Here is how to watch the 2026 NFL season on TV and streaming. The season kicks off Wednesday, September 9 and runs 18 weeks into January 2027, spread across CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ABC, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Peacock. This guide breaks down which network owns each window, how to stream every game, and where to find the special games like Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas.
Quick Facts: How to Watch the 2026 NFL Season
- Sunday afternoon games are on FOX and CBS by region, at 1 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. ET.
- Sunday Night Football is on NBC and Peacock; Monday Night Football is on ESPN and ABC.
- Thursday Night Football streams on Amazon Prime Video, the exclusive home for the weekly Thursday game.
- Streaming options include Peacock, Prime Video, Netflix, ESPN+, and NFL+, depending on the window.
- The season opens Wednesday, September 9 with the Kickoff Game on NBC and Peacock.
2026 NFL TV Windows and Channels
| Window | Day & Time (ET) | TV | Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Night Football | Thu, 8:15 PM | Prime Video | Amazon Prime Video |
| Sunday early games | Sun, 1:00 PM | CBS and FOX (regional) | Paramount+, NFL+ |
| Sunday late games | Sun, 4:05 / 4:25 PM | CBS and FOX (regional) | Paramount+, NFL+ |
| Sunday Night Football | Sun, 8:20 PM | NBC | Peacock |
| Monday Night Football | Mon, 8:15 PM | ESPN and ABC | ESPN+, Disney+ |
Sunday afternoon coverage on CBS and FOX is regional, which means the games you see depend on your local market. To watch an out-of-market game, you generally need a streaming package such as NFL Sunday Ticket. For the full slate of games each week, jump into any week from our 2026 NFL printable schedules hub.
Streaming the 2026 NFL Season
Streaming is now a core part of watching the NFL. Thursday Night Football is exclusive to Amazon Prime Video. Sunday Night Football streams on Peacock alongside NBC, and NBC’s Kickoff Game and a handful of exclusive games also land on Peacock. Monday Night Football streams on ESPN+ and Disney+ with the ESPN and ABC broadcast. Netflix carries the Christmas Day games and select international dates. For a national streaming option, NFL+ offers games on mobile plus replays, and NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube and YouTube TV carries the full slate of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
Special Games and Where to Watch
- Kickoff Game (Wed, Sep 9): Patriots at Seahawks on NBC and Peacock.
- International game (Thu, Sep 10): 49ers vs Rams in Melbourne, Australia on Netflix.
- Thanksgiving (Thu, Nov 26): three games, traditionally on CBS, FOX, and NBC.
- Black Friday (Fri, Nov 27): the Black Friday game on Amazon Prime Video.
- Christmas Day (Fri, Dec 25): the holiday slate on Netflix.
How to Watch Each Week
Every week’s matchups, kickoff times, and TV channels are listed on that week’s schedule page, and each comes with a free printable pick’em sheet. Start with our 2026 NFL Week 1 schedule, and find every other week in the weekly section of our printable schedules hub. Once games kick off, follow live results on our 2026 NFL scores page.
2026 NFL How to Watch FAQ
What channel is Thursday Night Football on in 2026?
Thursday Night Football is exclusive to Amazon Prime Video, which streams the weekly Thursday game all season.
Where can I stream NFL games in 2026?
Peacock streams Sunday Night Football and NBC’s exclusives, Prime Video streams Thursday night, ESPN+ and Disney+ carry Monday night, Netflix carries Christmas Day, and NFL+ offers mobile streaming. NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube carries out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
How do I watch out-of-market Sunday games?
Sunday afternoon games on CBS and FOX are regional. To watch games outside your local market, you need NFL Sunday Ticket, available on YouTube and YouTube TV.
What networks show the NFL in 2026?
CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and ABC carry games on TV, with Amazon Prime Video and Netflix streaming specific windows. Sunday afternoons are split between CBS and FOX by region.
More 2026 NFL Resources
- 2026 NFL Printable Schedules: All 32 Teams and Every Week
- 2026 NFL Scores and Results (Live Tracker)
- 2026 NFL Roster Cuts: 53-Man Deadline and Tracker
