When is the 2026 NFL schedule released? The official NFL schedule will be released on Thursday, May 15th, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET. However, the NFL has already confirmed that the 2026 regular season will kick off on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with the Super Bowl LX Champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the Kickoff Game on NBC. We have a printable 2026 NFL schedule grid for you to use on release day. Blank with the games added as we get confirmation. Then, the full grid on release day.
Confirmed 2026 NFL Games (As of May 1)
While we wait for the May 15th reveal, the following “Special Event” games have already been finalized. Use these to start filling in your 2026 planners.
| Date | Matchup | Location | TV / Time |
| Aug 6 | Cardinals vs. Panthers | Canton, OH (HOF Game) | NBC (8:00 PM ET) |
| Sept 9 | TBD @ Seattle Seahawks | Seattle (Kickoff Game) | NBC (8:20 PM ET) |
| Sept 10 | 49ers vs. Rams | Melbourne, Australia | FOX (8:35 PM ET) |
| Sept 27 | Ravens vs. Cowboys | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | NFLN (Time TBD) |
| Oct 25 | Saints vs. TBD | Paris, France | NFLN (9:30 AM ET) |
| Nov 26 | TBD @ Detroit Lions | Detroit (Thanksgiving) | CBS (12:30 PM ET) |
| Nov 26 | TBD @ Dallas Cowboys | Dallas (Thanksgiving) | FOX (4:30 PM ET) |
Printable 2026 NFL Schedule Grid (The “Write-In” Edition)
Fans love to track leaks as they happen during “Schedule Release Week.” To help you get ahead of the May 15th rush, we’ve created a Blank 2026 NFL Schedule Grid (PDF).
This 1-page printable features all 18 weeks of the regular season with columns for every team. You can write in the confirmed matchups as the leaks start hitting Social Media on May 12th and 13th.
The 2026 NFL Schedule Framework
For reference, here is how the 18-week, 17-game structure will look for the 2026-27 season:
- Preseason Starts: August 6, 2026 (Hall of Fame Game)
- Regular Season Kickoff: Wednesday, Sept 9, 2026
- International Games: 9 total games across 4 continents (UK, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Australia, and France).
- Thanksgiving Tripleheader: Thursday, Nov 26, 2026
- Christmas Tripleheader: Friday, Dec 25, 2026
- Regular Season Finale: Sunday, Jan 10, 2027
- Super Bowl LXI: Sunday, Feb 14, 2027 (SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA)
2026 NFL Resources Guide
- 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game Guide: See the full enshrinement week schedule for Larry Fitzgerald.
- 2026 NFL Regular Season Schedule: View every matchup for all 32 teams.
- Printable NFL Playoff Bracket: Download our blank postseason PDF tracker.
- Printable 2026 NFL International Game Tracker
- Printable 2026 NFL Playoff Bracket Maker: Make updated NFL Playoff picture brackets all season with our free, Bracket Maker utility.
2026 NFL Schedule Grid FAQ
When will the full 2026 NFL schedule be released? The NFL is expected to release the complete 272-game 2026 regular-season schedule on Thursday, May 15, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET.
When does the 2026 NFL season start? The 2026 NFL regular season officially kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The Super Bowl LX Champion Seattle Seahawks will host the opening game at Lumen Field.
Why is the 2026 NFL season starting on a Wednesday? Due to broadcasting windows and holiday scheduling, the NFL has moved the 2026 season opener to Wednesday, September 9th. This is followed by a historic Thursday night game in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10th.
Which teams are playing in the 2026 International Games? Confirmed international hosts for 2026 include the Los Angeles Rams (Australia), Dallas Cowboys (Brazil), and New Orleans Saints (France). Additional games in London, Munich, and Madrid will be finalized during the May 15th release.
Where can I find a blank NFL schedule grid? You can download a 1-page printable blank 2026 NFL schedule grid right here at SportsBrackets.net. It allows you to write in matchups as they leak before the official release.
