Chicago Bears Schedule 2026: Printable PDF, Times, TV Channels
The Chicago Bears schedule 2026 begins at the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 PM ET on FOX. It is Caleb Williams against Bryce Young, the two quarterbacks linked by the 2023 trade that sent Carolina’s first overall pick to Chicago.
Chicago comes in as defending NFC North champion after an 11-6 season and a wild card win, and the year ends with two holidays: Thanksgiving at Detroit and Christmas Day against Green Bay on Netflix.
Below is every date, kickoff time and TV channel, the final preseason results, the Week 10 bye and two free printables sized for US Letter paper.
Jump to: Preseason Results | TV Schedule | Kickoff Times | Printable Schedule | Wall Calendar | Bye Week
Chicago Bears Schedule 2026 Quick Facts
| Season opener | Sun, Sep 13 at Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM ET (FOX) |
| Home opener | Sun, Sep 20 vs Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 PM ET (FOX) |
| Stadium | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL (about 61,500 for football) |
| Head coach | Ben Johnson (2nd season) |
| Coordinators | Press Taylor (offence), Dennis Allen (defence) |
| Quarterback | Caleb Williams (3rd season) |
| Home / road games | 9 / 8 |
| Bye week | Week 10, weekend of November 15 |
| Prime time games | 5 (Weeks 3, 7, 8, 9 and 15) |
| Networks | FOX 8, CBS 3, ABC/ESPN 1, ESPN 1, NBC 1, Prime Video 1, Netflix 1, TBD 1 |
| Holiday games | Thanksgiving at Detroit, Christmas Day vs Green Bay |
| International games | None |
| Radio | ESPN 1000 (WMVP-AM), Spanish on WVIV |
| 2026 preseason | 2-1 |
| 2025 season | 11-6, NFC North champions, lost in overtime in the divisional round |
Chicago Bears Schedule 2026: Every Date and TV Channel
Home games are marked “vs” and road games “at.” Times are Eastern, so subtract one hour for the Bears’ own Central clock.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | at Carolina Panthers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | vs Minnesota Vikings | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 3 | Mon, Sep 28 | vs Philadelphia Eagles | 8:15 PM | ABC/ESPN |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | vs New York Jets | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | at Green Bay Packers | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | at Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 7 | Thu, Oct 22 | vs New England Patriots | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 8 | Mon, Nov 2 | at Seattle Seahawks | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 10 | BYE WEEK | |||
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | vs New Orleans Saints | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 12 | Thu, Nov 26 | at Detroit Lions | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | at Miami Dolphins | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 15 | Sat, Dec 19 | at Buffalo Bills | 8:20 PM | CBS |
| 16 | Fri, Dec 25 | vs Green Bay Packers | 1:00 PM | Netflix |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | vs Detroit Lions | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 18 | Jan 9 or 10 | at Minnesota Vikings | TBD | TBD |
Nothing on the Chicago Bears schedule 2026 has moved since the May release. One date is still open: Week 18 at the Minnesota Vikings falls on Saturday, January 9 or Sunday, January 10, 2027, and the league sets it once Week 17 ends.
The season is front loaded at home. Five of the first nine games are at Soldier Field, then Weeks 12 to 15 bring three road trips in four weeks. The last four weeks are all NFC North apart from the Saturday night trip to Buffalo.
Also Check: NFL TV Schedule Today
Bears Preseason Results 2026
Chicago finished the 2026 NFL preseason at 2-1. None of the three games counts toward the regular season record.
| Game | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, Aug 15 | vs Cleveland Browns | W 34-10 |
| 2 | Sat, Aug 22 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 9-27 |
| 3 | Sat, Aug 29 | at Tennessee Titans | W 24-15 |
Two things carried over. Rookie receiver Zavion Thomas, a third round pick from LSU, caught a 97 yard touchdown on the offence’s first snap in Tennessee and finished with 140 yards on five catches. Tyson Bagent settled the backup quarterback job with three touchdowns and a 119.3 rating across the three games, leaving Case Keenum third.
What Channel is the Bears Game On? TV Schedule
FOX carries almost half the season, which is normal for an NFC club. Six other broadcasters split the remaining nine games.
| Network | Games | Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| FOX | 8 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 17 |
| CBS | 3 | 12, 14, 15 |
| ABC/ESPN | 1 | 3 |
| ESPN | 1 | 8 |
| NBC | 1 | 9 |
| Prime Video | 1 | 7 |
| Netflix | 1 | 16 |
| TBD | 1 | 18 |
- Thirteen of the 17 games are free over the air. FOX, CBS, NBC and ABC cover everything except Week 7 on Prime Video, Week 8 on ESPN and Week 16 on Netflix. An antenna in the Chicago market handles the rest at no cost.
- Week 8 is ESPN only. The Monday night trip to Seattle does not get the ABC simulcast that the Week 3 game against Philadelphia does. The Thursday night home game in Week 7 does carry a free local simulcast in both markets.
- Five games cannot move. Weeks 7, 8, 12, 15 and 16 are exempt from flexible scheduling. Everything else from Week 5 on can change network or time, and Weeks 12 to 17 can change date, so treat the Sunday afternoon slots as provisional until game week.
ESPN 1000 (WMVP-AM) is the flagship radio home with Spanish coverage on WVIV. Out of market fans can pick up the Sunday afternoon FOX and CBS games through NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube.
Bears Kickoff Times in Every Time Zone
Four kickoff windows cover the whole season. Central is the Chicago column.
| Eastern | Central (Chicago) | 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 |
Nine of the 17 games kick at noon Chicago time. Travel is the harder part: only two of the eight road trips stay in the Central zone, at Green Bay in Week 5 and at Minnesota in Week 18. Carolina, Atlanta, Detroit, Miami and Buffalo are Eastern, and Seattle in Week 8 is the lone Pacific trip. Daylight saving ends on Sunday, November 1, so every game from the Seattle trip onward is on standard time.
Free Printable Chicago Bears Schedule 2026 (PDF)
The full Chicago Bears schedule 2026 on one page: three preseason games and all 18 regular season weeks with dates, opponents, kickoff times and TV channels. Home games print in bold so the nine Soldier Field dates stand out, and every row leaves a blank box for the score.
The strip across the top carries the 9 and 8 home and road split, the Week 10 bye, Soldier Field and Ben Johnson. Sized for US Letter paper at 8.5 by 11 inches, free, with no sign up or email required.
Want every club on one page? Get the full 2026 NFL schedule with all 32 teams, week by week.
Bears 2026 Wall Calendar Printable (PDF)
Prefer month grids? This version runs August 2026 through January 2027. Soldier Field dates are filled in Bears navy, road dates are outlined in orange, preseason squares are tagged PRE, and each square carries the opponent and kickoff time.
December is the month to pin up. Four squares fill it, three of them inside 13 days: Miami on the 13th, Saturday night in Buffalo on the 19th and Green Bay on Christmas Day. Also US Letter, also free.
Printing tip: pick “Actual size” or “100%” instead of “Fit to page” so the small type stays sharp.
Thanksgiving and Christmas in the Same Season
Chicago and Buffalo are the only two clubs playing on both holidays in 2026, and for the Bears each one is an NFC North game.
Thanksgiving comes first, at Ford Field on Thursday, November 26 against the Detroit Lions, 1:00 PM ET on CBS. The league moved the Thanksgiving opener off the old 12:30 slot, so this is a 1:00 PM start. It is also Ben Johnson’s return to the building where he ran the offence from 2022 to 2024.
Christmas Day is the bigger occasion. The Green Bay Packers visit Soldier Field on Friday, December 25 at 1:00 PM ET on Netflix, which carries two of the three Christmas games. The Bears will wear their new navy and orange Rivalries alternate uniform for it, unveiled in August with an orange helmet and a 1983 GSH patch.
Between the two sits the Saturday night trip to Buffalo on December 19, the first Bears game at the new Highmark Stadium. That is three non Sunday games inside 30 days.
What Changed Before Week 1
The schedule handed Chicago three reunions. Receiver DJ Moore was traded to Buffalo in March, and the Bears visit Buffalo in Week 15. Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. went to Atlanta on cutdown weekend for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth round pick, and the Bears play at Atlanta in Week 6. Ben Johnson goes back to Detroit on Thanksgiving.
The defence starts short handed. Safety Coby Bryant is on injured reserve after knee surgery in August with a four to six month timeline. Cornerback Kyler Gordon, linebacker Noah Sewell and defensive lineman Shemar Turner all opened on reserve or PUP, which means they miss at least the first four games and cannot return before Week 5 at Green Bay.
The offensive line got its anchor paid. Right tackle Darnell Wright signed a four year, 116 million dollar extension on August 4 that runs through 2031. Its 93 million dollars guaranteed is the most ever given to an offensive lineman.
Soldier Field and the Stadium Question
All nine home dates are at Soldier Field, where the Bears have played since 1971. The stadium opened in 1924, was rebuilt inside its original colonnades in 2003 and seats roughly 61,500 for football, among the smallest capacities in the league. The Chicago Park District owns it, not the club.
The team’s board voted in June 2026 to advance a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, and executives now describe northwest Indiana as their sole focus. No site has been finally selected, no land bought and no ground broken. Illinois has passed no stadium law, the Soldier Field lease runs to 2033, and the club has confirmed the Chicago Bears name stays whatever happens.
When is the Bears Bye Week in 2026?
Week 10, the weekend of November 15. Nine games come before the break and eight after it, so the season splits almost down the middle.
The timing works. The bye follows a five game run with two road trips and three prime time kickoffs, and it sets up the Thanksgiving short week. Chicago gets a full two weeks between the Sunday night game against Tampa Bay on November 8 and New Orleans at home on November 22. Compare every club on our NFL bye weeks page.
Bears 2026 Coaching Staff and Starters
- Ben Johnson is in his second season and still calls the plays. His first year produced an 11-6 record, the club’s first NFC North title since 2018 and a 31-27 wild card comeback against Green Bay, the first Bears playoff win in 15 years and their first over the Packers since 1941.
- Press Taylor is the new offensive coordinator, promoted after a season as pass game coordinator. Dennis Allen runs the defence for a second year and faces his former club, New Orleans, in Week 11. Richard Hightower is in a fifth season on special teams. Ryan Poles is in his fifth year as general manager.
- Caleb Williams opens his third season as the starter, holding the franchise single season passing record at 3,942 yards. Tyson Bagent is the backup. D’Andre Swift starts at running back behind a line of Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson and Darnell Wright.
- Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III lead the receivers, with Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland at tight end. Jaylon Johnson and rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, the 25th pick of the 2026 draft, headline the secondary.
How to Get Chicago Bears Tickets
Home tickets run through the official Bears ticket page, which sends single game sales to Ticketmaster. Verified resale is on StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats.
Three dates price highest: Christmas Day against Green Bay, the Monday night game against Philadelphia in Week 3 and the Week 17 finale against Detroit. The Week 13 game against Jacksonville is the value pick, a noon Sunday against a non conference opponent.
Chicago Bears Schedule 2026 FAQ
When do the Bears play their first game in 2026?
Sunday, September 13, 2026 at the Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM ET on FOX at Bank of America Stadium. The home opener is a week later, Sunday, September 20 against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, also 1:00 PM ET on FOX.
What channel are Chicago Bears games on in 2026?
FOX carries 8 games and CBS has 3. ABC and ESPN share the Week 3 Monday night game, ESPN has Week 8 alone, NBC has the Week 9 Sunday night game, Prime Video has Week 7 on Thursday and Netflix has Christmas Day in Week 16. Week 18 is still TBD. That is five prime time games in all, and 13 of the 17 are free over the air. ESPN 1000 is the flagship radio station.
When is the Bears bye week in 2026?
Week 10, the weekend of November 15. Chicago plays nine games before the break and eight after it. The bye sits between the Sunday night home game against Tampa Bay on November 8 and the home game against New Orleans on November 22, a full two weeks between kickoffs.
Do the Bears play on Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2026?
Yes, both. Chicago and Buffalo are the only two clubs playing on Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2026. The Bears are at the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26 at 1:00 PM ET on CBS, and host the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25 at 1:00 PM ET on Netflix. Both are NFC North games.
How did the Bears do in the 2026 preseason?
Chicago went 2-1. They beat Cleveland 34-10 at Soldier Field on August 15, lost 9-27 at Cincinnati on August 22 and beat Tennessee 24-15 on August 29. Preseason results do not count toward the regular season record.
Where can I get a free printable Chicago Bears schedule 2026?
Use the download buttons above. The printable is a one page US Letter PDF with all three preseason games and all 18 regular season weeks, including dates, kickoff times, TV channels and a blank box for each result. A wall calendar version covering August 2026 through January 2027 is also available. Both are free with no sign up or email required.
How many Super Bowls have the Chicago Bears won?
One. The Bears beat the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX in January 1986. The 2026 season marks 40 years since that title. Counting the pre Super Bowl era, Chicago has nine NFL championships in total, second only to Green Bay.
The Chicago Bears schedule 2026 asks a rising team to prove last season was real. Nine home dates, a bye in the middle, five prime time kickoffs and a December that runs through Buffalo, Green Bay on Christmas Day and Detroit in the finale. Bookmark this page for kickoff times and TV channels, and grab the free printable PDF above to keep the full slate in front of you.
Last Updated: September 6, 2026. Schedule, preseason results and roster checked against chicagobears.com and nfl.com.
