NFL Christmas Games 2026: Schedule, Time, TV Channel & How to Watch

The NFL Christmas Games 2026 bring a full tripleheader to Friday, December 25. The Green Bay Packers visit the Chicago Bears, the Buffalo Bills travel to Denver, and the Los Angeles Rams face the Seattle Seahawks. All three matchups are rematches from last season’s playoffs, so the holiday slate carries real bite this year.

Netflix streams the first two games worldwide while FOX airs the nightcap on regular TV, which means at least one game is free to watch with an antenna. Here is everything you need to know, from kickoff times to streaming options.

NFL Christmas Games 2026 at a Glance

• Three games on Friday, December 25, 2026 (Week 16)
• First game: Packers at Bears, 1:00 PM ET on Netflix
• Second game: Bills at Broncos, 4:30 PM ET on Netflix
• Third game: Rams at Seahawks, 8:15 PM ET on FOX
• Bonus: Texans at Eagles on Christmas Eve via Prime Video
• Free option: The FOX game airs nationwide over the air; Netflix games air free on local stations in team markets
• Key storylines: All three games are 2025 playoff rematches, including an NFC Championship rematch in Seattle

NFL Christmas Games 2026 Schedule

Game	Time (ET)	Location	Where to Watch
Packers @ Bears	1:00 PM	Soldier Field, Chicago	Netflix
Bills @ Broncos	4:30 PM	Empower Field at Mile High, Denver	Netflix
Rams @ Seahawks	8:15 PM	Lumen Field, Seattle	FOX

The league added a Christmas Eve game this year too. The Houston Texans visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, December 24, streaming on Prime Video with coverage starting at 7:00 PM ET. That sets up back to back nights of holiday football before the rest of Week 16 plays out on Sunday, December 27.

Broadcast crews and pregame coverage details for Christmas Day have not been announced yet. This page will be updated once the NFL and its partners confirm them.

Who is Playing Football on Christmas Day 2026?

Game 1: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

The oldest rivalry in football gets its first Christmas chapter since 2011. It is also a playoff rematch. Chicago rallied from 18 points down to knock Green Bay out of last season’s NFC Wild Card round, the game that earned Caleb Williams his Iceman nickname.

The rivals have split their two previous Christmas meetings, with the Bears winning in 2005 and the Packers in 2011. Both of those games were played at Lambeau Field, so this is the first Christmas meeting ever at Soldier Field.

Game 2: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos

This is a rematch of last season’s AFC Divisional Round thriller, which Denver won 33 to 30 in overtime on a controversial finish. Josh Allen and the Bills have not forgotten.

It is Buffalo’s first ever Christmas game, while Denver makes its sixth holiday appearance, tied with the Chiefs and Cowboys for the most all time. Bo Nix against Josh Allen at Mile High is appointment viewing.

Game 3: Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks

The nightcap is an NFC Championship rematch. Seattle beat the Rams to reach Super Bowl LX, then finished the job with a 29 to 13 win over the Patriots. Now Sam Darnold and the defending champions host Matthew Stafford, the reigning MVP, in Seattle’s first ever Christmas game.

It is also the first NFC West meeting of the season between the two, with a rematch waiting in Week 18.

NFL Christmas 2026 Kickoff Times by Time Zone

Game	Eastern	Central	Mountain	Pacific
Packers @ Bears	1:00 PM	12:00 PM	11:00 AM	10:00 AM
Bills @ Broncos	4:30 PM	3:30 PM	2:30 PM	1:30 PM
Rams @ Seahawks	8:15 PM	7:15 PM	6:15 PM	5:15 PM

West Coast fans can start with breakfast football at 10:00 AM. In Denver the Broncos kick off at 2:30 PM local time, and the Seattle nightcap starts at 5:15 PM Pacific.

The gaps between games leave plenty of room for Christmas dinner, with football running from lunchtime until close to midnight on the East Coast.

Which TV Channel will Air the Christmas Day Games?

Netflix carries Packers vs Bears and Bills vs Broncos. Any subscription level works and the games are included with your regular membership. Christmas is the centerpiece of Netflix’s five game NFL slate in 2026, which also includes the Melbourne, Australia opener, a Thanksgiving Eve game, and a Week 18 matchup.

FOX airs Rams vs Seahawks on regular broadcast television nationwide. You can watch it free with an antenna, through any cable or satellite package, or on live TV streaming services that carry FOX. It also streams on Fox One, the network’s standalone app.

Local stations in the six team markets will carry the Netflix games over the air, so fans in and around Green Bay, Chicago, Buffalo, Denver, Los Angeles, and Seattle can watch their team on free TV.

One change from last year: there is no Prime Video game on Christmas Day itself. Amazon’s holiday game moves to Christmas Eve, when the Texans face the Eagles on Thursday Night Football.

How to Watch NFL Christmas Games 2026 Live Stream Online

Netflix

Pull up Netflix on your TV, phone, tablet, or computer. The app is built into smart TVs, streaming sticks, and game consoles. Plans start at $8.99 per month with ads, the ad free Standard plan is $19.99, and Premium at $26.99 unlocks 4K streaming for the sharpest picture on Christmas Day.

FOX and Fox One

The easiest route for the night game is your local FOX station through an antenna or pay TV. Cord cutters can use Fox One, which costs $19.99 per month and streams FOX’s full lineup, or sign in to the FOX Sports app with a pay TV login.

NFL+

NFL+ streams live local market and primetime games on phones and tablets. It is a handy option if you are traveling on Christmas and costs less than the big streaming services, though it is limited to mobile screens.

How to Watch NFL Christmas Games Internationally

Netflix streams both afternoon games worldwide with multiple audio language options, so millions of international fans can join in on Christmas night.

Packers vs Bears (1:00 PM ET):

• London: 6:00 PM
• Paris: 7:00 PM
• Mexico City: 12:00 PM
• Sydney: 5:00 AM on December 26

Bills vs Broncos (4:30 PM ET):

• London: 9:30 PM
• Paris: 10:30 PM
• Mexico City: 3:30 PM
• Sydney: 8:30 AM on December 26

The FOX game is a US broadcast, so fans outside the United States can catch Rams vs Seahawks through NFL Game Pass on DAZN, which streams every game in most countries.

Can I Watch the NFL Christmas Games for Free?

This year the answer is yes for at least one game. Rams vs Seahawks airs on FOX, free over the air across the country. A decent HD antenna costs $20 to $30 and the picture looks great. Check an online coverage map to confirm you are in range of your local tower.

The two Netflix games are free only in the team markets, where local stations simulcast them. Everyone else needs a Netflix plan, and the $8.99 ads tier is the cheapest way in. Netflix no longer offers free trials, so plan on paying for at least one month. The upside is a full catalog of shows and movies along with the football.

What Radio Station Broadcasts NFL Christmas Games?

SiriusXM carries all three games for satellite radio subscribers, which is perfect if you are driving on Christmas Day. You can also stream SiriusXM through its app.

Local team stations broadcast each game in their home markets, and many teams stream their radio feeds free on their official websites and apps, so you do not always need a subscription to listen.

Halftime Show and Entertainment: NFL Christmas 2026

Netflix has not announced its 2026 Christmas performers yet. The bar is high. Beyoncé’s 2024 halftime show in Houston became a cultural moment, and Snoop Dogg headlined the 2025 show in Minneapolis with Lainey Wilson, while Kelly Clarkson opened the broadcast.

Expect the halftime headliner, broadcast teams, and pregame lineup to be revealed in the fall. We will update this page as soon as the announcements drop.

NFL Christmas Tradition: History & Background

The NFL played its first Christmas game in 1971, when the Dolphins and Chiefs went to double overtime in the longest game ever played at over 82 minutes. The backlash was fierce. Families complained that football ruined their holiday, and the league stayed away from December 25 for 17 years.

The NFL returned in 1989 but only scheduled Christmas games when the date fell on a weekend or Monday. That changed in 2020, when the league committed to playing every year no matter the day. Christmas has featured multiple games ever since, including tripleheaders in 2022, 2023, 2025, and now 2026.

Netflix joined in 2024 with a three year deal and instantly broke records. Its first Christmas doubleheader averaged more than 26.5 million viewers in the US and over 30 million worldwide, the most streamed NFL games in American history. The 2026 tripleheader, played on a Friday, shows how completely Christmas football has become an NFL tradition to rival Thanksgiving.

Also Check: Current NFL Playoff Picture 2026

FAQs: NFL Christmas Games 2026

The NFL Christmas Games 2026 give you three playoff rematches in a single day, from the NFL’s oldest rivalry at Soldier Field to the defending Super Bowl champions under the lights in Seattle.

Get Netflix ready for the first two games, set up your antenna or Fox One for the nightcap, and do not forget the Christmas Eve appetizer on Prime Video.

Football now runs from lunchtime to midnight on December 25, so plan your holiday around the kickoffs and enjoy.