NFL schedule 2026: All the games we already know before the full release

The NFL’s full 2026 schedule is still days away from being unveiled, but the league has already started to reveal pieces of the puzzle.

And while fans won’t know every date, kickoff time, and primetime slot until the official release on Thursday, May 14, a growing number of headline matchups, including international games, holiday fixtures, and select primetime showdowns, are already confirmed. In fact, dates and opponents for the international games will be released on Wednesday, May 13, one day ahead of the full schedule.

From overseas trips to traditional Thanksgiving staples, here’s a look at the 2026 NFL games we already know are happening.

2026 NFL season opener

• Wednesday, Sept. 9 - Seattle Seahawks vs. TBD

The NFL will officially kick off the 2026 season on Wednesday, September 9, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the league’s traditional opener.

The NFL’s season opener is almost always played on a Thursday night, followed by a full Sunday slate. A Wednesday kickoff is extremely rare in modern league history and reflects the NFL’s continued effort to maximize global and broadcast reach.

In this case, the shift appears to be driven by a combination of scheduling logistics and international broadcast considerations, as the league continues to balance domestic primetime television windows with a growing overseas audience and expanded global slate.

The game itself will still serve the same purpose as always, launching the season with the defending champions in the spotlight on national television. The opponent has not yet been finalized publicly, but it is expected to be a high-profile matchup in keeping with recent tradition.

Early primetime reveal: Sunday Night Football spotlight

The first Sunday Night Football matchup was revealed on Monday as the New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys in primetime.

• Sunday, Sept. 13 - Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

This NFC East rivalry will headline one of the league’s most-watched weekly broadcasts, continuing a long tradition of featuring high-profile divisional matchups in the NFL’s Sunday night window.

Monday Night Football premiere: AFC West rivalry

On Tuesday, the league announced the first Monday Night Football game of the season. On Monday, September 14, the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos will face off in an intriguing division rivalry game.

• Monday, Sept. 14 - Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

Both starting quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix are coming into the season recovering from serious injuries, making this all the more interesting. The league announced on Tuesday that the Chiefs will host the game at Stadium.

Thursday Night Football Week 2: Highmark debut

The NFL has also announced the Week 2 Thursday Night Football game. It will be played between the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills at the new Highmark Stadium.

• Thursday, Sept. 17 - Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions

This primetime event will mark the Bills’ debut game in the new stadium. The game will premiere on Prime.

Confirmed 2026 international games

The NFL is continuing its aggressive global expansion in 2026, with games set across Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. The international schedule includes several firsts, including the first-ever regular-season game in Paris and a major debut in Rio de Janeiro.

• Thursday, Sept. 10 - Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers
  • Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
• Sunday, Sept. 27 - Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens
  • Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Sunday, Nov. 8 - Atlanta Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals
  • Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain

The NFL will formally unveil all nine international games on May 13, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET on Good Morning Football, giving fans a full breakdown of matchups ahead of the complete schedule announcement. These are the other teams we know who will host international games.

• New Orleans Saints vs. TBD
  • Stade de France, Paris, France
• Detroit Lions vs. TBD
  • FC Bayern Munich Stadium, Munich, Germany
• San Francisco 49ers vs. TBD
  • Estadio Banorte, Mexico City, Mexico
• Jacksonville Jaguars vs. TBD
  • Two games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium/Wembley, London, UK
• Washington Commanders vs. TBD
  • Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

2026 holiday games

The NFL continues their tradition of playing three games on Thanksgiving in 2026. As usual, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will host a game, while the third game will be revealed on Thursday.

On Monday, the NFL revealed that the Cowboys will host NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving Day.

• Thursday, Nov. 26 - Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles
• Thursday, Nov. 26 - Detroit Lions vs. TBD
• A third standalone Thanksgiving game will be played in primetime

These games remain among the most-watched regular-season contests every year, regardless of matchup. Reports indicate a potential inaugural Wednesday night game on November 25.

The league is also expected to hold a double-header on Black Friday, November 27.

For 2026, Christmas (December 25) is on a Friday, and the NFL is expected to continue their recent expansion of holiday football. The league is planning a three-game Christmas Day slate, continuing the push to turn December 25 into a major national broadcast window for regular-season games.

Exact matchups are not yet confirmed.

What we still don’t know

Despite the early leaks and confirmations, the majority of the 2026 NFL schedule remains unreleased. Fans still do not know the full regular-season week-by-week matchups, exact international game times, or full primetime schedule breakdowns. Those details will be revealed in full on Thursday, May 14 during the NFL’s official schedule release broadcast.

Even before the full schedule drops, the 2026 NFL season is already taking shape around major global games, marquee rivalries, and holiday showcases. And while the complete roadmap is still under wraps, the early picture already confirms that the NFL calendar is once again built for maximum spotlight, even before a single kickoff takes place.

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