NFL Schedule Highlights for 2026 Season

The NFL released its full 2026 regular season schedule on May 14. Teams are currently in organized team activities around the league as they prepare for training camp later this summer. The season opens on a Wednesday for the first time in years. The opener is set for September 9 when the New England Patriots visit the Seattle Seahawks at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. This matchup is a rematch of Super Bowl LX.On Thursday, September 10, the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, at 8:35 p.m. ET on Netflix. This is one of nine international games scheduled this year, the most in league history. Other international matchups include games in London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Munich, and Mexico City. Most of the Sunday slate on September 13 starts at 1:00 p.m. ET. Key early games include the Atlanta Falcons at the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens at the Indianapolis Colts, the Chicago Bears at the Carolina Panthers, and the Buffalo Bills at the Houston Texans. Later afternoon games feature the Dallas Cowboys at the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football. The Monday night game on September 14 has the Denver Broncos at the Kansas City Chiefs. The schedule includes several notable rematches from last season's playoffs and Super Bowl. There is also a first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game on November 25 when the Green Bay Packers visit the Los Angeles Rams. Preseason games are scheduled to start in early August, with the full preseason slate already out. Teams will continue OTAs and minicamps through June before breaking for the summer. This gives fans plenty of time to study the matchups before the games begin in September. The 18 week regular season runs through early January 2027, followed by the playoffs.