Here’s the Kansas City Chiefs schedule for the 2026 NFL season: Rivals and dates for every game
The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2026 schedule is here, featuring primetime games, tough road stretches and key matchups that could define their season.
The NFL has officially released the full 2026 regular-season schedule, and the Kansas City Chiefs enter the new season looking to bounce back from a rare down year.
After years of dominance, the 2025 season marked a significant setback for Kansas City. The Chiefs finished 6–11, missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, and ended their long run atop the AFC West. Injuries, close losses, and inconsistency defined their frustrating season which fell well short of expectations and standards.
Now, with a fresh start in 2026, the Chiefs will look to re-establish themselves as contenders, and their schedule ensures they will be tested immediately. Featuring multiple primetime games, tough road environments and key matchups against conference rivals, Kansas City’s path back to the top won’t come easy.
Kansas City Chiefs: Full 2026 schedule
(All times ET)
Week 1 – Monday, Sept. 14
- Broncos @ Chiefs
- 8:15 p.m.
- ESPN/ABC
Week 2 – Sunday, Sept. 20
- Colts @ Chiefs
- 8:20 p.m.
- NBC
Week 3 – Sunday, Sept. 27
- Chiefs @ Dolphins
- 1:00 p.m.
- CBS
Week 4 – Sunday, Oct. 4
- Chiefs @ Raiders
- 4:25 p.m.
- CBS
Week 5 – BYE WEEK
Week 6 – Sunday, Oct. 18
- Chargers @ Chiefs
- 4:25 p.m.
- CBS
Week 7 – Sunday, Oct. 25
- Chiefs @ Seahawks
- 8:20 p.m.
- NBC
Week 8 – Sunday, Nov. 1
- Chiefs @ Broncos
- 4:25 p.m.
- CBS
Week 9 – Sunday, Nov. 8
- Jets @ Chiefs
- 1:00 p.m.
- CBS
Week 10 – Sunday, Nov. 15
- Chiefs @ Falcons
- 1:00 p.m.
- CBS
Week 11 – Sunday, Nov. 22
- Cardinals @ Chiefs
- 1:00 p.m.
- CBS
Week 12 – Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving)
- Chiefs @ Bills
- 8:20 p.m.
- NBC
Week 13 – Thursday, Dec. 3
- Chiefs @ Rams
- 8:15 p.m.
- Prime Video
Week 14 – Sunday, Dec. 13
- Chiefs @ Bengals
- 4:25 p.m.
- FOX
Week 15 – Monday, Dec. 21
- Patriots @ Chiefs
- 8:15 p.m.
- ESPN/ABC
Week 16 – Sunday, Dec. 27
- 49ers @ Chiefs
- 4:25 p.m.
- CBS
Week 17 – TBD
- Chiefs @ Chargers
- Time & Network TBD
Week 18 – TBD:
- Raiders @ Chiefs
- Time & Network TBD
What stands out in the Chiefs’ 2026 schedule
The Chiefs open the season with back-to-back primetime games at Arrowhead Stadium, hosting the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football before facing the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football. Rather than easing into the year, Kansas City will be under the spotlight right away, with early performances likely shaping the narrative around whether this team has truly reset.
The middle stretch of the schedule presents another major challenge. A run of road games that includes trips to Seattle, Denver and Atlanta in a four-week span will test both consistency and resilience, two areas that proved problematic last season. How they perform on the road will be telling.
Things don’t get any easier late in the year. A Thanksgiving night matchup against the Buffalo Bills begins a demanding stretch that includes a short week and a Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Rams, followed by a road clash with the Cincinnati Bengals.
In many ways, this schedule sets up as a referendum on the Chiefs’ ability to respond. A strong start could signal that last season was an outlier. Another slow beginning, however, would raise even more questions about whether Kansas City’s era of dominance has truly come to an end.
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