2026 NFL Games on ABC Today: Schedule, Streaming & How to Watch
Looking for NFL games on ABC today? ABC is once again a primetime home for pro football in the 2026 season, carrying 10 Monday Night Football simulcasts, a Week 18 Saturday doubleheader, two playoff games and, for the first time since 2006, the Super Bowl.
Every ABC game is produced by ESPN and shown nationwide, so there are no regional splits and no local blackouts. You can watch with a digital antenna, a cable or satellite package, a live TV streaming service or the ESPN app.
Here is every 2026 NFL game on ABC, the kickoff times in ET, and the cheapest legal ways to watch live.
NFL Games on ABC Today
The 2026 season opens on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 with Patriots at Seahawks on NBC. The midweek start is rare, and it clears the way for the Rams and 49ers to meet in Melbourne, Australia the next night, Thursday, September 10 in the US on Netflix.
ABC’s first game is Broncos at Chiefs on Monday, September 14 at 8:15 p.m. ET. Outside the dates in the table below there are no live NFL games on ABC today, so check the schedule before you turn on the TV.
One change matters this year. Unlike 2025, there are no ABC exclusive NFL games in 2026. Every ABC game is a simulcast with ESPN.
Eight Mondays are currently ESPN only, and that drops to seven once ESPN designates its tenth ABC simulcast during the season.
2026 Monday Night Football Schedule on ABC and ESPN
All 17 Monday night games kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET. There are no Monday doubleheaders in 2026.
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon, Sept 14 | Broncos at Chiefs | 8:15 pm | ABC & ESPN |
| 2 | Mon, Sept 21 | Giants at Rams | 8:15 pm | ABC & ESPN |
| 3 | Mon, Sept 28 | Eagles at Bears | 8:15 pm | ABC & ESPN |
| 4 | Mon, Oct 5 | Falcons at Saints | 8:15 pm | ESPN only |
| 5 | Mon, Oct 12 | Bills at Rams | 8:15 pm | ABC & ESPN |
| 6 | Mon, Oct 19 | Commanders at 49ers | 8:15 pm | ABC & ESPN |
| 7 | Mon, Oct 26 | Cowboys at Eagles | 8:15 pm | ABC & ESPN |
| 8 | Mon, Nov 2 | Bears at Seahawks | 8:15 pm | ESPN only |
| 9 | Mon, Nov 9 | Bills at Vikings | 8:15 pm | ABC & ESPN |
| 10 | Mon, Nov 16 | Chargers at Ravens | 8:15 pm | ESPN only |
| 11 | Mon, Nov 23 | Bengals at Commanders | 8:15 pm | ESPN only |
| 12 | Mon, Nov 30 | Panthers at Buccaneers | 8:15 pm | ESPN only |
| 13 | Mon, Dec 7 | Cowboys at Seahawks | 8:15 pm | ABC & ESPN |
| 14 | Mon, Dec 14 | Steelers at Jaguars | 8:15 pm | ESPN only |
| 15 | Mon, Dec 21 | Patriots at Chiefs | 8:15 pm | ABC & ESPN |
| 16 | Mon, Dec 28 | Giants at Lions | 8:15 pm | ESPN only |
| 17 | Mon, Jan 4 | Texans at Packers | 8:15 pm | ESPN only |
| 18 | Sat, Jan 9 | Doubleheader, matchups TBD | 4:30 pm & 8:00 pm | ABC & ESPN |
Nine ABC simulcasts are locked in and ESPN adds a tenth during the season. Flexible scheduling can change Monday matchups from Week 12 through Week 17 with 12 days notice.
Week 18 is a Saturday tripleheader on January 9, 2027. The NFL has published the windows but not the matchups: 1:00 p.m. ET on Netflix, then 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. Teams are slotted after Week 17 ends.
ABC Playoff Games and Super Bowl LXI
ABC carries more postseason football than ever this year. Alongside ESPN it simulcasts one Wild Card game and one Divisional Round game, the fourth straight season with that package.
| Round | Date | On ABC |
|---|---|---|
| Super Wild Card Weekend | Jan 16 to 18, 2027 | One game, simulcast with ESPN, date TBD |
| Divisional Round | Jan 23 to 24, 2027 | One game, simulcast with ESPN |
| Conference Championships | Jan 31, 2027 | No. AFC on CBS, NFC on FOX |
| Super Bowl LXI | Sun, Feb 14, 2027 | Yes. ABC and ESPN, SoFi Stadium |
Playoff dates are always assigned after Week 18, so ABC’s Wild Card slot is not set. Worth noting: ESPN’s five year exclusive on the Monday night Wild Card window ran through the 2025 season and the league has put that window back on the market, so the Monday game may not land on ABC this time.
Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027 is the headline. It is ABC’s first Super Bowl since Super Bowl XL in February 2006 and the first ever produced by ESPN, live from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
It is also the latest calendar date in Super Bowl history, beating Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, and the first played on Valentine’s Day. A kickoff time has not been announced, though recent Super Bowls have started around 6:30 p.m. ET.
How to Watch NFL Games on ABC Today
Free over the air. Every local ABC affiliate carries the game. A digital antenna pulls it in free in HD with no monthly bill and no login. This is the only permanently free way to watch, and it covers all 10 ABC games plus the Super Bowl.
Cable and satellite. ABC is in every major TV package. If you are unsure of your channel number, check your provider’s guide or the ABC station finder.
ESPN app. Because every ABC game is also on ESPN, an ESPN Unlimited plan at $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year covers all 17 Monday Night Football games with no cable login. The same content is available inside the Disney+ app, and a Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle starts at $35.99 per month.
One limit to understand: Unlimited carries the ESPN on ABC sports feed, not your local ABC station, so it will not give you ABC news or primetime shows.
Avoid the ESPN Select trap. The ESPN+ library is now sold as ESPN Select at $12.99 per month, and it does not include Monday Night Football. The same applies to carrier perks that bundle Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select. You need ESPN Unlimited, a pay TV package or an antenna.
Live TV streaming. YouTube TV now sells a Sports Plan at $64.99 that includes ABC and the ESPN networks, well below its $82.99 base plan. DirecTV Stream’s MySports package is also $64.99 and carries ABC nationwide plus ESPN Unlimited.
Hulu + Live TV and Fubo both work too, though Fubo raised prices in July 2026. Local ABC availability depends on your ZIP code with all of them.
A Sling warning. Sling carries ABC only on the Blue plan and only in eight markets, but ESPN sits on Sling Orange. Buying Blue alone leaves you without ESPN and locked out of the eight ESPN only Mondays. You need Orange & Blue at $60.99 to get both.
Free Ways to Watch NFL on ABC
A digital antenna is the only permanently free route. One purchase delivers every ABC broadcast, including Super Bowl LXI, in full HD.
Free trials cover a single game. As of August 2026, YouTube TV offers 21 days, DirecTV Stream offers 5 days and Hulu + Live TV offers 3 days. Fubo is not running a free trial right now. Trial terms change often, so confirm at signup and cancel before billing starts if you only want one Monday night.
If you already pay for TV, the ABC app lets you stream your local station with a provider login, but only in a short list of markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham and Fresno.
ABC Streaming Options Compared
| Option | ABC | ESPN | Cost (Aug 2026) | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital antenna | Yes, nationwide | No | One time purchase | Always free |
| ESPN Unlimited | ESPN on ABC feed only | Yes | $29.99/mo or $299.99/yr | No |
| Sling Orange & Blue | 8 markets only | Yes | $60.99/mo | No |
| YouTube TV Sports Plan | Yes, by ZIP | Yes | $64.99/mo | 21 days |
| DirecTV MySports | Yes, nationwide | Yes | $64.99/mo | 5 days |
| Fubo Sports + News | Owned stations, varies | Yes | $64.99/mo | None right now |
| YouTube TV Base | Yes, by ZIP | Yes | $82.99/mo | 21 days |
| Hulu + Live TV | Yes, by ZIP | Yes | $89.99 to $99.99/mo | 3 days |
For one game, an antenna or a trial wins. For the full season, ESPN Unlimited at $29.99 is the cheapest way to get every Monday night. If you want a real channel lineup with your local ABC, the $64.99 tier from YouTube TV or DirecTV is the value pick.
Who Calls Monday Night Football in 2026
Joe Buck handles play by play with Troy Aikman as analyst, their second full season alongside sideline reporters Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge. The same four call Super Bowl LXI.
Peyton and Eli Manning return for a sixth season of the ManningCast on ESPN2, covering 12 regular season Mondays plus the Super Bowl. On Monday Night Countdown, Scott Van Pelt hosts with Jason Kelce, Marcus Spears and new addition Jason McCourty.
2026 NFL Games on ABC Today: FAQs
Is there an NFL game on ABC today?
Only on the dates in the schedule above. The 2026 season runs from September 9, 2026 to January 10, 2027. ABC’s first game is Broncos at Chiefs on Monday, September 14 at 8:15 p.m. ET.
How many NFL games does ABC show in 2026?
ABC airs 10 Monday Night Football simulcasts, a two game Saturday doubleheader in Week 18, one Wild Card game, one Divisional Round game and Super Bowl LXI.
Are ABC games the same as ESPN games in 2026?
Yes. Every ABC game this season is a simulcast of the ESPN broadcast. There are no ABC exclusive NFL games in 2026, unlike the 2025 season when ABC had two.
What time do ABC NFL games start?
All 17 Monday Night Football games kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Week 18 games on ABC on Saturday, January 9, 2027 start at 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET.
Can I watch NFL on ABC free with an antenna?
Yes. ABC broadcasts free over the air nationwide in HD. A one time digital antenna purchase gets you every ABC game with no subscription and no blackouts.
What is the cheapest way to stream NFL games on ABC?
ESPN Unlimited at $29.99 per month streams every Monday Night Football game with no cable login, though it is not a local ABC station. For a full lineup with local ABC, the YouTube TV Sports Plan and DirecTV MySports are both $64.99 per month.
Can I still watch Monday Night Football on ESPN+?
No. The ESPN+ library is now sold as ESPN Select at $12.99 per month and it does not include Monday Night Football. You need ESPN Unlimited, a pay TV package or an antenna.
Does Sling TV work for NFL games on ABC?
Only partly. Sling carries ABC on the Blue plan in eight markets, but ESPN is on Sling Orange. You need the Orange and Blue combo at $60.99 per month to get both networks.
Is the Super Bowl on ABC in 2027?
Yes. Super Bowl LXI airs on ABC and ESPN on Sunday, February 14, 2027 from SoFi Stadium. It is ABC’s first Super Bowl since February 2006 and ESPN’s first ever in English.
Who are the announcers for Monday Night Football in 2026?
Joe Buck calls play by play with analyst Troy Aikman, plus sideline reporters Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge. Peyton and Eli Manning host the ManningCast on ESPN2 for 12 games.
When you search for NFL games on ABC today, the 2026 answer is 10 Monday Night Football simulcasts, a Saturday doubleheader on January 9, two playoff games and Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027.
Bookmark this page and check the table before kickoff. An antenna keeps it free, ESPN Unlimited covers every Monday night for $29.99 a month, and the $64.99 sports tiers from YouTube TV or DirecTV give you your local ABC affiliate alongside ESPN.
