NFL Hall of Fame 2026: Inductees List, Date & How to Watch
The NFL Hall of Fame 2026 class is enshrined on Saturday, August 8, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig receive their gold jackets and bronze busts.
The ceremony starts at 12:00 PM ET and airs live on ESPN and NFL Network. Enshrinement Week runs August 5 to 9 and opens with the Hall of Fame Game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.
Here is the full inductees list, the ceremony start time in every zone, the TV and streaming options, and the complete week schedule.
Who is in the NFL Hall of Fame 2026 Class?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was revealed at NFL Honors in February. Four modern era players were elected plus one senior candidate, lifting the Hall to 387 total members.
| Inductee | Position | Teams (Years) | Case for Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drew Brees | Quarterback | Chargers, Saints (2001-2020) | 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdown passes, both second all time. Super Bowl XLIV MVP, 13 Pro Bowls. |
| Larry Fitzgerald | Wide Receiver | Cardinals (2004-2020) | 1,432 catches and 17,492 receiving yards, second only to Jerry Rice. 11 Pro Bowls. |
| Luke Kuechly | Linebacker | Panthers (2012-2019) | 2012 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2013 Defensive Player of the Year, three Butkus Awards, nearly 1,100 tackles in eight seasons. |
| Adam Vinatieri | Kicker | Patriots, Colts (1996-2019) | NFL records for points (2,673) and field goals made (599). Four Super Bowl rings, two title winning kicks. |
| Roger Craig | Running Back | 49ers, Raiders, Vikings (1983-1993) | Three Super Bowl titles, 1988 Offensive Player of the Year, first 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving season in 1985. |
Brees and Fitzgerald went in on the first ballot, five years after both played their final snaps in 2020. Kuechly and Vinatieri were elected in their second year of eligibility. Craig got the call in his 28th year of eligibility and his third time as a finalist.
Vinatieri becomes only the fifth kicker in Canton, joining Lou Groza, George Blanda, Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen. Kuechly, who retired at 28 after repeated concussions, turns 35 the week of enshrinement and is one of the youngest inductees in Hall history.
When is the NFL Hall of Fame 2026 Enshrinement Ceremony?
The Enshrinement Ceremony is Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Stadium gates open at 11:30 AM ET and the program runs about three hours, ending near 3:00 PM ET.
- 12:00 PM ET (Eastern)
- 11:00 AM CT (Central)
- 10:00 AM MT (Mountain)
- 9:00 AM PT (Pacific)
- 5:00 PM BST (United Kingdom)
Each inductee is introduced by a presenter, who joins him on stage to unveil his bronze bust before the speech. Here is who presents each member of the class.
| Inductee | Presenter |
|---|---|
| Drew Brees | Sean Payton, former Saints head coach |
| Larry Fitzgerald | Devin Fitzgerald, son |
| Luke Kuechly | Tom Kuechly, father |
| Adam Vinatieri | Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Colts co-owner and CEO |
| Roger Craig | Jamie Williams, 49ers and Nebraska teammate |
How to Watch the NFL Hall of Fame 2026 Ceremony
- TV: ESPN and NFL Network carry the ceremony live, both starting at noon ET.
- Streaming: The ESPN App with a TV provider login, or NFL+, which carries NFL Network live and starts at $6.99 per month.
- Spanish: ESPN Deportes streams a Spanish language feed.
- No cable: Fubo, Sling and DirecTV Stream all carry ESPN and NFL Network, and most offer a free trial.
For a deeper breakdown of start times and stream links, see our NFL Hall of Fame Enshrinement 2026 guide.
Who Plays in the 2026 Hall of Fame Game?
The Arizona Cardinals host the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, August 6 at 8:00 PM ET in Canton. The game opens the NFL’s 107th season and the preseason calendar.
NBC and Peacock have the broadcast, with Football Night in America coverage from 7:00 PM ET and Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth on the call. Rookie third round pick Carson Beck starts for Arizona and Kenny Pickett opens for Carolina, so neither team plans to risk its projected Week 1 starter.
The matchup was chosen to honor the new class. Fitzgerald spent all 17 of his seasons in Arizona, and Kuechly all eight in Carolina.
Want the rest of the slate? See our NFL Preseason Week 1 schedule guide.
Enshrinement Week 2026 Schedule in Canton
| Date | Event | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5 to 9 | Sugardale Fan Fest ’26 (free) | Daily | None |
| Thu, Aug 6 | Hall of Fame Game: Cardinals vs. Panthers | 8:00 PM | NBC, Peacock |
| Fri, Aug 7 | Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner | 5:00 PM | None |
| Sat, Aug 8 | Grand Parade, downtown Canton | 8:00 AM | Local |
| Sat, Aug 8 | Class of 2026 Enshrinement | 12:00 PM | ESPN, NFL Network |
| Sun, Aug 9 | Concert for Legends: Lainey Wilson, Braxton Keith | 7:30 PM | None |
The museum is open 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM most days of the week, and the Gold Jacket Dinner is at the Canton Memorial Civic Center rather than the stadium. Full details sit on the official Enshrinement Week fan guide.
Who Missed Out, and Who is Up Next in 2027?
At the selection meeting the 15 modern era finalists were cut to 10, then to 7, before the final vote. A maximum of five could be elected and each needed 80% approval. Only four cleared that bar.
Willie Anderson, Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda reached the final seven without being elected, so all three advance automatically to finalist status for the Class of 2027 under Hall bylaws. Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, Eli Manning, Frank Gore, Jahri Evans, Kevin Williams, Jason Witten and Darren Woodson also fell short.
Craig was one of five candidates in the combined seniors, coach and contributor pool, alongside Ken Anderson, L.C. Greenwood, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft. He was the only one to reach the threshold.
The 2027 ballot adds a heavy group of first time eligibles, including Ben Roethlisberger, Rob Gronkowski, Adrian Peterson, Cam Newton and Richard Sherman.
NFL Hall of Fame 2026 FAQ
Who is in the NFL Hall of Fame 2026 class?
Five men: quarterback Drew Brees, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, linebacker Luke Kuechly, kicker Adam Vinatieri and running back Roger Craig, who was elected from the seniors pool.
What time and channel is the 2026 enshrinement ceremony?
Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET from Canton, Ohio. ESPN and NFL Network both carry it live, and you can stream it on the ESPN App or NFL+.
How are players selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
The Hall’s 50-person selection committee meets each January and the class is revealed at NFL Honors. The modern era pool was cut from 128 nominees to 52, then 26 semifinalists and 15 finalists. Between three and five modern era players can be elected, and each needs at least 80% approval.
Were Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald first ballot inductees?
Yes. Both were elected in their first year of eligibility, five seasons after they last played in 2020. Kuechly and Vinatieri got in on their second try, and Craig in his 28th year of eligibility.
How many members are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
387 players, coaches and contributors including the Class of 2026. Nearly 30,000 men have played at least one NFL game.
Is Bill Belichick in the Hall of Fame?
No. Belichick was the coach finalist for the Class of 2026 but did not reach the 80% threshold. Robert Kraft, the contributor finalist, also missed out. Both can be considered again for 2027.
Why is the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio?
The league was founded in Canton in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, so the city was chosen when the Hall opened in 1963.
Can you buy tickets or visit the museum?
Yes. Enshrinement, Hall of Fame Game and Concert for Legends tickets are sold through the Hall’s official site, with weekend packages from On Location. The museum is open year round and displays every inductee’s bronze bust.
The NFL Hall of Fame 2026 class brings two first ballot icons, a defensive force who left the game early, the most clutch kicker the sport has seen, and a 49ers legend who waited 28 years for the call.
Set a reminder for Saturday, August 8 at noon ET on ESPN or NFL Network, and watch all five take their place in Canton.
