What Is the 2026 NFL Schedule?
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What to Know About the 2026 NFL Schedule
The NFL’s 2026 season is set to be one of the league’s biggest international years yet, with games planned across several countries and a packed lineup of holiday matchups.
This season will feature nine international games, the most the league has ever scheduled in a single year. Fans in Australia and France will get regular-season NFL action for the first time, while games will also return to Brazil, Germany, Spain, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
The season officially begins on September 9 with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Seattle earned the right to open the season after winning Super Bowl 60 earlier this year.
A day later, the NFL heads to Melbourne, Australia, where the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will meet at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground. The matchup is expected to draw a massive crowd and will stream on Netflix.
A Different Start to the Season
The NFL usually opens on a Thursday night, but the 2026 opener will take place on a Wednesday. The schedule shift was made because of broadcasting rules tied to the season’s first international game.
Another early highlight comes the following week when the Buffalo Bills play their first regular-season game at the franchise’s new stadium. The Detroit Lions will be their opening opponents.
Later in October, Seattle fans will see Kenneth Walker return to the city after his move to the Kansas City Chiefs during the offseason.
Holiday Games Get Bigger
The NFL is expanding its holiday schedule this year.
For the first time ever, there will be a Thanksgiving Eve game. The Green Bay Packers will travel to face the Rams on November 25 in a game available on Netflix.
Thanksgiving Day itself will include three games. The Chicago Bears will visit the Detroit Lions, followed by the Philadelphia Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys. The evening matchup will feature the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Buffalo Bills.
The league is also continuing its Black Friday tradition with the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Denver Broncos.
Christmas Day will once again feature multiple games. The Bears and Packers renew their rivalry earlier in the day, while the Denver Broncos host the Bills later that evening. The final game of the holiday slate will see the Seahawks face the Rams in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship showdown.
NFL International Games in 2026
The league’s global schedule includes:
- Rams vs 49ers in Melbourne, Australia
- Ravens vs Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Colts vs Commanders in London
- Eagles vs Jaguars in London
- Texans vs Jaguars in London
- Steelers vs Saints in Paris, France
- Bengals vs Falcons in Madrid, Spain
- Patriots vs Lions in Munich, Germany
- Vikings vs 49ers in Mexico City, Mexico
How Long Is the NFL Season?
The regular season stretches across 18 weeks. Every team will play 17 games and receive one bye week during the season.
The regular season wraps up in January 2027 before the playoffs begin later that month. Altogether, the league will stage 272 regular-season games before the postseason starts.
When Is Super Bowl 61?
Super Bowl 61 is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The championship game will take place on Valentine’s Day for the first time. SoFi Stadium, home to both the Rams and Chargers, previously hosted the Super Bowl in 2022.
