NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026: Start Time, Matchup & TV Channel
The NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026 opens on Wednesday, September 9, when the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl LX. The week runs four days, includes the first NFL regular season game in Australia, and ends with Broncos at Chiefs on Monday night.
Here is every Week 1 matchup with its kickoff time in ET, TV channel and stadium, the cheapest way to stream each window, and the quarterback decisions that shaped game week.
When Does the NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026 Start?
The season kicks off Wednesday, September 9 at 8:20 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. The Patriots visit Lumen Field seven months after Seattle beat them 29 to 13 in Super Bowl LX, the second title in franchise history. The defending champion has hosted the Kickoff Game every year since 2004.
A Wednesday opener is the first since 2012. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 removes the league’s antitrust protection for Friday night and Saturday telecasts from the second Friday in September, so the Melbourne game took Thursday and the Kickoff Game moved to Wednesday.
NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026: All 16 Games, Start Times and TV Channels
All 32 teams play, so there are 16 games and no byes. Times are Eastern. Week 1 games cannot be flexed.
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 | ESPN / ABC | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Confirm any late change on the NFL.com Week 1 schedule on game day.
Week 1 Highlights: Melbourne, Sunday Night and Monday Night Football
Melbourne game: The San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday, the first NFL regular season game in Australia. The Rams are the designated home team. Kickoff is 8:35 PM ET, which is 10:35 AM AEST on Friday, September 11 in Melbourne.
Netflix streams it worldwide on every plan, with pregame coverage from 6:30 PM ET, Noah Eagle and Luke Kuechly on the call, and the Jonas Brothers at halftime. It is the only Thursday game of the week because Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football starts in Week 2. Melbourne is one of nine stops on the NFL International Games 2026 slate, a league record.
Sunday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 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: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:15 PM ET on ESPN with an ABC simulcast. Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in December 2025, took every first team rep in training camp, and sat out the preseason by design. Andy Reid has not formally cleared him for the opener but says he is on track. Justin Fields starts if Mahomes cannot go.
How to Watch the NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026 Without Cable
Six platforms carry Week 1. Here is the cheapest legal route to each window.
| Window | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Wed Kickoff Game | NBC | Peacock, NFL+ |
| Thu Melbourne game | Netflix | Netflix |
| Sun afternoon games | CBS, FOX | Paramount+, FOX One |
| Sunday Night Football | NBC | Peacock, NFL+ |
| Monday Night Football | ESPN, ABC | ESPN app on ESPN Unlimited, NFL+ |
| Out of market Sunday games | Not on local TV | NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV |
- 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. The cheaper ESPN Select tier does not carry ABC or ESPN game broadcasts.
- NFL+ streams local and primetime games on phones and tablets only. A digital antenna pulls in NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC free in most US markets.
- Outside the US, DAZN carries every game in Canada, Sky Sports shows more than 160 live games in the UK and Ireland, and NFL Game Pass International covers most other countries.
Week 1 Quarterback Decisions and Injury Notes
Four quarterback battles were settled before game week. Here is where each team stands.
- Falcons at Steelers: Tua Tagovailoa starts. Michael Penix Jr. is inactive as he finishes his recovery from a 2025 ACL injury, announced September 7.
- Browns at Jaguars: Deshaun Watson starts with Shedeur Sanders as the backup. Todd Monken named Watson on August 25 and said it is not a week to week call.
- Dolphins at Raiders: Kirk Cousins starts and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza opens as the backup. Ashton Jeanty is expected to play through a low ankle sprain.
- Packers at Vikings: Kyler Murray starts over J.J. McCarthy, a call Kevin O’Connell made in early August.
- Patriots at Seahawks: A.J. Brown makes his New England debut after the June trade from Philadelphia. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson missed Monday practice with an ankle injury and is a game time call.
- 49ers at Rams: George Kittle is back from the Achilles injury he suffered in January, though San Francisco plans to manage his snaps in Melbourne.
- Bills at Texans: Joe Brady makes his head coaching debut in Houston, where Buffalo has not won since 2006.
NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026 FAQs
When does the NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026 start?
Week 1 starts Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:20 PM ET, when the New England Patriots visit the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on NBC and Peacock. The week ends Monday, September 14 with Broncos at Chiefs.
Why does the 2026 NFL season start on a Wednesday?
The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 keeps the NFL off Friday and Saturday nights from the second Friday in September. That closed the Friday international slot, so the Australia game moved to Thursday and the Kickoff Game moved to Wednesday, the first Wednesday opener since 2012.
How many games are in NFL Week 1 2026?
There are 16 games. All 32 teams play and no team has a bye. The slate runs across Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday.
What channel is the 49ers vs Rams game in Australia on?
The Melbourne game streams only on Netflix, included with every Netflix plan. Kickoff is 8:35 PM ET on Thursday, September 10, which is 10:35 AM AEST on Friday, September 11 in Melbourne. Pregame coverage starts at 6:30 PM ET.
Who plays on Sunday Night and Monday Night Football in Week 1 2026?
Sunday Night Football is Cowboys at Giants, 8:20 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. Monday Night Football is Broncos at Chiefs, 8:15 PM ET on ESPN with an ABC simulcast.
How can I watch NFL Week 1 2026 without cable?
Peacock carries the NBC games, Paramount Plus carries CBS on either tier, and FOX One carries FOX. Monday night needs the ESPN Unlimited plan in the ESPN app. Netflix has the Melbourne game, and NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV adds out of market Sunday games. A digital antenna picks up NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC free.
Is Patrick Mahomes playing in Week 1 of 2026?
He is on track but not yet formally cleared. Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in December 2025, practiced fully with the first team all camp, and skipped the preseason by design. If he cannot play Monday night against Denver, Justin Fields starts.
The NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026 packs a Super Bowl LX rematch, the first NFL regular season game in Australia, and two classic rivalries in primetime into four days.
Bookmark this page for kickoff times and channels, then plan the rest of the season with the 2026 NFL schedule, the NFL bye weeks 2026 chart, and the printable 2026 NFL schedule grid.
