NFL Schedule 2026: Games, Dates, Kickoff Times & TV Channels
The 2026 NFL season is underway, with the regular season continuing through January 2027 before the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI. This page covers the 2026 NFL schedule, weekly dates, kickoff times, TV networks, international games, Thanksgiving and Christmas matchups, playoff dates and where to watch NFL games.
Last updated: September 30, 2026
Quick answer: The 2026 NFL regular season began on Wednesday, September 9, with the New England Patriots visiting the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Kickoff Game. Week 4 begins Thursday, October 1, with the Pittsburgh Steelers visiting the Cleveland Browns at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video. The regular season runs through January 4, 2027, followed by the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027.
2026 NFL Schedule: Key Dates
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| NFL Kickoff | September 9, 2026 | Patriots at Seahawks |
| Week 1 | September 9–14 | Regular-season opening week |
| Week 3 | September 24–28 | Completed |
| Week 4 | October 1–5 | Steelers at Browns opens the week |
| Thanksgiving Week | November 25–30 | Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday and the remainder of Week 12 |
| Christmas Eve | December 24 | Texans at Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Three-game NFL Christmas slate |
| Regular Season Ends | January 3–4, 2027 | Week 18 |
| Wild Card Weekend | January 16–18, 2027 | NFL Wild Card playoff games |
| Divisional Round | January 23–24, 2027 | NFL Divisional playoff games |
| AFC & NFC Championship Games | January 31, 2027 | Conference championship games |
| Super Bowl LXI | February 14, 2027 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California |
The NFL’s official schedule lists Week 18 for January 3–4, followed by Wild Card Weekend on January 16–18, the Divisional Round on January 23–24 and the conference championship games on January 31. Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14 at SoFi Stadium.
2026 NFL Schedule by Week
The NFL released the complete 2026 regular-season schedule in May. The season consists of 18 regular-season weeks, with games scheduled from September through early January.
Some late-season games are subject to flexible scheduling, so kickoff times and broadcast assignments can change later in the season.
| Week | Date Range | Schedule Status |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | September 9–14 | Completed |
| Week 2 | September 17–21 | Completed |
| Week 3 | September 24–28 | Completed |
| Week 4 | October 1–5 | Upcoming |
| Week 5 | October 8–12 | Scheduled |
| Week 6 | October 15–19 | Scheduled |
| Week 7 | October 22–26 | Scheduled |
| Week 8 | October 29–November 2 | Scheduled |
| Week 9 | November 5–9 | Scheduled |
| Week 10 | November 12–16 | Scheduled |
| Week 11 | November 19–23 | Scheduled |
| Week 12 | November 25–30 | Thanksgiving Week |
| Week 13 | December 3–7 | Scheduled |
| Week 14 | December 10–14 | Scheduled |
| Week 15 | December 17–21 | Scheduled |
| Week 16 | December 24–28 | Holiday scheduling |
| Week 17 | December 31–January 4 | Late-season schedule |
| Week 18 | January 3–4 | Final regular-season week |
For individual games, readers should check the current NFL schedule because selected late-season games can be moved under the league’s flexible scheduling procedures.
NFL Week 4 Schedule 2026
Week 4 begins Thursday, October 1, 2026. The opening game is the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video. The week also includes the Colts-Commanders international game in London on Sunday morning, followed by the Sunday afternoon games, Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football.
| Game | Date | Kickoff | TV / Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers at Browns | Thursday, Oct. 1 | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime Video |
| Colts at Commanders | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 9:30 a.m. ET | NFL Network / NFL+ |
| Cardinals at Giants | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Patriots at Bills | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Jets at Bears | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| Jaguars at Bengals | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Cowboys at Texans | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| Rams at Eagles | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| Packers at Buccaneers | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| Titans at Ravens | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Dolphins at Vikings | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 4:05 p.m. ET | FOX |
| Chiefs at Raiders | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Chargers at Seahawks | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Broncos at 49ers | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Lions at Panthers | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| Falcons at Saints | Monday, Oct. 5 | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
The Colts and Commanders are scheduled to meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London at 9:30 a.m. ET on October 4. The Steelers-Browns game is listed by the NFL as the Week 4 Thursday Night Football matchup at 8:15 p.m. ET.
2026 NFL International Games
The NFL has scheduled nine international regular-season games in 2026, spanning four continents and seven countries. The international slate includes games in Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany and Mexico.
| Date | Matchup | Location | Kickoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 10 | 49ers vs. Rams | Melbourne, Australia | 8:35 p.m. ET |
| Sept. 27 | Ravens vs. Cowboys | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Oct. 4 | Colts vs. Commanders | London, U.K. | 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Oct. 11 | Eagles vs. Jaguars | London, U.K. | 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Oct. 18 | Texans vs. Jaguars | London, U.K. | 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Oct. 25 | Steelers vs. Saints | Paris, France | 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Nov. 8 | Bengals vs. Falcons | Madrid, Spain | 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Nov. 15 | Patriots vs. Lions | Munich, Germany | 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Nov. 22 | Vikings vs. 49ers | Mexico City, Mexico | 8:20 p.m. ET |
The 2026 international schedule adds regular-season games in Melbourne and Paris, while Rio de Janeiro also hosts an NFL regular-season game. London has three games on the schedule.
Thanksgiving NFL Schedule 2026
The 2026 Thanksgiving schedule begins with a Thanksgiving Eve game on Wednesday, November 25. It continues with the traditional three-game Thanksgiving Day slate on November 26 and a Black Friday game on November 27.
| Date | Matchup | Kickoff | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 25 | Packers at Rams | 8:00 p.m. ET | Netflix |
| Nov. 26 | Bears at Lions | 1:00 p.m. ET | CBS / Paramount+ / NFL+ |
| Nov. 26 | Eagles at Cowboys | 4:30 p.m. ET | FOX |
| Nov. 26 | Chiefs at Bills | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC / Peacock / NFL+ |
| Nov. 27 | Broncos at Steelers | 3:00 p.m. ET | Prime Video |
The Packers-Rams matchup is the NFL’s inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game and is scheduled for Netflix. The Thanksgiving Day tripleheader features Bears-Lions, Eagles-Cowboys and Chiefs-Bills, followed by Broncos-Steelers on Black Friday.
NFL Christmas Schedule 2026
The 2026 NFL holiday schedule includes a Christmas Eve game followed by a three-game Christmas Day tripleheader.
| Date | Matchup | Kickoff | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 24 | Texans at Eagles | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime Video |
| Dec. 25 | Packers at Bears | 1:00 p.m. ET | Netflix |
| Dec. 25 | Bills at Broncos | 4:30 p.m. ET | Netflix |
| Dec. 25 | Rams at Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. ET | FOX |
The Christmas Day tripleheader features Packers at Bears, Bills at Broncos and Rams at Seahawks. The NFL lists the first two games for Netflix and the Rams-Seahawks game for FOX.
2026 NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl LXI
After the 18-week regular season, the 2026 NFL postseason moves through Wild Card Weekend, the Divisional Round and the AFC and NFC Championship Games before Super Bowl LXI.
| Postseason Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Wild Card Weekend | January 16–18, 2027 |
| Divisional Round | January 23–24, 2027 |
| AFC & NFC Championship Games | January 31, 2027 |
| Super Bowl LXI | February 14, 2027 |
Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
How to Watch the 2026 NFL Season
Where you watch an NFL game depends on the network carrying that particular matchup and whether the game is a local, primetime, international or out-of-market broadcast.
| Game Type | Common U.S. Broadcaster / Service |
|---|---|
| Sunday afternoon AFC games | CBS / Paramount+ |
| Sunday afternoon NFC games | FOX |
| Sunday Night Football | NBC / Peacock |
| Monday Night Football | ESPN / ABC |
| Thursday Night Football | Prime Video |
| Selected holiday games | Netflix / Prime Video / broadcast networks |
| Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games | NFL Sunday Ticket via YouTube / YouTube TV |
| Local and selected primetime games on mobile | NFL+ |
The broadcast assignment is specific to each game, so check the individual matchup before kickoff. NFL+ provides live local and primetime games on mobile devices, while NFL Sunday Ticket is used for out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
For detailed streaming comparisons, see our dedicated StreamPlayz guides rather than using this schedule page as a full streaming-services review.
NFL Network and ESPN in 2026
ESPN completed its transaction involving NFL Network and certain other NFL media assets in January 2026. NFL Network distribution and programming information can therefore change as the new media arrangement takes effect.
For viewers, the best approach is to check the current NFL or ESPN information for a specific NFL Network game or program.
What Is the Official NFL Schedule?
The official NFL schedule is the league’s primary source for the regular-season calendar, including games by week and team, dates, kickoff times, locations and broadcast information.
Because some late-season games can be moved through flexible scheduling, the official schedule should be checked again closer to game day.
For more detailed streaming information, see our NFL streaming services guide.
For information about out-of-market Sunday games, see our NFL Sunday Ticket vs. YouTube TV guide.
2026 NFL Schedule FAQ
When did the 2026 NFL season start?
The 2026 regular season opened on September 9, 2026, with the New England Patriots visiting the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Kickoff Game. The game was scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and NFL+.
When does Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season start?
Week 4 begins on Thursday, October 1, 2026, with the Pittsburgh Steelers visiting the Cleveland Browns at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
How many international NFL games are there in 2026?
There are nine international regular-season games scheduled across Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany and Mexico.
When is the 2026 NFL Thanksgiving schedule?
The Thanksgiving holiday slate begins Wednesday, November 25, with Packers at Rams. It continues with three games on Thursday, November 26, and includes Broncos at Steelers on Black Friday, November 27.
When is the 2026 NFL Christmas schedule?
The NFL has a Christmas Eve game on December 24 followed by three Christmas Day games on December 25. The Christmas Day matchups are Packers at Bears, Bills at Broncos and Rams at Seahawks.
When is Super Bowl LXI?
Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Where can I find the complete 2026 NFL schedule?
The complete schedule is available through the official NFL schedule, which lists games by week and team along with dates, kickoff times, locations and network information.
Can NFL game times change during the season?
Yes. Some late-season games are subject to flexible scheduling. The NFL can determine or change certain dates, kickoff times and network assignments later in the season. Week 18 games are listed as TBD until the league announces the final schedule.
Bottom Line
The 2026 NFL schedule includes 18 regular-season weeks, nine international games, an expanded Thanksgiving holiday slate, a Christmas Eve game, a three-game Christmas Day schedule and a postseason that culminates in Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027.
For the most accurate game-by-game information, check the official NFL schedule for the latest kickoff times and network assignments, especially for games later in the season that may be affected by flexible scheduling.
For detailed streaming instructions, use the dedicated NFL streaming guides on StreamPlayz.
Last fact-check: September 30, 2026. Late-season NFL games can receive schedule or broadcast changes, so recheck individual matchups closer to kickoff.
