2026 NFL Preseason Week 1: Schedule, TV Channels & Streaming Guide
NFL Preseason Week 1 runs Thursday, August 13 through Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 16 games across three nights. NFL Network carries six, the ESPN App streams five, and the other five stay on local TV only. The slate opens at 7:00 PM ET with Lions at Bengals and Packers at Steelers, then closes Saturday night when the Dallas Cowboys visit the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
NFL Preseason Week 1 2026 schedule, times and TV channels
All times are Eastern. Every game is also carried by each team’s local broadcast partner in the two participating markets. The NFL Network and ESPN App feeds are out of market simulcasts, so they are blacked out inside the two markets playing.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 13 | Lions at Bengals | 7:00 PM | Local TV only |
| Thu, Aug 13 | Packers at Steelers | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Thu, Aug 13 | Colts at Patriots | 7:30 PM | Local TV only |
| Thu, Aug 13 | Chargers at Texans | 8:00 PM | Local TV only |
| 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 TV only |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Panthers at Bills | 1:00 PM | Local TV only |
| 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 | Jaguars at Saints | 4:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Rams at Chiefs | 4:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Eagles at Ravens | 7:00 PM | ESPN App |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Cowboys at Seahawks | 8:00 PM | NFL Network |
Which TV channels carry NFL Preseason Week 1?
No Week 1 game airs nationally on NBC, FOX, CBS or Prime Video. Those windows come later: Raiders at Texans on ESPN (August 20), Seahawks at Titans on FOX (August 23), Patriots at Browns on Prime Video (August 27) and Bengals at Eagles on CBS (August 28). Week 1 coverage breaks down three ways.
- NFL Network carries six games: Packers at Steelers, Titans at 49ers, Buccaneers at Jets, Browns at Bears, Rams at Chiefs, and Cowboys at Seahawks. That is part of a 19 game NFL Network slate running August 13 to 29, and all 48 preseason games are available on replay.
- ESPN App streams five games: Cardinals at Raiders, Broncos at Falcons, Vikings at Giants, Jaguars at Saints, and Eagles at Ravens. ESPN expanded this slate from five games in 2025 to 12 in 2026. These are app exclusives, not telecasts on the ESPN cable channel, and they need an ESPN Unlimited plan.
- Local stations are the only home for five games: Lions at Bengals, Colts at Patriots, Chargers at Texans, Dolphins at Commanders, and Panthers at Bills. Check your regional FOX, CBS, NBC or team owned affiliate.
One ownership change shapes all of this. ESPN acquired NFL Network in a deal that closed February 1, 2026, giving the league a 10 percent non controlling equity stake in ESPN worth roughly $3 billion. ESPN took over day to day operations on April 1. ESPN also holds pay TV distribution rights to NFL RedZone, though the NFL still owns, programs and produces the channel.
Comcast Xfinity customers, take note. NFL Network and NFL RedZone went dark on Xfinity when the carriage deal expired April 30, 2026, the first such fight under ESPN ownership, and the channels were still off in early August with no announced resolution. If you are on Xfinity, plan on NFL+ or another provider for the six NFL Network games.
Compare the full three week slate on our NFL Network preseason schedule page.
How to stream NFL Preseason Week 1 live
NFL+ is the simplest option for out of market preseason games at $6.99 per month or $49.99 per year. NFL+ Premium runs $14.99 per month or $99.99 per season and adds NFL RedZone, game replays with all 22 coaches film, and NFL Pro.
Out of market preseason games stream on connected TVs, unlike regular season local and primetime games that stay on phones and tablets. That covers the NFL app on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Xbox, LG and Vizio smart TVs, and NFL.com in a browser.
Two preseason blackout rules apply. A game airing on TV in your local market is blacked out on NFL+, and any preseason game carried nationally is blacked out nationally. Neither restriction affects live game audio, and neither applies to regular season or playoff games.
The six NFL Network games also come with any pay TV package carrying the channel: YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV on Choice and above or through the Sports Pack add on, and Sling TV on Blue or Orange plus Blue. Sling Orange alone does not include it, but Sling’s newer Select plan at $19.99 per month does.
The five ESPN App games need an ESPN Unlimited plan at $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year. A standard pay TV login or the cheaper ESPN Select tier will not unlock them. Check your current bill first, because Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, Fubo, Spectrum, YouTube TV, Verizon Fios, Cox and Xfinity subscribers get ESPN Unlimited included and only need to link a MyDisney account to activate it. ESPN and the NFL also sell a bundle of ESPN Unlimited and NFL+ Premium for $39.99 per month, which covers both halves of the Week 1 schedule in one place.
Can you watch NFL Preseason Week 1 for free?
Yes, and the easiest route is the one most fans miss. Preseason games stream free on the participating clubs’ own websites and apps inside their home markets, with no subscription and no TV provider login. If your team is playing, that is the cheapest option available.
An over the air antenna is the other free route, since local telecasts land on CBS, FOX, NBC and independent affiliates. Enter your ZIP code in the FCC Reception Map Tool to see which channels reach your home.
For the NFL Network games, YouTube TV runs a 21 day free trial for new users and Fubo offers a trial whose length varies by plan. Sling TV skips trials and sells short passes instead: $4.99 for one day, $9.99 for three days and $14.99 for seven days, which covers the entire Week 1 slate for less than a month of most services.
What to watch in the opening week
Rodgers and McCarthy face Green Bay together. Packers at Steelers is the marquee game. Mike McCarthy took over in Pittsburgh in January after 13 seasons and a Super Bowl title in Green Bay, and Aaron Rodgers spent 18 years there before joining him. Rodgers told The Athletic on August 3 that McCarthy floated 30 or 40 plays across the first two preseason games and he would do it if asked, though he added he does not want to. McCarthy hedged the same day and said no decision is made, so treat Rodgers snaps as possible rather than promised.
The Raiders quarterback race. Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick of the 2026 draft, opens the preseason at Allegiant Stadium against the Cardinals at 8:00 PM ET on the ESPN App. Kirk Cousins started camp as QB1, but head coach Klint Kubiak has not committed to a Week 1 starter and has framed the preseason as Mendoza’s audition.
Two coaches meet their old teams. Robert Saleh takes his Titans into San Francisco, where he was defensive coordinator, and Todd Monken debuts as Browns head coach against the Bears.
The roster clock is running. Most coaches rest starters or play them one short series. Snaps go to rookies, undrafted free agents and backup quarterbacks fighting for jobs, and rosters must drop from 90 players to 53 by 6:00 PM ET on Sunday, August 30, two days earlier than recent seasons. Waiver claims are due at 1:00 PM ET the next day. Treat these games as an evaluation window, not a form guide.
Hall of Fame Game opens the 2026 preseason
Football returns a week before Week 1. The Arizona Cardinals host the Carolina Panthers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 6 at 8:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The pairing is deliberate: Larry Fitzgerald played all 17 of his seasons in Arizona and Luke Kuechly played all eight of his in Carolina, and both enter the Hall this summer. Those two clubs play four preseason games this year instead of three.
The game opens enshrinement weekend for the Class of 2026: Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and senior inductee Roger Craig. The ceremony follows on Saturday, August 8 at noon ET at the same stadium, live on ESPN and NFL Network.
NFL Preseason Week 1 FAQ
When does NFL Preseason Week 1 start in 2026?
Week 1 starts Thursday, August 13, 2026. Lions at Bengals and Packers at Steelers both kick off at 7:00 PM ET, and the week ends Saturday, August 15 with Cowboys at Seahawks at 8:00 PM ET.
How many games are in NFL Preseason Week 1?
There are 16 games over three days, August 13 to 15, with no Sunday games. The Hall of Fame Game between the Cardinals and Panthers on August 6 is separate and opens the preseason.
What channel is NFL Preseason Week 1 on?
NFL Network carries six games and the ESPN App streams five as app exclusives. The other five air only on local stations, and every game is carried by a local broadcast partner in each team’s market. No Week 1 game airs nationally on NBC, FOX, CBS or Prime Video.
How can I watch NFL Preseason Week 1 free?
Watch your home market game free on the team’s own website or app, with no subscription and no login required. An over the air antenna also picks up the local CBS, FOX or NBC affiliate carrying the game.
Do I need ESPN Unlimited for the ESPN App games?
Yes. The five ESPN App games need an ESPN Unlimited plan at $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year. A regular pay TV login or ESPN Select will not unlock them, but Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, Fubo, Spectrum, YouTube TV and other providers include ESPN Unlimited if you link a MyDisney account.
Why is NFL Network missing from my cable package?
If you have Comcast Xfinity, NFL Network and NFL RedZone came off the lineup on April 30, 2026 when the carriage deal expired, and the dispute with ESPN was unresolved in early August. NFL+ or a different provider is the workaround.
Do starters play in the first preseason game?
Usually not much. Most coaches rest starters or limit them to a single series. Week 1 is mainly for rookies, backups and players fighting for a 53 man roster spot. Aaron Rodgers is a possible exception in Pittsburgh, but Mike McCarthy has not committed to playing him.
Can I watch NFL Preseason Week 1 outside the United States?
Yes. NFL Game Pass on DAZN carries all 49 preseason games in international markets, and DAZN is streaming them free in several territories this year. NFL+ is limited to the United States and is not available in U.S. territories.
NFL Preseason Week 1 gives you 16 games in three nights: six on NFL Network, five on the ESPN App and five on local TV only. If your team is playing, the free stream on its own website costs nothing. For everything else, NFL+ at $6.99 per month is the cheapest way to reach out of market games on almost any device.
Bookmark this page for kickoff updates, and see our 2026 NFL schedule hub before the regular season opens Wednesday, September 9 at 8:20 PM ET, when the Patriots visit the Seahawks in a Super Bowl LX rematch on NBC.
