The 2026 NFL Schedule Release is officially here. While the full 272-game slate will not be unveiled until Thursday, May 14 at 8:00 PM ET, the “leak season” is in full swing. We have all of the 2026 NFL schedule leaks as we learn about them for you below.
Below is our live tracker for confirmed games, international matchups, and the schedule for network reveals taking place this week. Use our 2026 NFL Schedule Grid to fill in your calendars as the news breaks.
Last updated: May 14th, 1:40PM
🚨 The Netflix Christmas Takeover
For the first time, Christmas Day will be a massive streaming event. While the league typically avoids mid-week games, the 2026 calendar has forced a “triple-header” strategy.
- Night Window (8:15 PM ET): In a twist, the Rams at Seahawks game is currently rumored to remain on FOX, providing a traditional broadcast option for the holiday finale.
- Early Window (1:00 PM ET): Rumors suggest a classic NFC North clash with the Packers at Bears on Netflix.
- Afternoon Window (4:30 PM ET): The Bills are slated to head to Denver for a high-altitude showdown, also exclusive to Netflix.
2026 NFL Schedule Reveal Week Timeline
Broadcast partners will announce select marquee matchups on the day of their network upfronts. Set your alerts for these windows for the latest NFL schedule leak / release news. The NFL is also confirming official, prerelease announcements here. You can also checkout our viewing guide for how to watch the NFL release on Thursday here.
| Date | Network / Platform | Time (ET) | Focus |
| NBC / Peacock | 10:30 AM | ||
| FOX | 4:00 PM | ||
| Amazon Prime | 6:30 PM | B | |
| Disney (ABC/ESPN) | 4:00 PM | ||
| NFL Network | 9:00 AM | ||
| Netflix | 2:00 PM | ||
| YouTube TV | 5:30 PM | Sunday Ticket Featured Games | |
| Thu, May 14 | NFL Network | 8:00 PM | FULL RELEASE |
NFC East Fireworks to Start the Season
The NFL is leaning into tradition for its first Sunday night broadcast of 2026. The Cowboys and Giants have met in Week 1 eight times since 2006, with Dallas holding a dominant 7-1 record in those openers. However, the energy in MetLife Stadium will be different this year with the arrival of John Harbaugh and emerging star quarterback Jaxson Dart. This game is a centerpiece of NBC’s Upfront presentation, signaling high expectations for ratings in the Big Apple.
The Disney/ESPN Reveal
- The Mahomes Watch: The Chiefs’ opener is the biggest storyline of Week 1 as the league waits on Patrick Mahomes’ health status.
- Monday Night Doubleheaders: ESPN teased that we will see three Monday Night doubleheaders in 2026 (Weeks 3, 14, and 15), with matchups to be revealed during the full drop on Thursday. This will be interesting to see if there are ANY doubleheaders or not based on previous discussions, so we’ll see if that was just relevant to the opening few weeks of the season or not.
2026 NFL Schedule Leak Tracker
The 2026 season features a record nine international games, including the first-ever games in Paris, Melbourne, and Rio de Janeiro. If a status is single source, we’ve include the X account @ for you to checkout.
Last updated: May 14th, 140 PM
| Week | Date | Matchup | Location | TV / Time (ET) | Status |
| HOF | Aug 6 | Cardinals vs. Panthers | Canton, OH | NBC (8:00 PM) | Confirmed |
| 1 | Sept 9 | Patriots @ Seahawks | Seattle, WA | NBC (8:20 PM) | Confirmed |
| 1 | Sept 13 | Falcons @ Steelers | Pittsburgh, PA | CBS (1:00 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 1 | Sept 13 | Bucs @ Bengals | Cincinnati, OH | CBS (1:00 PM) | Rumor (@NerdingonNFL) |
| 1 | Sept 13 | Cowboys @ Giants | East Rutherford, NJ | NBC (8:20 PM) | Confirmed |
| 1 | Sept 14 | Broncos @ Chiefs | Kansas City, MO | ABC/ESPN (8:15 PM) | Confirmed |
| 2 | Sept 17 | Lions @ Bills | Orchard Park, NY | Amazon (8:15 PM) | Confirmed |
| 2 | Sept 20 | Packers @ Jets | East Rutherford, NJ | FOX (1:00 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 2 | Sept 20 | Patriots @ Jets | East Rutherford, NJ | CBS (1:00 PM) | Rumor (@kirkmin) |
| 3 | Sept 27 | Bengals @ Steelers | Pittsburgh, PA | CBS (1:00 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 3 | Sept 27 | Rams @ Broncos | Denver, CO | NBC (8:20 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 4 | Oct 4 | Packers @ Buccaneers | Tampa, FL | FOX (1:00 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 5 | Oct 8 | Bucs @ Cowboys | Arlington, TX | Amazon (8:20 PM) | Rumor (@MichaelMoraitis) |
| 5 | Oct 11 | Colts @ Steelers | Pittsburgh, PA | CBS (1:00 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 8 | Oct 25 | Chiefs @ Broncos | Denver, CO | CBS (4:25 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 8 | Oct 25 | Browns @ Steelers | Pittsburgh, PA | CBS (1:00 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 10 | Nov 15 | Commanders @ Giants | East Rutherford, NJ | Amazon (8:20 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 10 | Nov 15 | Steelers @ Bengals | Cincinnati, OH | NBC (8:20 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 12 | Nov 25 | Packers @ Rams | Los Angeles, CA | Netflix (5:00 PM) | Confirmed (Thanksgiving Eve) |
| 12 | Nov 26 | Chiefs @ Bills | Orchard Park, NY | NBC (8:20 PM) | Rumor (Thanksgiving Night) |
| 12 | Nov 27 | Broncos @ Steelers | Pittsburgh, PA | Amazon (3:00 PM) | Rumor (Black Friday) |
| 13 | Nov 29 | Texans @ Steelers | Pittsburgh, PA | NBC (8:20 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 14 | Dec 14 | Steelers @ Jaguars | Jacksonville, FL | ABC/ESPN (8:15 PM) | Rumor (@OzzyNFL) |
| 16 | Dec 24 | Texans @ Eagles | Philadelphia, PA | Amazon (8:15 PM) | Rumor (Christmas Eve) |
| 16 | Dec 25 | Packers @ Bears | Chicago, IL | Netflix (1:00 PM) | Rumor (@JordanSchultz) |
| 16 | Dec 25 | Bills @ Broncos | Denver, CO | Netflix (4:30 PM) | Rumor (Christmas Day) |
| 16 | Dec 25 | Rams @ Seahawks | Seattle, WA | FOX (8:15 PM) | Rumor (Christmas Day) |
*Note: If listed as a reliable rumor, the X handle is listed in the status column for the source attribution for you.
Newest Update: The 2026 Holiday & Streaming Explosion
The 2026 schedule is shaping up to be the most unique in NFL history, particularly regarding how and when we watch the biggest games of the year. Here is the latest breakdown of the high-stakes holiday slates and streaming exclusives:
Thanksgiving Week: A 5-Day Football Marathon
Thanksgiving isn’t just a day anymore—it’s a full-week event starting on Wednesday night.
- Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday): The Packers at Rams is confirmed as the first-ever Wednesday night “pre-holiday” special on Netflix.
- Thanksgiving Day: The tradition continues with the Eagles at Cowboys (FOX) in the afternoon. Rumors are swirling that the Chiefs at Bills will take the prestigious NBC primetime slot.
- Black Friday: The Broncos at Steelers (Amazon Prime) is currently the frontrunner for the afternoon “shoppers’ special.”
Prime-Time & International Highlights
Beyond the holidays, the 2026 “leak season” has revealed several heavy-hitting matchups for the national stage:
Steelers Primetime Surge: Pittsburgh appears to be a favorite for national broadcasts this year, with rumored Sunday Night and Monday Night appearances against the Bengals, Texans, and Jaguars.
The Wednesday Opener: In a scheduling rarity, the season kicks off on Wednesday, Sept 9, with the Patriots visiting the Seahawks on NBC.
The Madrid Debut: Week 9 will see the NFL’s first regular-season game in Spain, with the Bengals taking on the Falcons in Madrid.
Printable 2026 NFL Schedules
As the leaks continue to pour in, we have updated our “low-ink” minimalist templates to help you track your team’s path to the postseason:
- 2026 NFL Schedule Grid (PDF) – The complete league-wide layout.
- Printable Team Schedules – Individual PDF schedules for all 32 teams.
- 2026 NFL Schedule Portal – Our central hub for every revealed matchup.
Don’t forget to visit our World Cup Portal to see how these NFL dates conflict with the 2026 summer tournament schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is the official 2026 NFL schedule release? The full 272-game 2026 NFL regular-season schedule will be officially released on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET. You can watch the live reveal on NFL Network, ESPN2, and the ESPN App.
How many international games are being played in 2026? The NFL will play a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents. Host cities include Melbourne (Australia), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), London (UK), Paris (France), Madrid (Spain), Munich (Germany), and Mexico City (Mexico).
Where can I download a printable 2026 NFL schedule? You can download our signature “low-ink” minimalist 2026 NFL Schedule Grid here. We also provide individual team-by-team printable PDFs in our NFL Schedule Portal.
What is the first game of the 2026 NFL season? The season kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the season opener at Lumen Field. This will be followed by the first-ever game in Australia on Thursday night, September 10.
Who plays in the 2026 NFL Australia game? The San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, Australia. The game airs live on Netflix on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 8:35 PM ET (Friday morning in Australia).
Will there be NFL games on Netflix in 2026? Yes. In addition to the Australia opener in Week 1, Netflix is expected to broadcast a Christmas Day doubleheader on Wednesday, December 25, 2026.
