2026 NFL Preseason Schedule: TV Channels & Printable PDF
The 2026 NFL preseason schedule opens with the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 6 in Canton and wraps up on Saturday, August 29. Below you get every date, kickoff time in ET and TV channel, plus a free printable PDF you can stick on the fridge.
Preseason football is where depth charts get sorted. Coaches rotate rookies and roster bubble players, try new schemes and rest most starters. For fans it is the first live look at the 2026 season.
- Preseason opener: Cardinals vs. Panthers, Thursday, August 6, 8:00 PM ET on NBC (Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio)
- Weeks: Week 1 Aug 13 to 15, Week 2 Aug 20 to 23, Week 3 Aug 27 to 29
- Total games: 49 (48 plus the Hall of Fame Game). Every team plays three, Arizona and Carolina play four
- National TV: five games on NBC, ESPN, FOX, Prime Video and CBS
- Regular season kickoff: Wednesday, September 9, Patriots at Seahawks
Full 2026 NFL Preseason Schedule by Week
All times are ET and can change. For regular season fixtures, see our 2026 NFL schedule.
Hall of Fame Game: Thursday, Aug. 6
The Arizona Cardinals face the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Kickoff is 8:00 PM ET on NBC, with streaming on Peacock and NFL+.
The Class of 2026, headlined by Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig, is enshrined two days later on Saturday, August 8.
| DATE | GAME | TIME (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 6 | Cardinals vs. Panthers | 8:00 PM | NBC / Peacock |
Week 1: Thursday, Aug. 13 to Saturday, Aug. 15
All 32 teams play. No national broadcast games this week, but NFL Network carries six and the ESPN App streams five more outside the local markets.
| DATE | GAME | TIME (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 13 | Packers at Steelers | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Thu, Aug 13 | Lions at Bengals | 7:00 PM | Local |
| Thu, Aug 13 | Colts at Patriots | 7:30 PM | Local |
| Thu, Aug 13 | Chargers at Texans | 8:00 PM | Local |
| Thu, Aug 13 | Cardinals at Raiders | 8:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Thu, Aug 13 | Titans at 49ers | 9:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 14 | Broncos at Falcons | 7:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Fri, Aug 14 | Buccaneers at Jets | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 14 | Dolphins at Commanders | 7:00 PM | Local |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Panthers at Bills | 1:00 PM | Local |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Browns at Bears | 1:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Vikings at Giants | 1:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Rams at Chiefs | 4:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Jaguars at Saints | 4:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Eagles at Ravens | 7:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Cowboys at Seahawks | 8:00 PM | NFL Network |
Week 2: Thursday, Aug. 20 to Sunday, Aug. 23
Week 2 brings the first two national broadcasts: Raiders at Texans on ESPN and Seahawks at Titans on FOX.
| DATE | GAME | TIME (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 20 | Raiders at Texans | 8:00 PM | ESPN |
| Thu, Aug 20 | 49ers at Chargers | 10:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Jets at Steelers | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Panthers at Jaguars | 7:30 PM | ESPN App |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Packers at Broncos | 9:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Commanders at Lions | 12:00 PM | Local |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Bills at Browns | 1:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Falcons at Colts | 1:00 PM | Local |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Ravens at Vikings | 1:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Saints at Rams | 4:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Giants at Dolphins | 4:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Bears at Bengals | 7:00 PM | Local |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Eagles at Patriots | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Chiefs at Buccaneers | 7:30 PM | ESPN App |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Cowboys at Cardinals | 10:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sun, Aug 23 | Seahawks at Titans | 8:00 PM | FOX |
Week 3: Thursday, Aug. 27 to Saturday, Aug. 29
The final tune up before roster cuts. Prime Video has Patriots at Browns and CBS has Bengals at Eagles.
| DATE | GAME | TIME (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 27 | Steelers at Bills | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Thu, Aug 27 | Patriots at Browns | 8:00 PM | Prime Video |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 49ers at Raiders | 8:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Thu, Aug 27 | Rams at Chargers | 10:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Commanders at Ravens | 6:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Falcons at Dolphins | 7:00 PM | Local |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Texans at Panthers | 7:00 PM | Local |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Giants at Jets | 7:30 PM | Local |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Buccaneers at Jaguars | 7:30 PM | Local |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Saints at Cowboys | 8:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Cardinals at Packers | 8:00 PM | Local |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Seahawks at Chiefs | 8:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Bengals at Eagles | 8:00 PM | CBS |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Vikings at Broncos | 9:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 29 | Lions at Colts | 1:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 29 | Bears at Titans | 6:00 PM | NFL Network |
Download the 2026 NFL Preseason Schedule (Printable PDF)
The one page PDF below lists all 49 games with dates, ET kickoff times and TV channels. It is free, print ready and needs no sign up. Print it in landscape, pick fit to page, and A4 or letter paper both work.
A printed copy is handy for marking scores, setting reminders and planning watch parties around the games your local station is not carrying.
How to Watch the 2026 NFL Preseason Schedule on TV and Streaming
Only five preseason games go out to the whole country. Everything else is either a local broadcast in the two teams’ markets or an out of market telecast.
National TV games:
- Thu, Aug 6: Cardinals vs. Panthers, Hall of Fame Game (NBC and Peacock)
- Thu, Aug 20: Raiders at Texans (ESPN)
- Sun, Aug 23: Seahawks at Titans (FOX)
- Thu, Aug 27: Patriots at Browns (Prime Video)
- Fri, Aug 28: Bengals at Eagles (CBS)
Out of market coverage:
NFL Network televises 19 games from August 13 to 29 and the ESPN App streams 12 more for ESPN subscribers. Both are blacked out inside the participating teams’ local markets, where the game airs on a regional station instead.
Streaming options:
- NFL+: live national and out of market preseason games on phone, tablet and connected devices.
- Peacock: the Hall of Fame Game simulcast on August 6.
- NFL Game Pass via DAZN: live and on demand for fans outside the United States and Canada.
Key Dates Around the Preseason
| DATE | EVENT |
|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 6 | Hall of Fame Game, Canton |
| Sat, Aug 8 | Hall of Fame Class of 2026 enshrinement |
| Aug 13 to 29 | Preseason Weeks 1, 2 and 3 |
| Sun, Aug 30 | Rosters cut from 90 to 53 by 6:00 PM ET |
| Mon, Aug 31 | Waiver claims at 1:00 PM ET, practice squads form |
| Wed, Sep 9 | Regular season kickoff: Patriots at Seahawks, 8:20 PM ET (NBC) |
FAQs About the 2026 NFL Preseason
When does the 2026 NFL preseason start?
It starts on Thursday, August 6, 2026 with the Hall of Fame Game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers in Canton, Ohio, 8:00 PM ET on NBC. Week 1 begins Thursday, August 13.
When does the 2026 NFL preseason end?
Saturday, August 29, 2026. The last game is Bears at Titans at 6:00 PM ET on NFL Network.
How many games are in the 2026 NFL preseason?
49 in total: 16 games in each of the three weeks plus the Hall of Fame Game. Every team plays three, while Arizona and Carolina play four because they open in Canton.
What channel are the 2026 NFL preseason games on?
Five games air nationally: NBC on August 6, ESPN on August 20, FOX on August 23, Prime Video on August 27 and CBS on August 28. NFL Network carries 19 out of market games and the ESPN App streams 12 more. Every other game airs on a local station in the teams’ markets.
Is there overtime in NFL preseason games?
No. Owners removed overtime from the preseason in 2021 and it has not come back. If the score is level when regulation ends, the game finishes as a tie.
Can I stream the 2026 NFL preseason on NFL+?
Yes. NFL+ carries live national and out of market preseason games. Games shown on your local station are not included. Outside the United States and Canada, NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the option.
Do preseason results count in the standings?
No. Preseason wins and losses have no effect on the regular season. The games exist to evaluate rookies, depth players and new schemes.
When is the 2026 roster cutdown deadline?
Sunday, August 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET, when all 32 clubs must go from 90 players to 53. That is earlier than usual because the season opens on a Wednesday.
When does the 2026 NFL regular season begin?
Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at 8:20 PM ET on NBC in a Super Bowl LX rematch, followed by Rams vs. 49ers in Melbourne, Australia on September 10.
That is the complete 2026 NFL preseason schedule, from the Hall of Fame Game on August 6 to the final whistle on August 29.
Save the printable PDF, mark the five national TV dates, and you are set for the three weeks that decide who makes the 53.
We update this page whenever the league moves a kickoff time or adds a broadcast.
