 2026: Every Week, Time and Channel
“vs” means home, “at” means road. All times are Eastern, which is local time in Charlotte.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | vs Chicago Bears | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | at Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 27 | at Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | vs Detroit Lions | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 5 | BYE WEEK | |||
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | at Philadelphia Eagles | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 8 | Thu, Oct 29 | at Green Bay Packers | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | vs Denver Broncos | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | at New Orleans Saints | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | vs Baltimore Ravens | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 12 | Mon, Nov 30 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | at Minnesota Vikings | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | vs New Orleans Saints | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | vs Cincinnati Bengals | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 16 | TBD | at Pittsburgh Steelers | TBD | TBD |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | vs Seattle Seahawks | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 18 | TBD | vs Atlanta Falcons | TBD | TBD |
Three notes on that table.
- Nothing has moved since the May release. Every date, time and network still matches what the league published, confirmed against panthers.com and nfl.com on September 6.
- Week 16 at Pittsburgh is one of four undesignated games. It can land Thursday December 24, Saturday December 26 on NFL Network, Sunday December 27 or Monday December 28. The league decides no later than immediately after Week 14.
- Week 18 falls on January 9 or 10, 2027. All 16 finales are division games and the league sets the slots only after Week 17 ends.
Flex scheduling can still move Sunday afternoon games. Sunday night can claim one twice in Weeks 5 to 10 and any week from 11 to 17. Monday night applies in Weeks 12 to 17, Thursday night twice in Weeks 13 to 17. The Week 4 game against Detroit sits outside every window, so it is locked. The Week 12 Monday nighter at Tampa Bay is inside one.
The Atlanta Falcons bookend the season, away in Week 2 and home in the finale. Chicago arrives in Week 1 as reigning NFC North champion, so the opener is heavier than a 1:00 PM slot suggests.
Also Check: NFL TV Schedule Today
Panthers Preseason Results 2026
Carolina played four exhibitions instead of three because it drew the Hall of Fame Game. Final record: 3-1.
| Game | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOF | Thu, Aug 6 | vs Arizona Cardinals (Canton) | W 33-30 |
| 1 | Sat, Aug 15 | at Buffalo Bills | L 14-29 |
| 2 | Fri, Aug 21 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | W 34-17 |
| 3 | Fri, Aug 28 | vs Houston Texans | W 16-13 |
The Canton trip was not a coincidence. Luke Kuechly was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 8, and the Hall paired Carolina with Arizona because Kuechly and Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr. both spent their entire careers with the team that drafted them. Kuechly is the third Panther in Canton after Sam Mills and Julius Peppers, and the first to play his whole career in Carolina.
Undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King won the Hall of Fame Game with a five yard run as time expired. He made the 53 man roster as QB3 behind Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett.
What Channel Are Panthers Games On in 2026?
Twelve of the 15 assigned games are on FOX or CBS, so a digital antenna covers most of the season in the Carolinas at no cost.
| Network | Games | Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| FOX | 8 | 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 11, 15, 17 |
| CBS | 4 | 6, 9, 13, 14 |
| NBC | 1 | 4 |
| ESPN | 1 | 12 |
| Prime Video | 1 | 8 |
| TBD | 2 | 16, 18 |
- Three prime time games, one at home. Detroit visits on Sunday Night Football in Week 4. Carolina travels for Thursday Night Football at Green Bay in Week 8 and Monday Night Football at Tampa Bay in Week 12.
- Spanish language calls on both national windows. Universo simulcasts Week 4, ESPN Deportes carries Week 12.
- One streaming exclusive. Week 8 at Green Bay needs Prime Video, not cable.
WRFX 99.7 FM in Charlotte is the Panthers Radio Network flagship, with Anish Shroff on play by play. Out of market viewers can add Sunday afternoon games through NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube.
Panthers Kickoff Times by Time Zone
Carolina uses only four kickoff slots all season.
| Eastern (Charlotte) | Central | Mountain | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| 4:25 PM | 3:25 PM | 2:25 PM | 1:25 PM |
| 8:15 PM | 7:15 PM | 6:15 PM | 5:15 PM |
| 8:20 PM | 7:20 PM | 6:20 PM | 5:20 PM |
Only three road trips leave the Eastern zone, all to Central cities: Green Bay in Week 8, New Orleans in Week 10 and Minnesota in Week 13. There is no Mountain or Pacific game on the schedule.
One clock change. Daylight saving ends Sunday, November 1, 2026, a weekend Carolina is not playing. Week 8 at Lambeau Field is the last game on daylight time. Everything from Week 9 onward is Eastern Standard Time. Readers in Arizona should subtract three hours from Eastern until November 1, since the state does not change its clocks.
Free Printable Carolina Panthers Schedule 2026 (PDF)
The Carolina Panthers schedule 2026 on one page. All four preseason games plus every regular season week, with dates, opponents, kickoff times and TV channels. Home games print in bold and each row has a blank box for the score.
The facts strip carries the home and road split, the Week 5 bye, the stadium and the head coach. US Letter, 8.5 by 11 inches. Free, no email required.
Want every team on one page? Get the full 2026 NFL schedule with all 32 teams, week by week.
Panthers 2026 Wall Calendar Printable (PDF)
A month grid suits a fridge door better than a list. This version runs August 2026 through January 2027. Home dates fill in black, road trips are outlined in Panther blue, and each square carries the opponent and kickoff time.
October is the page worth pinning. Detroit on Sunday night on the 4th, the bye weekend of the 10th and 11th sitting empty, then three games in 12 days.
Printing tip: choose “Actual size” or “100%” instead of “Fit to page” so the small type stays sharp.
Panthers Bye Week 2026: Earliest in the League
Week 5, the weekend of October 10 and 11. Carolina and Kansas City are the only clubs off that early. No team rests before them.
That means four games, one week off, then 13 straight game weeks into January. The Week 8 Thursday game at Green Bay is the only short week in the run, and it comes with ten days of recovery afterward. Compare all 32 clubs on our NFL bye weeks page.
Who Is Out to Start the 2026 Season
Carolina opens the year without five contributors. Three sit on reserve lists that require them to miss at least the first four games, which means the earliest any can return is Week 6 at Philadelphia.
| Player | Position | Status | Earliest return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nic Scourton | Edge | Injured reserve, torn ACL | Out for the season |
| Chris Brazzell II | WR | Injured reserve, knee | Out for the season |
| Ikem Ekwonu | OT | Reserve/PUP, patellar tendon | Week 6 |
| Taylor Moton | OT | Reserve/NFI | Week 6 |
| Tershawn Wharton | DT | Reserve/PUP | Week 6 |
Losing both starting tackles reshaped the line. Rasheed Walker, signed from Green Bay in March, takes over at left tackle. First round rookie Monroe Freeling starts at right tackle, the only rookie in the opening lineup. Patrick Jones II starts opposite Jaelan Phillips with Scourton out.
The club files its first official injury report on Wednesday, September 9. Designations for the opener will not be final until Friday.
Panthers 2026 Roster and Coaching Staff
- Dave Canales enters his third season as head coach. Brad Idzik runs the offense, Ejiro Evero the defense. No staff changes since the offseason.
- Bryce Young starts in year four of his rookie deal. Carolina exercised the fifth year option in April, so it covers 2027 and this is not a contract year. Kenny Pickett is QB2.
- Five captains were elected on September 3: Young, Chuba Hubbard, Derrick Brown, Devin Lloyd and long snapper JJ Jansen.
- The defense got the money. Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips signed for four years and $120 million, linebacker Devin Lloyd for three years and $45 million. Bobby Okereke joined on a one year deal in late August to start beside Lloyd.
- Tight end Darren Waller signed to the active roster on August 17. Receiver Tetairoa McMillan enters year two after winning 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
- Cutdown day cost the Panthers two players to waivers. The Jets claimed linebacker Trevin Wallace, a 2024 third rounder, and the Vikings took centre Nick Samac.
Bank of America Stadium and Tickets
Bank of America Stadium opened in uptown Charlotte in 1996 and lists 75,037 seats. A phased renovation is under way. Interior work runs through 2026, fan facing construction begins in 2027, and the project finishes in 2030. Total investment passed $1.3 billion in July after the ownership group funded the full scope, with the city’s share fixed at $650 million. No home game is displaced.
Tickets run through the official Panthers ticket page, which routes to Ticketmaster for season seats, single games and verified resale. Most season ticket locations require a Permanent Seat Licence. Detroit on Sunday night and the Atlanta finale price highest. The Chicago opener and the Cincinnati date on December 20 are usually the cheapest way in.
Carolina Panthers Schedule 2026 FAQ
When do the Panthers play their first game in 2026?
Sunday, September 13, 2026 at home against the Chicago Bears, 1:00 PM ET on FOX at Bank of America Stadium. It is both the season opener and the home opener. Chicago arrives as the reigning NFC North champion after an 11-6 season.
What channel are Carolina Panthers games on in 2026?
FOX carries eight games and CBS has four. NBC has the Week 4 Sunday night game against Detroit, Prime Video has the Week 8 Thursday game at Green Bay, and ESPN has the Week 12 Monday night game at Tampa Bay. Weeks 16 and 18 have no network yet. Universo simulcasts Week 4 in Spanish and ESPN Deportes carries Week 12.
When is the Panthers bye week in 2026?
Week 5, the weekend of October 10 and 11, 2026. Carolina and Kansas City share the earliest bye in the league and no club rests before them. The Panthers then play 13 straight game weeks to finish the season.
Where can I get a free printable Carolina Panthers schedule 2026?
Use the download buttons above. The printable is a one page US Letter PDF with all four preseason games and every regular season week, including dates, kickoff times and TV channels, with home games in bold and a blank box for each score. A wall calendar version covers August 2026 through January 2027. Both are free with no sign up or email.
Who is out for the Panthers to start the 2026 season?
Edge rusher Nic Scourton and receiver Chris Brazzell II are on injured reserve for the season. Tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton are on reserve lists that keep them out for at least the first four games, so Week 6 at Philadelphia is the earliest any can return. Rasheed Walker starts at left tackle and rookie Monroe Freeling at right tackle.
When are the Panthers Week 16 and Week 18 games?
Neither is fixed. Week 16 at Pittsburgh is one of four undesignated games, so it can land Thursday December 24, Saturday December 26 on NFL Network, Sunday December 27 or Monday December 28. The league announces it no later than immediately after Week 14. Week 18 against Atlanta falls on January 9 or 10, 2027, and is set only after Week 17 ends.
How many Super Bowls have the Carolina Panthers won?
None. Carolina has reached the Super Bowl twice, losing Super Bowl XXXVIII to New England after the 2003 season and Super Bowl 50 to Denver after the 2015 season. The Panthers did win the NFC South in 2025, their first division title since 2015.
The Carolina Panthers schedule 2026 gives you nine home Sundays in Charlotte, the earliest bye in the league and a division title to defend against Atlanta on the final weekend. Save the printable PDF or the wall calendar above, and check back once the league dates Weeks 16 and 18.
Last Updated: September 5, 2026.
