NFL Schedule 2026 – Season Dates, International Games & Key Deadlines
NFL Schedule 2026 – Season Dates, International Games & Key Deadlines
The 2026 NFL season opens September 10 with nine international games across four continents and a Super Bowl on Valentine’s Day. Here is every confirmed date, deadline, and milestone — fully updated for the 107th NFL season.
The 2026 NFL season — the 107th in the league’s history — is scheduled to open on Thursday, September 10, 2026, with the NFL Kickoff Game hosted by the defending Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks. It will conclude with Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027 — Valentine’s Day — at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, marking the latest calendar finish in NFL history. Between those two dates lies an 18-week regular season, a record nine international games across four continents including three first-ever host cities, and a postseason bracket that begins Wild Card Weekend on January 16–18, 2027.
This guide covers every confirmed date and deadline for the 2026 NFL season — from the March 11 free agency opening through the draft, preseason, regular season, and playoffs. International fans in Germany, the UK, France, Australia, Brazil, Spain, and Mexico all have confirmed home games. The full schedule with exact kickoff times will be released on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
2026 NFL Season — All Key Dates at a Glance
2026
Legal Tampering Period + Free Agency Opens
Teams may begin contacting and negotiating with pending unrestricted free agents through their certified agents starting March 9. No contracts can be signed until the league year officially opens at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11. This is when the NFL’s biggest moves happen — trades, extensions, and the first wave of free agent signings. The Tennessee Titans enter free agency with the most cap space in the league at an estimated $100 million.
– April 1
Annual League Meeting — Phoenix, Arizona
All 32 NFL owners and team executives gather in Phoenix for the Annual League Meeting — the primary venue for rule changes, policy votes, and league-wide business decisions. The 2026 meeting is expected to include discussions on further international expansion (toward a target of 16 international games per season), the ESPN acquisition of NFL Network which was approved January 31, and scheduling format discussions.
2026
2026 NFL Draft — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The 2026 NFL Draft takes place at Acrisure Stadium, Point State Park, and other venues across Pittsburgh — a city hosting the draft for the first time. The Las Vegas Raiders, who finished with the worst record in 2025, hold the first overall pick. First-round picks will be given 8 minutes per selection — down from 10 — for the first time since 2012. The draft is a major scheduling anchor: rookies report to training camp roughly 90 days after being selected.
2026
2026 NFL Schedule Release Date
The full 2026 regular season schedule — all 272 games with dates, kickoff times, and TV listings — is expected to be released on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Individual teams typically post their schedules at 7:30 p.m. ET on social media, followed by the league-wide release on NFL Network and ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET. In the 24–48 hours before the release, certain marquee matchups may be announced or leaked, including the Kickoff Game opponent.
2026
NFL Hall of Fame Game — Preseason Opens
The 2026 NFL preseason officially begins with the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 6 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio — the traditional preseason opener. The full preseason schedule runs through late August, with most teams playing three games before final roster cuts in advance of the regular season opener.
2026
NFL Kickoff Game — Regular Season Begins
The 2026 NFL regular season opens Thursday, September 10, with the NFL Kickoff Game at the home stadium of the defending Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks. The opponent has not yet been announced and will be confirmed when the full schedule is released in May. This will be the first time since 2012 that the season starts on a Wednesday or Thursday as part of an 18-week regular season structure. The first full Sunday slate of games is September 13, 2026.
2027
Regular Season Ends — Week 18
The 2026 NFL regular season concludes on January 10, 2027, with all 16 divisional games played simultaneously in the final week — the standard format designed to prevent meaningful rest or competitive manipulation in games that affect playoff seeding. The 2026 regular season runs 18 weeks from September 10 to January 10, covering 272 total games across all 32 teams.
2027
Wild Card Weekend — Playoffs Begin
The 2026–27 NFL playoffs begin with Wild Card Weekend on January 16–18, 2027, featuring six games across three days. The top seed in each conference receives a bye. CBS and Fox each air one Wild Card game, NBC airs the Sunday night game, and ESPN/ABC broadcasts a game on a date to be confirmed. The bottom three seeds in each conference (seeds 4–6) host Wild Card games.
2027
Super Bowl LXI — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Super Bowl LXI will be played on Sunday, February 14, 2027 — Valentine’s Day — at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. It is the latest date in NFL history for a Super Bowl, a consequence of the expanded 18-week regular season and additional playoff rounds. SoFi Stadium, which opened in 2020, has a capacity of 70,240 with the ability to expand to 100,240. It previously hosted Super Bowl LVI in February 2022.
Record 9 International Games in 2026 — Full Confirmed Lineup
The 2026 NFL season features a record nine international regular-season games — the most in a single season in league history — spanning four continents and nine cities. Three of those cities are hosting an NFL regular-season game for the first time ever: Melbourne, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has confirmed the league’s long-term target of 16 international games annually, with all 32 teams eventually playing one international game per season.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
LA Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers — Expected Week 1. The first NFL regular-season game ever played on Australian soil, at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 49ers will be playing their second international game of the 2026 season.
Stade de France, Paris
New Orleans Saints vs. TBA — Expected Week 7. The first NFL game ever played in France, at the national stadium in Saint-Denis. France has over 14 million NFL fans. The Saints hold international marketing rights in France under the NFL’s Global Markets Program.
Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Dallas Cowboys vs. TBA — Expected Week 3. The Cowboys take their international home game to the iconic Maracanã — one of the most famous stadiums in the world. Brazil is one of the NFL’s fastest-growing international markets.
London (3 Games)
Jacksonville Jaguars confirmed as one of the participating teams. London has hosted 39 NFL regular-season games since 2007. Games split between Wembley Stadium (90,000 capacity) and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,000).
Estadio Bernabéu, Madrid
One game at Real Madrid’s home stadium — returning after the 2025 debut. Spain has 3.56 million NFL fans, with growth accelerating since the first Madrid game last season.
FC Bayern Munich Arena
One game in Munich — the league’s return after skipping Germany in 2025. Germany remains the NFL’s largest European market with 6.66 million fans. Munich has hosted NFL games since 2022.
Estadio Banorte, Mexico City
San Francisco 49ers vs. TBA — Expected Weeks 13–14. The 49ers will play their second international game of the season in Mexico City. Mexico is the NFL’s largest international market with 33% of adults identifying as fans.
2026 NFL Offseason Timeline — Free Agency to Draft
Before the first game of the 2026 season is played, teams will have spent six months reshaping their rosters. The offseason runs from the close of the 2025 season through the start of training camp in late July — and almost every major transaction happens within a specific window. Here is the complete offseason timeline:
Franchise / Transition Tag Window Opens
Teams may begin designating players with the franchise or transition tag — a mechanism that keeps a player on the team for one year at a salary tied to the position’s market average. The window runs through March 3.
NFL Scouting Combine — Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Draft-eligible players attend the annual Scouting Combine, where they undergo physical testing, interviews, and medical evaluations in front of all 32 NFL teams. Results directly impact draft board positioning and contract value.
Legal Tampering + Free Agency Begins
Teams can contact pending free agents starting March 9. The new league year and official free agency period begin at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11 — the NFL’s most active 48 hours of the year for transactions.
Annual League Meeting — Phoenix
Owners vote on rule changes, expansion plans, and league policy. The 2026 ESPN–NFL Network deal finalization and the future of international expansion are expected agenda items.
NFL Draft — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Las Vegas Raiders pick first overall. 259 players selected across seven rounds over three days at Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park. First-round picks allotted 8 minutes per selection.
NFL Schedule Release
All 272 regular-season games released simultaneously at 8:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network and ESPN. Kickoff times, TV assignments, and international game details confirmed for all 32 teams.
Franchise Tag Extension Deadline
Final date for teams to sign franchise-tagged players to multi-year extensions. After this date, tagged players can only play on one-year contracts for the 2026 season.
Preseason Opens — Hall of Fame Game
Canton, Ohio hosts the traditional preseason opener. Training camps fully open for all teams. Rookies report approximately 5–7 days before veterans under the standard CBA timeline.
NFL Kickoff Game — Regular Season Begins
Seattle Seahawks host the 2026 regular season opener in prime time. The first Super Bowl LX championship banner is raised. The race for Super Bowl LXI begins.
Complete 2026 NFL Key Dates — Quick Reference Table
| Date | Event | Location / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 10, 2027 | Week 18 — Regular Season Ends | All 272 regular season games completed |
| Jan 16–18, 2027 | Wild Card Weekend | NFL Playoffs begin — 6 games |
| Jan 23–25, 2027 | Divisional Round | 4 playoff games |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Conference Championship Games | AFC & NFC Championships |
| Feb 14, 2027 | Super Bowl LXI | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California |
| Feb 17, 2026 | Franchise Tag Window Opens | Through March 3 |
| Feb 23 – Mar 2 | NFL Scouting Combine | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN |
| March 3 | Franchise/Transition Tag Deadline | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| March 9–11 | Legal Tampering Period | Free agent contact allowed |
| March 11 | Free Agency + New League Year | 4:00 p.m. ET — contracts can be signed |
| Mar 29 – Apr 1 | Annual League Meeting | Phoenix, Arizona |
| April 23–25 | NFL Draft 2026 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Las Vegas has Pick #1) |
| May 13 | NFL Schedule Release | 8:00 p.m. ET — NFL Network & ESPN |
| July 15 | Franchise Tag Extension Deadline | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| August 6 | Hall of Fame Game — Preseason Opens | Canton, Ohio |
| Sept 10, 2026 | NFL Kickoff Game | Seattle Seahawks host (TBD opponent) |
| Sept 13, 2026 | First Full Sunday of Games | Week 1 — all 16 divisional games |
| Sept 14, 2026 | Monday Night Football Opener | Week 1 MNF on ESPN/ABC |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Thanksgiving Games | Dallas Cowboys + Detroit Lions play every year |
| Dec 25, 2026 | Christmas Day Games | Three games confirmed — teams TBA |
Sources: NFL.com, NFL Football Operations, Wikipedia 2026 NFL Season, CBS Sports, SportsbookReview. All dates subject to change.
What Makes the 2026 NFL Schedule Historic
The 2026 season stands apart from any previous NFL season on several dimensions — not just geographically, but structurally, commercially, and competitively.
The International Series Goes to Four Continents
For the first time in NFL history, regular-season games will be played on four continents in a single season. North America (Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro), Europe (London ×3, Paris, Madrid, Munich), South America (Brazil), and Oceania (Melbourne) all host games. The first game in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground — Rams vs. 49ers — is expected in Week 1, making it simultaneously the farthest-traveled and earliest regular-season international game in NFL history. Paris marks France’s debut as a host nation, completing a significant gap in the league’s European footprint. France has over 14 million NFL fans and is the only country to have hosted a FIFA World Cup, Rugby World Cup, UEFA Champions League Final, and UEFA European Championship Final — now joining that list with the NFL.
ESPN Acquires NFL Network
Under an agreement first announced in August 2025 and formally approved by regulators on January 31, 2026, ESPN acquired NFL Network, television distribution rights to NFL RedZone, the RedZone brand, and the NFL’s official fantasy football service. This is one of the most significant changes to NFL media rights in the league’s history. For fans, it means NFL Network programming will migrate under the ESPN umbrella, with new distribution and streaming arrangements taking effect during the 2026 season. The NFL retains ownership of NFL+, its direct-to-consumer streaming platform.
Super Bowl on Valentine’s Day — The Latest Finish Ever
Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027 is the latest date a Super Bowl has ever been played in NFL history. The February 14 date is a direct result of the 18-week regular season structure — which runs through January 10 — and a full four rounds of playoffs. It also creates one of the most commercially unusual Super Bowls ever: a game that falls on Valentine’s Day will require advertisers, broadcasters, and host-city organizers to navigate competing cultural events. SoFi Stadium, the host venue, holds up to 100,240 in maximum configuration and sits in the heart of one of the world’s largest media markets.
For fans tracking where the NFL’s biggest salaries come from, the record revenues generated by international expansion and new broadcast rights directly fund the contracts at the top of the league’s pay scale. For a detailed look at who is earning those salaries, see our full ranking of the highest paid NFL players in 2026 — including every confirmed contract figure, guaranteed money total, and endorsement breakdown.
2026 NFL Season — TV Schedule and Broadcast Deals
The 2026 NFL season operates under the league’s current broadcast agreements, with one major mid-season change: the formal integration of NFL Network under the ESPN umbrella following the January 2026 acquisition approval.
Sunday Night Football continues on NBC under the sixth year of its seven-year deal — consistently the most-watched prime-time program in American television. Monday Night Football airs on ESPN and ABC, with flex scheduling available in Weeks 12–17. Thursday Night Football streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Wild Card Weekend is split between CBS (AFC game), Fox (NFC game), NBC (Sunday night), and ESPN/ABC (date TBD). Black Friday football on Amazon Prime Video continues in 2026, with Commissioner Goodell having confirmed the league is considering adding a second Black Friday game. Christmas Day games — three confirmed — will be distributed across broadcasters with specific assignments announced at schedule release in May.
The NFL’s global reach continues to accelerate. Much like other data-driven consumer trends — from the rise of collectible markets, tracked in analyses like the most expensive Labubu dolls of 2025, to the explosion of bubble tea’s global popularity — the NFL’s international growth follows the same pattern: a passionate, data-supported fanbase driving significant commercial investment across new markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2026 NFL Season — What to Watch For
The 2026 NFL season is the most globally ambitious in the league’s 107-year history. Nine international games on four continents, a record $300+ million salary cap, the ESPN acquisition of NFL Network, and a Super Bowl on Valentine’s Day at SoFi Stadium — the infrastructure around the game has never been larger. The full schedule drops May 13. Free agency opens March 11. The draft is April 23–25 in Pittsburgh. And on September 10, Seattle raises its first championship banner and the race for Super Bowl LXI begins.