NFL Releases 2026 Schedule Highlighting Key Matchups and International Games
The NFL has unveiled its 2026 regular-season schedule, featuring notable games, including a Christmas Day tripleheader and an expanded international series.
The NFL has announced its 2026 regular-season schedule, which includes several high-profile matchups and an expanded international series. The season will commence on Wednesday, September 9, with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
A highlight of the schedule is the Christmas Day tripleheader on December 25. The day's games will feature the Green Bay Packers visiting the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, the Buffalo Bills facing the Denver Broncos, and the Los Angeles Rams taking on the Seattle Seahawks.
The 2026 season also marks a significant expansion of the NFL's international presence, with nine regular-season games scheduled in seven countries across four continents. Notably, the league will host its first-ever regular-season games in Melbourne, Australia; Paris, France; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In terms of team schedules, the Cleveland Browns are set to face what appears to be the league's easiest schedule, based on their opponents' win percentages from the previous season. They will open their season on September 13 with an away game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Chicago Bears have emerged as a major national draw, earning seven nationally televised games, including two "Monday Night Football" appearances and a Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Detroit Lions. This primetime prominence reflects the team's transformation into a league contender under head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams.
The NFL's 2026 schedule release underscores the league's commitment to delivering compelling matchups and expanding its global footprint.