The 2026 Detroit Lions schedule is highlighted by the franchise’s historic return to international play with a regular-season game in Munich, Germany. Following their 2025 campaign, the Lions will host nine home games (including the Munich showcase) and play eight on the road.
While the full week-by-week calendar with kickoff times and TV assignments will be released on Thursday, May 14, 2026, we already know the 17-game opponent list.
🌍 International Spotlight: The “Munich Classic”
International Spotlight: One of the most anticipated games of the European slate sees the Lions heading to Munich, Germany (Week 10). Detroit will play the New England Patriots at Allianz Arena, the home of FC Bayern Munich. With the Lions’ rising global popularity and star Amon-Ra St. Brown’s deep German ties, this game is expected to be a high-demand ticket for the NFC North faithful.
Detroit Lions 2026 International Game
| Week | Date | Stadium | Location | Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Nov 15 | Allianz Arena | Munich, Germany | New England Patriots at Detroit Lions |
2026 Detroit Lions Schedule
The 2026 Detroit Lions schedule is expected to begin as early as September 3, 2026. Detroit will host nine home games and play eight away games this season. The team will have one bye week under the current seventeen game format. The NFL plans to move to an eighteen game schedule in the future, which will include a second bye week, but for now the Lions will continue with the standard single bye for the 2026–27 regular season.
| Home Opponents (9 Games) | Away Opponents (8 Games) |
| Chicago Bears | Chicago Bears |
| Green Bay Packers | Green Bay Packers |
| Minnesota Vikings | Minnesota Vikings |
| New Orleans Saints | Atlanta Falcons |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Carolina Panthers |
| New England Patriots | Buffalo Bills |
| New York Jets | Miami Dolphins |
| New York Giants (Positional) | Arizona Cardinals (Positional) |
| Tennessee Titans (17th Game) | — |
Key 2026 Season Highlights
- The Munich Game: The Lions are part of a record-setting nine-game NFL international slate. They will serve as the “home team” for a game at the FC Bayern Munich Stadium in Germany.
- The “Fourth-Place” Rotation: Because Detroit finished fourth in the NFC North in 2025, they draw the fourth-place finishers from the NFC East (Giants), AFC South (Titans), and NFC West (Cardinals).
- NFL Season Opener: The 2026 NFL season kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in Seattle.
- Thanksgiving Tradition: The Lions continue their historic tradition, hosting a home game on Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Printable 2026 Detroit Lions Schedule
A printable schedule is one of the easiest ways to follow the Lions throughout the season. Below is the printable 2026 Detroit Lions schedule in image format, and you can also print it to PDF. Once the full list of dates, kickoff times, and TV networks is released, we’ll update the printable version for you.
When Is the 2026 NFL Schedule Release
The NFL is expected to release the full 2026–27 schedule around May 13–14, 2026. Once released, every game for the Detroit Lions will have confirmed dates, times, and TV assignments. You can also checkout all of the future Detroit Lions schedules here too.
2025–26 NFL Regular and Postseason Schedules
If you’re looking for the current Detroit Lions schedule, we have the full 2025–26 regular season schedule available for you. You can also view the 2027 NFL Playoff schedule to get a head start on looking ahead to the playoffs. We post all regular season schedules for the teams here for you too as well as the 2026-27 regular season skeds.
Detroit Lions 2026 Schedule FAQ
Question: When is the official 2026 Detroit Lions schedule released? Answer: The NFL is expected to release the full schedule, including times and TV networks, between May 12 and May 14, 2026.
Question: Who do the Lions play on Thanksgiving in 2026? Answer: The opponent for the November 26 game will be revealed during the official league-wide schedule release in May.
Question: Will the Lions have a bye week after the Germany game?Answer: Typically, teams playing in Europe are offered a bye week immediately following the game, though this is not yet confirmed for the Munich matchup.
Who is the Lions’ opponent for the Munich game? The opponent for the Munich game will be revealed during the May 13 schedule release. However, as the designated home team, the Lions will play one of their nine scheduled home opponents (likely a non-divisional foe like the New York Jets or Tampa Bay Buccaneers) in Germany.
Why do the Lions play the Titans and Giants? Because the Lions finished 4th in the NFC North in 2025, they are matched up against the 4th-place finishers from the NFC East (Giants) and the AFC South (Titans) according to the NFL’s performance-based scheduling formula.
Where can I get a printable 2026 Lions schedule? You can download the 2026 Detroit Lions Master Schedule PDF at the top of this page. It is formatted in our signature “low-ink” landscape design, optimized for easy home printing.
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Detroit Lions
Everything you need for the 2026 season and beyond.
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| → 2026 Strength of Schedule Ranking Key matchups, opponent win %, and 17-game analysis. |
| → Future Opponents: 2027 & 2028 Schedules Confirmed home/away rotation through 2028. |
| → Official Team Identity & Stadium Guide Colors, logo history, helmet evolution, and stadium details. |
