NFL 2026 Season: Kickoff, Week 1 Schedule & How to Watch
Sports | Updated August 30, 2026
Football is back. The 2026 NFL season begins with a scheduling twist — a special Wednesday night kickoff — and a record slate of international games. This guide gives you the verified 2026 calendar: the opening game, the Week 1 schedule, the international matchups, the holiday games, and every way to watch on TV and streaming.
When Does the NFL 2026 Season Start?
The 2026 regular season opens on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in the NFL Kickoff Game. Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The league flipped the traditional script this year by moving the opener to a special Wednesday night broadcast rather than the usual Thursday.
Week 1 continues the next night, Thursday, September 10, when the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia — the first NFL regular-season game in Australia — at 8:35 p.m. ET, streamed on Netflix. The full Sunday slate follows on September 13.
NFL 2026 Key Dates at a Glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, Sept 9 | NFL Kickoff Game: Patriots at Seahawks (NBC/Peacock) |
| Thursday, Sept 10 | 49ers at Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Netflix) |
| Sunday, Sept 13 | Full Week 1 Sunday slate (CBS/FOX/NBC/ESPN) |
| Thursday, Nov 26 | Thanksgiving tripleheader |
| January 2027 | NFL playoffs begin |
| Sunday, Feb 14, 2027 | Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium |
NFL Week 1 Matchups
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks | Wed, Sept 9 | 8:20 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne) | Thu, Sept 10 | 8:35 p.m. | Netflix |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals | Sun, Sept 13 | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions | Sun, Sept 13 | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| New York Giants at Tennessee Titans | Sun, Sept 13 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS |
Every team plays in Week 1 — there are no byes until Week 5 — so no fan base sits out the opening weekend. The complete Week 1 slate, including all regional Sunday games, is published on the NFL official schedule at nfl.com/schedules.
A Record 9 International Games in 2026
The 2026 NFL season features a record nine international games across seven countries: the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. The Mexico City game between the Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers is especially relevant for Spanish-speaking fans — the NFL's Mexico series has drawn huge crowds and strong TV audiences. The Munich game pairs the New England Patriots with the Detroit Lions.
This international expansion is part of the league's push to grow the sport globally, and it means more games in more time zones. For fans in the US, international games typically air in morning or afternoon slots Eastern Time, which creates a full day of football on those weekends.
Thanksgiving 2026: The Holiday Tripleheader
The traditional Thanksgiving football feast returns on Thursday, November 26, 2026 with three games: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS), Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX), and Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). This is one of the most-watched football days of the year, and it kicks off the stretch run of the regular season.
How to Watch NFL 2026 Without Cable
- NFL+: streams every local and primetime game live on mobile devices, plus RedZone and on-demand replays.
- Local broadcasts: CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC carry the Sunday afternoon and primetime games in your area.
- Out-of-market: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube) gives you every game from every market.
- Streaming: Peacock (Sunday/Thursday NBC games), Amazon Prime Video (Thursday Night Football), Netflix (international games), ESPN+ and the ESPN App.
- Spanish: Telemundo and ESPN Deportes carry select games for Spanish-speaking fans.
The Road to Super Bowl LXI
The 2026 season runs 18 weeks, from the September 9 kickoff through Week 18 in early January 2027. The playoffs follow in January, and the season culminates in Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. If you are planning your football calendar, that is the date to circle — and you can find the full host-city and broadcast details in our Super Bowl LXI guide.
Verified Official Sources
- Source: NFL — Official 2026 schedule
- Source: CableTV — NFL Week 1 TV schedule
- Source: CBS Sports — 2026 NFL schedule release
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the NFL 2026 regular season start?
Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with the Seahawks hosting the Patriots in the NFL Kickoff Game at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
What is the first NFL game in Australia?
The 49ers at Rams in Melbourne on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 8:35 p.m. ET, streamed on Netflix.
How many international NFL games are there in 2026?
A record nine games across seven countries: UK, Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Mexico and Australia.
How can I watch NFL games without cable?
NFL+ streams local and primetime games on mobile; NFL Sunday Ticket covers out-of-market games; Peacock, Prime Video and Netflix cover specific games.
What NFL games are on Thanksgiving 2026?
Bears at Lions (CBS), Eagles at Cowboys (FOX), and Chiefs at Bills (NBC) on Thursday, November 26, 2026.
