NFL Schedule Release 2026: Primetime schedule, international games, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, Highlights & More.
The NFL's 272-game 2026 regular-season schedule kicks off with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in the annual NFL Kickoff Game at Lumen Field on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
The 2026 season slate features a record Nine International Series games: Three in London, and one game apiece in Berlin; Dublin, Ireland; Madrid, Spain; and São Paulo, Brazil and with the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in Australia....
In addition to its traditional three Thanksgiving Day games and a Black Friday Game, the NFL will have three games on Christmas Day as well. NFL also added another game on the Thanksgiving eve Matchup, as the Los Angeles Rams will host the Green Bay Packers.
The playoffs will start on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2027. Super Bowl 61 will be played on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The 2026 NFL schedule also includes seven international games: Three games will be played in London, while the One game in Munich, Berlin Game, Dublin Game, while the Brazil will host the second straight year NFL game in Sao Paolo.
The 2026-27 NFL season will feature 18 weeks and 272 total games, a follow up to the biggest season ever (18-game schedule started in 2021).
The 2026 NFL/Hall of Fame Game features the Arizona Cardinals vs. the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time) in Canton, Ohio, broadcast on NBC. The game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium kicks off the NFL preseason schedule.
Now the 2026 NFL schedule has been released? What games are known thus far? Here's what you should know ahead of the release:
When is the 2026 NFL schedule release?
The 2026 NFL schedule is released on May 14 at 8 p.m. ET.
What is the prime time schedule for the 2026 NFL season?
The Sunday Night Football schedule is here. The Monday Night Football schedule is here. The Thursday Night Football schedule is here.
What is the first game of the 2026 NFL season?
The NFL's 272-game 2025 regular-season schedule kicks off with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the Super Bowl LX Winner New England Patriots in the NFL Kickoff Game at Lumen Field on Wed, Sept. 9, 2026.
When and where are the 2026 NFL international games?
The 2026 NFL season will feature NINE international games, one each in Sau Paulo and Munich, and three in London. Here’s the full international games schedule, released Wednesday:
Week 1: Sept. 10, 2026: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia).
Week 3: Sept. 27, 2026: Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys (Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
Week 4: Oct. 4, 2026: Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, U.K.).
Week 5: Oct. 11, 2026: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, U.K.).
Week 6: Oct. 18, 2026: Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Wembley Stadium, London, U.K.).
Week 7: Oct. 25, 2026: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints (Stade de France, Paris, France).
Week 9: Nov. 8, 2026: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons (Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain).
Week 10: Nov. 15, 2026: New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions (FC Bayern Munich Arena, Munich, Germany).
Week 11: Nov. 22, 2026: Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers (Estadio Banorte, Mexico City, Mexico).
Which teams play on Thanksgiving Day 2026?
The 2026 NFL Thanksgiving holiday slate features five marquee games over three days.
For the first-time ever NFL holding the Matchup On Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 25), the Packers visit the Rams at on Netflix.
Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) begins with the Bears at Lions (12:30 p.m. ET), followed by the Eagles at Cowboys FOX), and concludes with the Chiefs at Bills (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).
Does the NFL have games on Christmas Day 2026?
Yes, The NFL will host a Christmas Day tripleheader on Friday, December 25, 2026, featuring three high-profile postseason rematches. The action begins at 1:00 PM ET on Netflix with the Green Bay Packers at the Chicago Bears, followed by the Buffalo Bills at the Denver Broncos. The holiday slate concludes on Fox with the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Seattle Seahawks,
while a Christmas Eve game between the Houston Texans and the Philadelphia Eagles kicks off the holiday weekend on Amazon Prime Video on 24th Dec..
Is there Black Friday NFL game in 2026 Schedule?
Yes, there is a Black Friday game scheduled for November 27, 2026.
The Holiday Schedule wraps up as the Denver Broncos will visit the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. The game will kick off at 3:00 PM ET and stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
When does the 2026 NFL preseason begin?
The 2026 NFL preseason officially begins on Thursday, August 6, 2026, with the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
The NFL opening matchup features the Carolina Panthers against the Arizona Cardinals.
When is the Super Bowl 2025?
The 2026 NFL Playoff Schedule is slated to begin on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2027 with the Wild-Card Round.
Marking a historic first for the NFL, the championship game will fall exactly on Valentine's Day. The Big game will be kick-off at 6:30 pm ET and Live Televised on ESPN, featuring a traditional television simulcast on ABC.
Super Bowl 2027 hosted at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the home venue for both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers
When will 2026 NFL tickets be on sale?
Single game tickets for the 2026 NFL season will be available as soon as the games are announced, the NFL said.
When does the 2026 NFL Season start?
The NFL's 272-game 2026 regular-season schedule kicks off with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in the annual NFL Kickoff Game at Lumen Field on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
.
Past NFL Schedule Release Dates by year
2026 – May 14
2025 – May 14
2024 – May 15
2023 – May 11
2022 – May 12
2021 – May 12
2020 – May 7
2019 – April 17
2018 – April 19
2017 – April 20
2016 – April 14
2015 – April 21
2014 – April 23
2013 – April 18
2012 – April 17
2011 – April 19
2010 – April 20
2009 – April 14
2008 – April 15
2007 – April 11
2006 – April 6
2005 – April 13
______
usatoday.com -- Cbssports.com
0 Comments