Monday Night Football Tonight: 2026 Schedule, Channel and Streaming Guide
Everything you need for Monday Night Football tonight is here: who plays, what time kickoff is, which channel carries the game and how to stream it without cable. The 2026 season brings 17 Monday night games on ESPN, with 10 of them also on ABC.
The Monday night schedule opens on September 14, 2026, when the Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:15 p.m. ET, and closes on January 4, 2027 with Texans at Packers.
Every game this season kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET, and there are no Monday doubleheaders, so one matchup carries the night.
What Channel is Monday Night Football Tonight?
ESPN is the home of Monday Night Football and carries every game in 2026. ESPN has said 10 of the 17 Monday games are simulcast on ABC, including seven in the first nine weeks. Nine ABC dates are already fixed on the released schedule and the final one is confirmed during the season. The other seven Mondays are ESPN exclusives.
- ESPN: all 17 Monday night games, plus Monday Night Countdown from 6 p.m. ET
- ABC: 10 simulcasts, so those weeks are free with an antenna
- ESPN2: the ManningCast with Peyton and Eli Manning, 12 games in its sixth season, starting in Week 1
- ESPN Deportes: Spanish language commentary for every ESPN and NFL Network game
One change from last season: there is no ESPN+ exclusive Monday game in 2026, and the old ESPN+ subscription is now called ESPN Select.
See the full ESPN NFL schedule or the NFL games on ABC list to check a specific week.
How to Watch Monday Night Football Tonight Without Cable
You do not need a cable box. Any service that carries the ESPN channel will show tonight’s game on a phone, tablet, smart TV or laptop.
- ESPN app (ESPN Unlimited), 29.99 dollars a month or 299.99 a year: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN on ABC and, since July 2026, NFL Network. No pay TV login needed and the cheapest way to get every Monday game.
- YouTube TV, 82.99 dollars a month: ESPN plus your local ABC station in almost every market.
- Hulu + Live TV, 89.99 dollars a month: ESPN and ABC, with Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited included.
- Fubo, 88.99 dollars a month on the main English language plans: full ESPN lineup with ABC in most markets.
- DirecTV, 89.99 dollars a month for Entertainment: ESPN, local ABC and ESPN Unlimited.
- Sling TV Orange, 45.99 dollars a month: carries ESPN, but no local channels. ABC sits on Sling Blue and only in eight markets, so Orange alone will miss the ABC simulcasts.
- Antenna: free over the air, but only for the 10 ABC simulcast weeks.
- NFL+, 6.99 dollars a month: live primetime games on phones and tablets only. It cannot be cast to a TV.
Watch the plan name when you sign up for ESPN. ESPN Select, the plan that replaced ESPN+ in August 2025, costs 12.99 dollars a month but carries only the old ESPN+ library, not the ESPN channel. It will not stream Monday Night Football live. ESPN Unlimited is the one you need.
2026 Monday Night Football Schedule
Here is the complete Monday night slate for the 2026 season, with week, date, matchup, kickoff time in Eastern Time and the network. All times are 8:15 p.m. ET.
| WEEK | DATE | MATCHUP | TIME (ET) | CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept 14 | Broncos at Chiefs | 8:15 PM | ESPN / ABC |
| 2 | Sept 21 | Giants at Rams | 8:15 PM | ESPN / ABC |
| 3 | Sept 28 | Eagles at Bears | 8:15 PM | ESPN / ABC |
| 4 | Oct 5 | Falcons at Saints | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 5 | Oct 12 | Bills at Rams | 8:15 PM | ESPN / ABC |
| 6 | Oct 19 | Commanders at 49ers | 8:15 PM | ESPN / ABC |
| 7 | Oct 26 | Cowboys at Eagles | 8:15 PM | ESPN / ABC |
| 8 | Nov 2 | Bears at Seahawks | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 9 | Nov 9 | Bills at Vikings | 8:15 PM | ESPN / ABC |
| 10 | Nov 16 | Chargers at Ravens | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 11 | Nov 23 | Bengals at Commanders | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 12 | Nov 30 | Panthers at Buccaneers | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 13 | Dec 7 | Cowboys at Seahawks | 8:15 PM | ESPN / ABC |
| 14 | Dec 14 | Steelers at Jaguars | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 15 | Dec 21 | Patriots at Chiefs | 8:15 PM | ESPN / ABC |
| 16 | Dec 28 | Giants at Lions | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 17 | Jan 4 | Texans at Packers | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
ESPN and ABC also carry a Week 18 Saturday doubleheader on January 9, 2027, at 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET. The NFL leaves Week 18 unscheduled until Week 17 ends so the games with the biggest playoff stakes get the standalone windows, so those two matchups are named in early January.
Also check: Today’s NFL Games on TV Schedule
Can Monday Night Games Change?
Yes. Under the NFL flexible scheduling rules, a Sunday afternoon game can be moved into the Monday night window in Weeks 12 through 17, with at least 12 days of notice.
Weeks 1 through 11 are locked, so the early schedule above will not move. If a late season Monday game looks lopsided, expect the league to swap it for a matchup with playoff stakes.
Best Monday Night Football Games in 2026
- Week 1: Broncos at Chiefs (Sept 14). An AFC West opener at Arrowhead to launch the season.
- Week 7: Cowboys at Eagles (Oct 26). The NFC East rivalry in prime time at Lincoln Financial Field.
- Week 8: Bears at Seahawks (Nov 2). A trip to Lumen Field against the defending Super Bowl champions.
- Week 15: Patriots at Chiefs (Dec 21). Two AFC heavyweights meet with seeding on the line.
- Week 17: Texans at Packers (Jan 4). A Lambeau Field finale that flex rules could turn into a playoff decider.
Who Calls Monday Night Football in 2026?
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman return in the booth, with Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge reporting from the sidelines.
Monday Night Countdown starts at 6 p.m. ET with Scott Van Pelt, and Jason McCourty joins the desk this season, debuting on September 14. On ESPN2, Peyton and Eli Manning host the ManningCast for 12 games.
Monday Night Football anchors the largest NFL package ESPN has ever had: 29 games in all. That is 17 Monday games, the Week 18 Saturday doubleheader, seven NFL Network games, a Wild Card and a Divisional playoff game, and Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium, the first Super Bowl ESPN has ever broadcast.
Monday Night Football Tonight: The Short Version
For Monday Night Football tonight, start with ESPN at 8:15 p.m. ET, check whether your week is one of the 10 ABC simulcasts, and stream through the ESPN app, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo or DirecTV if you have cut the cord. Spanish coverage runs on ESPN Deportes and the ManningCast sits on ESPN2.
Bookmark this page and check back each week, because flex scheduling can reshape the Monday night lineup from Week 12 onward.
Monday Night Football FAQs
Is there a Monday Night Football game tonight?
Monday Night Football runs from September 14, 2026 through January 4, 2027. There is one game every Monday night in that window and no Monday game outside it. The 2026 season has no Monday doubleheaders, so a single 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff is the whole slate each week.
What channel is Monday Night Football on tonight?
ESPN carries all 17 Monday night games. ESPN says 10 of them are also simulcast on ABC, and nine of those are already set on the released schedule, including seven in the first nine weeks. Spanish language coverage is on ESPN Deportes.
What time does Monday Night Football start in 2026?
Every Monday night game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET, which is 7:15 p.m. CT and 5:15 p.m. PT. Monday Night Countdown, the ESPN pregame show, starts at 6 p.m. ET.
How can I watch Monday Night Football without cable?
ESPN Unlimited, the direct to consumer plan in the ESPN app, costs 29.99 dollars a month and includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN on ABC and NFL Network. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV and Sling Orange also carry the ESPN channel. The 10 games simulcast on ABC are free with an over the air antenna.
Does ESPN Select include Monday Night Football?
No. ESPN Select is the cheaper digital plan that replaced ESPN+ in August 2025, and it does not carry the ESPN linear channel. You need ESPN Unlimited or a pay TV login to stream Monday Night Football live.
Are there Monday Night Football doubleheaders in 2026?
No. ESPN dropped the Monday doubleheaders it used in 2025, so every week has one game. ESPN and ABC do carry a Saturday doubleheader on January 9, 2027 in Week 18, at 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET, with those matchups announced after Week 17.
Is the ManningCast on Monday Night Football in 2026?
Yes. Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli returns for a sixth season on ESPN2 with 12 regular season games plus Super Bowl LXI. It starts in Week 1, and ESPN usually publishes the full game list in September.
Do all 32 teams play on Monday Night Football in 2026?
No. Seven teams are missing from the original Monday slate: the Cardinals, Browns, Dolphins, Colts, Jets, Raiders and Titans. Every NFC East team has two Monday games. Flex scheduling in Weeks 12 through 17 can still change the lineup.
Can Monday night games be moved or flexed?
Yes. The NFL can flex a Sunday afternoon game into the Monday night window in Weeks 12 through 17 with at least 12 days of notice. Week 18 is not scheduled at all until the end of Week 17.
How long does a Monday night NFL game last?
Most games run a little over three hours, so an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff usually ends around 11:15 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. ET. Overtime, injuries or a replay heavy fourth quarter can push it past midnight.
Can I rewatch a Monday night game later?
Yes. The ESPN app posts replays and condensed recaps for subscribers, and NFL+ Premium carries full game and condensed replays after the broadcast ends.
