NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026: Start Time, Matchup & TV Channel
The NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026 is official, and the season opens on a night no one is used to. Football returns on Wednesday, September 9, when the defending champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl LX.
Week 1 stretches across four days, ends on Monday night, and includes the first NFL regular season game ever played in Australia. Below is every matchup with its kickoff time in ET, TV channel and stadium, plus how to stream each window.
On This Page
- When does NFL Week 1 start in 2026?
- Full Week 1 schedule, times and TV channels
- First NFL game in Australia
- Sunday night and Monday night games
- How to watch and stream
- Storylines to watch
- FAQs
When Does NFL Week 1 Start in 2026?
The 2026 season kicks off on Wednesday, September 9 at 8:20 PM ET. The Patriots visit the Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, live on NBC and Peacock. Seattle earned the honor by beating New England 29 to 13 in Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, the second title in franchise history. The defending champion has opened the season at home every year since 2004.
A Wednesday opener is rare, and the last one came in 2012. The reason is the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. Between the second Friday in September and the second Saturday in December, the league loses its antitrust protection for any Friday night or Saturday telecast that reaches within 75 miles of a high school or college game, which in practice keeps the NFL off those two nights. That closed the Friday slot used for the 2025 Brazil game, so Melbourne took Thursday and the Kickoff Game moved to Wednesday.
NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026: Every Game, Start Time and TV Channel
All 32 teams play in Week 1, so there are 16 games and no byes. Times below are Eastern.
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
| MATCHUP | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots @ Seahawks | 8:20 PM | NBC / Peacock | Lumen Field, Seattle |
Thursday, September 10, 2026
| MATCHUP | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers @ Rams | 8:35 PM | Netflix | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia |
Sunday, September 13, 2026
| MATCHUP | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bears @ Panthers | 1:00 PM | FOX | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte |
| Buccaneers @ Bengals | 1:00 PM | FOX | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati |
| Saints @ Lions | 1:00 PM | FOX | Ford Field, Detroit |
| Falcons @ Steelers | 1:00 PM | FOX | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh |
| Bills @ Texans | 1:00 PM | CBS | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Ravens @ Colts | 1:00 PM | CBS | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis |
| Browns @ Jaguars | 1:00 PM | CBS | EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville |
| Jets @ Titans | 1:00 PM | CBS | Nissan Stadium, Nashville |
| Dolphins @ Raiders | 4:25 PM | FOX | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas |
| Commanders @ Eagles | 4:25 PM | FOX | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Cardinals @ Chargers | 4:25 PM | CBS | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Packers @ Vikings | 4:25 PM | CBS | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis |
| Cowboys @ Giants | 8:20 PM | NBC / Peacock | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
Monday, September 14, 2026
| MATCHUP | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos @ Chiefs | 8:15 PM | ABC / ESPN | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Kickoff times can shift slightly, so confirm against the NFL.com Week 1 schedule on game day.
First NFL Game in Australia
Thursday belongs to history. The San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the first NFL regular season game staged in Australia. The Rams are the designated home team.
Kickoff is 8:35 PM ET Thursday, which is 10:35 AM AEST on Friday, September 11 in Melbourne. Netflix streams it globally in more than 200 countries, included with a standard subscription and with no sports add on required. It is the only Thursday game in Week 1 because Amazon Prime Video does not open its Thursday Night Football package until Week 2, on September 17 with Lions at Bills. Melbourne is one of nine stops on the NFL International Games 2026 slate, a league record.
Sunday Night and Monday Night Football in Week 1
Sunday Night Football: the Dallas Cowboys visit the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium at 8:20 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. It is the 128th regular season meeting in a rivalry that dates to 1960.
Monday Night Football: the Denver Broncos travel to Kansas City at 8:15 PM ET on ABC and ESPN. Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15 of 2025 and had surgery that December. Reporting in late July put him on track to play, though Kansas City has not formally cleared him, which makes this AFC West opener the biggest question mark of the week.
How to Watch the NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026
Six platforms carry Week 1. NBC has both Wednesday and Sunday night, and Peacock simulcasts each. Netflix has the Melbourne game with no extra sports package needed. On Sunday afternoon, CBS and FOX split the regional windows, and ABC and ESPN close the week on Monday.
| Window / Game | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Wed Kickoff Game (Patriots at Seahawks) | NBC | Peacock, NFL+ |
| Thu Melbourne (49ers at Rams) | Netflix | Netflix |
| Sun afternoon games | CBS, FOX | Paramount+, FOX One |
| Sun Night Football (Cowboys at Giants) | NBC | Peacock, NFL+ |
| Mon Night Football (Broncos at Chiefs) | ABC, ESPN | ESPN app on ESPN Unlimited, NFL+ |
| Out of market Sunday games | Not on local TV | NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV |
Two details save money and frustration. NFL on CBS is included with either Paramount+ tier, so the cheaper plan is enough. Monday night needs the ESPN Unlimited plan inside the ESPN app, because the lower ESPN Select tier, which replaced the old ESPN+ branding, does not carry ABC or ESPN game broadcasts.
A digital antenna still pulls in NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC free in most US markets. NFL+ streams local and primetime games on phones and tablets only, not on TVs. Outside the US, DAZN shows every game in Canada, NFL Game Pass International covers most other countries, and Sky Sports carries more than 160 live games across the UK and Ireland.
Week 1 Storylines to Watch
- A Super Bowl rematch opens the season. Seattle and New England meet again seven months after Super Bowl LX, and both rosters look different.
- A.J. Brown debuts in New England. The Patriots sent Philadelphia a 2028 first round pick for the star receiver, and the trade became official on June 1, giving Drake Maye a true number one target in Seattle.
- The NFL lands in Australia. A divisional game between the 49ers and Rams doubles as the league’s first regular season trip Down Under.
- Kyler Murray faces Green Bay in purple. Released by Arizona in March, Murray signed with Minnesota and competes with J.J. McCarthy for the job before the Packers visit.
- Joe Brady takes over in Buffalo. The promoted coordinator makes his head coaching debut in Houston against one of the league’s best defenses.
- Mahomes returns from ACL and LCL surgery. Monday night in Kansas City is the date he set in rehab, and he is reported to be on track for it.
NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026 FAQs
When does the NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026 start?
Week 1 starts on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:20 PM ET, when the New England Patriots visit the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. The week ends on Monday, September 14 with Broncos at Chiefs.
Why does the 2026 NFL season start on a Wednesday?
The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 blocks NFL broadcasts on Friday and Saturday nights from the second Friday in September. That removed the Friday international slot, so the Australia game moved to Thursday and the Kickoff Game moved to Wednesday. It is the first Wednesday opener since 2012.
What channel is the NFL Kickoff Game on in 2026?
NBC airs Patriots at Seahawks on Wednesday, September 9 at 8:20 PM ET. It also streams on Peacock and on NFL+ for phones and tablets.
How many games are in NFL Week 1 2026?
There are 16 games. All 32 teams play in Week 1 and no team has a bye. The slate runs Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday.
Where is the NFL Week 1 international game in 2026?
The 49ers play the Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. Kickoff is 8:35 PM ET on Thursday, September 10, which is 10:35 AM AEST on Friday, September 11 in Melbourne.
What channel is the NFL game in Australia on?
Netflix streams 49ers at Rams worldwide. It is included with a standard Netflix subscription and no separate sports add on is required.
Who plays on Sunday Night Football in Week 1 2026?
The Dallas Cowboys visit the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium at 8:20 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
Who plays on Monday Night Football in Week 1 2026?
The Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium at 8:15 PM ET on ABC and ESPN.
How can I watch NFL Week 1 2026 without cable?
Peacock covers the NBC games, Paramount Plus covers CBS on either tier, and FOX One covers FOX. Monday night needs the ESPN Unlimited plan in the ESPN app, since the cheaper ESPN Select tier does not include ABC or ESPN games. Netflix has the Melbourne game, and NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV adds out of market Sunday games. A digital antenna picks up the broadcast networks free.
Is Patrick Mahomes playing in Week 1 of 2026?
He is on track. Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15 of the 2025 season and had surgery that December, then targeted Week 1 for his return. Reporting in late July had him trending toward full clearance for the Monday night opener against Denver, but the Chiefs have not made it official.
Is there a Thursday Night Football game on Amazon in Week 1?
No. Amazon Prime Video begins its Thursday Night Football package in Week 2, on September 17 with Lions at Bills. The only Thursday game in Week 1 is the Melbourne matchup on Netflix.
Which teams have a bye in Week 1 of the 2026 season?
None. Byes do not begin until later in the season. You can check the full bye week chart for all 32 teams on our bye weeks page.
Final Thoughts
The NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026 gives you four days of football, a Super Bowl LX rematch to open it, a first ever game in Australia, and two of the league’s oldest rivalries in primetime. Bookmark this page for kickoff times and channels, then plan the rest of your season with the 2026 NFL schedule, the NFL bye weeks 2026 chart, and the printable 2026 NFL schedule grid. Preseason results are in the 2026 NFL preseason guide, and full details of the Melbourne trip sit on the NFL Melbourne game page and in the official schedule release.
