2026 NFL Schedule: Weekly, By Team & Today’s TV Schedule
The 2026 NFL schedule is locked in. This page tracks today’s games, all 18 regular season weeks, every one of the 32 team schedules, kickoff times, and the channel carrying each matchup.
The season opens Wednesday, September 9, when the defending champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl LX, which Seattle won 29 to 13. The full slate was released on May 14.
Each club plays 17 games across 18 weeks, 272 in total, including a record nine international matchups. Week 18 closes on January 9 and 10, 2027. The playoffs start January 16, and Super Bowl LXI follows on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Jump to: Today’s Games · Key Dates · By Team · Week by Week · Printable PDF · How to Watch
NFL TV Schedule for Today
Sunday, August 16, 2026: no NFL games today. Preseason Week 1 wrapped up Saturday night. The next games come Thursday, August 20, when Preseason Week 2 opens. All times Eastern.
| DATE | NEXT GAMES | TIME | 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 | Local |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Packers at Broncos | 9:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Nine games, noon to 10:00 PM | Various | NFL Network, local |
| Sun, Aug 23 | Seahawks at Titans | 8:00 PM | FOX |
Bookmark this page. We refresh this table every game day through Super Bowl LXI.
2026 NFL Schedule: Key Dates
These are the dates worth putting on the calendar, from the rest of the preseason through Super Bowl LXI.
| DATE | EVENT | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 20 to 23 | Preseason Week 2 | ESPN, NFL Network, FOX, local |
| Aug 27 to 29 | Preseason Week 3 | NFL Network, local |
| Sun, Aug 30 | Roster cutdown to 53 players, 6:00 PM ET deadline | n/a |
| Wed, Sept 9 | Kickoff Game: Patriots at Seahawks, 8:20 PM | NBC, Peacock |
| Thu, Sept 10 | 49ers at Rams: first NFL game in Australia, 8:35 PM | Netflix |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Week 1 Sunday slate, 13 games | CBS, FOX, NBC |
| Mon, Sept 14 | Monday Night Football opener: Broncos at Chiefs | ESPN |
| Wed, Nov 25 | First ever Thanksgiving Eve game: Packers at Rams, 8:00 PM | Netflix |
| Thu, Nov 26 | Thanksgiving: Bears at Lions 1:00, Eagles at Cowboys 4:30, Chiefs at Bills 8:20 | CBS, FOX, NBC |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Black Friday: Broncos at Steelers, 3:00 PM | Prime Video |
| Sat, Dec 19 | Week 15 Saturday: Seahawks at Eagles 5:00, Bears at Bills 8:20 | FOX, CBS |
| Thu, Dec 24 | Christmas Eve: Texans at Eagles, 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Christmas: Packers at Bears 1:00, Bills at Broncos 4:30, Rams at Seahawks 8:15 | Netflix, Netflix, FOX |
| Sat, Jan 2, 2027 | Week 17 Saturday games, 4:30 and 8:00 PM | NBC, Peacock |
| Jan 9 and 10, 2027 | Week 18 finales, all 16 division games | Netflix, ESPN, ABC |
| Jan 16 to 18, 2027 | Wild Card Round | Various |
| Jan 23 and 24, 2027 | Divisional Round | Various |
| Sun, Jan 31, 2027 | AFC and NFC Championship Games | CBS, FOX |
| Sun, Feb 14, 2027 | Super Bowl LXI (SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA) | ESPN, ABC |
2026 NFL Preseason Schedule
The Carolina Panthers beat the Arizona Cardinals 33 to 30 on the final play of the Hall of Fame Game on August 6 in Canton, Ohio. Every club plays three preseason games:
- Week 1: August 13 to 15 (complete)
- Week 2: Thursday, August 20 to Sunday, August 23
- Week 3: Thursday, August 27 to Saturday, August 29
National preseason games air on NFL Network, with a handful on ESPN and FOX. Everything else airs on local affiliates in the two competing markets and streams live on NFL+. All 32 clubs must cut down to 53 players by 6:00 PM ET on Sunday, August 30, two days earlier than the traditional Tuesday deadline. The regular season starts September 9.
2026 NFL Schedule by Team
Pick a club below for its full 17 game slate, kickoff times, bye week and printable PDF.
2026 NFL Schedule Week by Week
Every week from the September 9 opener to the Week 18 finales, with kickoff times, venues and TV channels:
| WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 |
| WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 |
| WEEK 7 | WEEK 8 | WEEK 9 |
| WEEK 10 | WEEK 11 | WEEK 12 |
| WEEK 13 | WEEK 14 | WEEK 15 |
| WEEK 16 | WEEK 17 | WEEK 18 |
NFL Week 1 Schedule: Opening Weekend
Opening weekend spans five days. The Kickoff Game lands on a Wednesday for the first time because the Melbourne game occupies Thursday night, so the league moved Seattle’s opener back 24 hours. All times Eastern.
| DATE | GAME | TIME | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Sept 9 | Patriots at Seahawks | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| Thu, Sept 10 | 49ers at Rams (Melbourne) | 8:35 PM | Netflix |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Bears at Panthers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Buccaneers at Bengals | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Saints at Lions | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Falcons at Steelers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Bills at Texans | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Ravens at Colts | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Browns at Jaguars | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Jets at Titans | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Cardinals at Chargers | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Packers at Vikings | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Dolphins at Raiders | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Commanders at Eagles | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| Sun, Sept 13 | Cowboys at Giants | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| Mon, Sept 14 | Broncos at Chiefs | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
2026 NFL International Games
The league plays a record nine international games across four continents, including the first regular season games in Australia and Rio de Janeiro. Six of the nine kick off at 9:30 AM ET: five on NFL Network and the Munich game on FOX. The team listed second is the designated home club.
| DATE | MATCHUP | STADIUM AND CITY |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Sept 10 | 49ers at Rams | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia |
| Sun, Sept 27 | Ravens at Cowboys | Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Sun, Oct 4 | Colts at Commanders | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK |
| Sun, Oct 11 | Eagles at Jaguars | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK |
| Sun, Oct 18 | Texans at Jaguars | Wembley Stadium, London, UK |
| Sun, Oct 25 | Steelers at Saints | Stade de France, Paris, France |
| Sun, Nov 8 | Bengals at Falcons | Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain |
| Sun, Nov 15 | Patriots at Lions | Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany |
| Sun, Nov 22 | Vikings at 49ers | Estadio Banorte (Azteca), Mexico City, Mexico |
Printable 2026 NFL Schedule
Prefer paper? Download the free printable 2026 NFL schedule PDF, laid out week by week and by team, sized to print at home.
What Channels Carry the 2026 NFL Schedule?
Games run across four broadcast networks and six streaming services. The big change: ESPN closed its purchase of NFL Network on January 31, 2026, taking over cable and satellite distribution of NFL RedZone at the same time. The league still owns and produces RedZone, and it took a 10 percent equity stake in ESPN as part of the deal.
| NETWORK | WHAT IT CARRIES IN 2026 |
|---|---|
| CBS | AFC Sunday afternoon games, the early Thanksgiving game, and the late Week 15 Saturday game. Simulcast on Paramount+. |
| FOX | NFC Sunday afternoon games, the Cowboys Thanksgiving game, the Munich game at 9:30 AM ET, and its first Christmas primetime game. Streams on FOX One. |
| NBC | Sunday Night Football, the Week 1 Kickoff Game, the Thanksgiving nightcap. Simulcast on Peacock. |
| ESPN and ABC | Monday Night Football, a Week 18 Saturday doubleheader, and Super Bowl LXI. It is ESPN’s first Super Bowl and ABC’s first since February 2006. |
| NFL Network | Seven national games: five 9:30 AM ET international kickoffs plus two Week 16 Saturday games. Owned by ESPN since January 2026. |
| Prime Video | Exclusive home of Thursday Night Football from Week 2 on, plus Black Friday and Christmas Eve. |
| Netflix | Five games: the Melbourne opener, the first Thanksgiving Eve game, a Christmas Day doubleheader, and a Week 18 Saturday game. |
| Peacock | Every Sunday Night Football game plus one exclusive Week 17 Saturday stream on January 2. |
| YouTube and YouTube TV | NFL Sunday Ticket, home of every out of market Sunday afternoon game. |
| NFL+ | Live local and primetime games on phones and tablets, preseason games, game audio and replays. |
| DAZN | NFL Game Pass International, every game live and on demand outside the United States. |
How to Watch NFL Games Without Cable
An over the air antenna is still the cheapest route. It pulls in CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC in HD for free after a one time purchase, which covers most of your home team’s season. For everything else, here is what the main options cost as of August 2026.
| SERVICE | PRICE | WHAT YOU GET |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo Base, $64.99/mo Sports Plan | All four broadcast networks, ESPN and NFL Network in most markets |
| Hulu + Live TV | $89.99/mo | Same core NFL channel lineup, bundled with Disney+ and ESPN |
| Fubo | From $55.99/mo, Pro tier $73.99/mo | Carries CBS, FOX and ESPN, but dropped NBC, so no Sunday Night Football |
| DIRECTV | $64.99/mo MySports, $89.99/mo Signature | Full national and regional sports coverage |
| Sling TV | $45.99/mo Orange or Blue, $60.99/mo both | Cheapest live option, though the channel mix varies by market |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | $240 per season for new subscribers. Renewals run $378 with YouTube TV or $480 standalone | Every out of market Sunday afternoon game, with NFL RedZone sold as an add on |
| NFL+ | $6.99/mo or $49.99/yr | Live local and primetime games on mobile, plus preseason and game audio |
| NFL+ Premium | $14.99/mo or $99.99/yr | Adds NFL RedZone, full and condensed replays, and All 22 coaches film |
| NFL Game Pass on DAZN | Varies by country | Every 2026 game including Super Bowl LXI, for viewers outside the US |
Two deals worth knowing about right now: the NFL is running 20 percent off annual NFL+ plans through September 21, which drops Premium to about $79.99 for the year, and YouTube TV’s introductory rates expire August 26. One catch on NFL+: live regular season and playoff games stay mobile only. Our NFL+ review breaks down what that means in practice.
When Do the NFL Playoffs Start?
The NFL playoffs open with Wild Card Weekend on Saturday, January 16, 2027. The Divisional Round follows on January 23 and 24, and both Conference Championship Games fall on Sunday, January 31. The winners meet in Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium. It is the latest Super Bowl date in league history, beating February 13, 2022, and the first ever played on Valentine’s Day.
Where This Schedule Comes From
Every date, kickoff time and network on this page is checked against primary sources, not aggregators. The master slate comes from the official NFL.com schedule. Network assignments and preseason listings come from NFL Communications. The rules that govern which games can move windows are published in the league’s flexible scheduling procedures, and Hall of Fame Game details come from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We re-check all four whenever the league moves a game.
FAQs About the 2026 NFL Schedule
When does the 2026 NFL regular season start?
Wednesday, September 9, 2026, when the New England Patriots visit the Seattle Seahawks at 8:20 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. It is the first Wednesday Kickoff Game, moved back a day because the Melbourne game takes Thursday night. The Sunday opener is September 13, and Week 1 closes with Broncos at Chiefs on Monday, September 14.
What time do NFL games start on Sundays in 2026?
Most Sunday games kick off at 1:00 PM ET, with late window games at 4:05 or 4:25 PM ET and Sunday Night Football at 8:20 PM ET on NBC. Six international games start early at 9:30 AM ET, five of them on NFL Network and the Munich game on FOX.
How does the NFL build each team’s 17 game schedule?
Every team plays six games against its division rivals, four against a rotating division in its own conference, four against a rotating division in the other conference, two against same place finishers in its conference, and one cross conference 17th game based on last season’s standings. Bye weeks fall between Weeks 5 and 14.
Can 2026 NFL game times change after the schedule is released?
Yes. Flexible scheduling lets the NFL move games into better TV windows: Sunday Night Football from Week 5 on, Monday night in Weeks 12 through 17, and Thursday night in Weeks 13 through 17 with at least 28 days’ notice. Week 18 dates and times are set after Week 17 ends.
Why is Super Bowl LXI the latest Super Bowl in history?
The 2026 season starts unusually late, with Week 1 Sunday falling on September 13. Eighteen regular season weeks plus the full playoff bracket push the title game to February 14, 2027. That beats the previous latest date of February 13, 2022, and makes it the first Super Bowl played on Valentine’s Day.
What channel is NFL RedZone on in 2026?
ESPN has handled RedZone’s cable and satellite distribution since closing its NFL Network purchase on January 31, 2026, though the NFL still owns and produces the channel. Streamers can get RedZone through NFL+ Premium at $14.99 a month, as an add on to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube, or through sports add ons on most live TV services.
When does the 2026 NFL preseason start?
The preseason opened with the Hall of Fame Game on August 6, 2026, which Carolina won 33 to 30 over Arizona in Canton, Ohio. All 32 teams then play three preseason games between August 13 and August 29, followed by the cut to 53 players at 6:00 PM ET on Sunday, August 30.
How can I watch the 2026 NFL schedule without cable?
An antenna covers local CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC games for free. Live TV services carry the same networks from about $45.99 a month, though Fubo no longer has NBC and so cannot show Sunday Night Football. NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube adds every out of market Sunday game at $240 for new subscribers, and NFL+ streams local and primetime games on mobile from $6.99 a month.
The 2026 NFL schedule brings a record nine international games, the first Wednesday night opener, and the latest Super Bowl the league has ever played. Bookmark this page and we will keep the kickoff times, TV channels and streaming options current every week of the season.
Last updated August 16, 2026.
