NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
We’ve known for months who each NFL team will play in the 2026 season. But this week we’ll find out when all 272 games will be played in the upcoming regular season.
The NFL will unveil the entire 2026 regular season schedule on Thursday. However, the league announces the dates for several matches before then, such as selection matches in week 1.
So while you get your calendars out to prepare for what to do this fall, here’s a look at what games we know will be played and when ahead of Thursday’s schedule release.
Week 1: The Seahawks open the 2026 NFL regular season on Wednesday, 9/9
The Seattle Seahawks will open the 2026 season on a Wednesday, marking the first time the NFL has opened a regular season on a Wednesday since 2012. Still, it marks a continuation of the tradition of the defending champion playing in the game’s season opener.
As of Monday morning, there are five potential opponents the Seahawks could face in the season opener. One of them includes the New England Patriots, which would be a rematch of Super Bowl LX. The other potential opponents for the Seahawks are the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals.
Week 1: 49ers, Rams to play in NFL’s first game in Australia
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers play their opener on September 11 in Melbourne. The game is expected to start around 10.35am on Friday in Australia, which is 8:35 PM ET Thursday night (September 10) in the US.
Week 1: Giants Open John Harbaugh Era With Home Matchup vs. Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys will visit the New York Giants in the first Sunday night of the 2026 NFL season on September 13. It will mark the eighth time in the past 15 years that the Cowboys and Giants have opened the season against each other.
Dallas is always a national TV draw as “America’s Team,” and New York could get more prime-time exposure with Super Bowl winner John Harbaugh coaching and Jaxson Dart established as the franchise quarterback coming off his eventful rookie year. It is set to be Harbaugh’s Giants debut.
If healthy, it would also be the first meaningful game between Dart and Dak Prescott. While each started the season finale on January 4, the teams were eliminated from the playoffs at that point.
This could also be the NFL debut for a pair of former Ohio State teammates: Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, taken with the fifth pick, and Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, drafted not long after with the No. 11 pick.
Week 1: Chiefs, Broncos will meet in the first Monday game of the season
While it is unclear whether or not Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be back from ACL and LCL tears by the first game of the season, it is known that he will have an extra day to prepare for this possibility: The Chiefs and Denver Broncos play each other in the first Monday Night Football game of the 2026 season, on an early team on September 14, but it is also an unclear team for this September 14. the full program release on Thursday will answer that question well before we know what happens with Mahomes’ recovery plans.
Week 2: Bills to open new stadium vs. Lions
The Buffalo Bills’ first game at the new Highmark Stadium will be against the Detroit Lions on a Thursday night in Week 2. It will mark the start of a new era in Buffalo, as the Bills played the vast majority of their home games from 1973 to 2025 at the stadium previously nicknamed The Ralph. It will also mark the start of a new era for the Bills on the field as it will be Joe Brady’s first home game as their head coach.
Week 3: Ravens, Cowboys to play in Brazil
The Baltimore Ravens have been selected to play the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL’s opening game in Rio de Janeiro this season. That match will be played on Sunday, September 27.
The NFL previously made a multi-year commitment to bring at least three regular season games to Rio de Janeiro over the next five years. The NFL has previously played two games in Brazil — Packers-Eagles in 2024 and Chiefs-Chargers in 2025 at São Paulo’s Corinthians Arena — but this will be the first in Rio.
Week 12: Eagles, Cowboys to play on Thanksgiving on FOX
One of the NFL’s best rivalries will be featured on Thanksgiving Day and will be shown on FOX. The Philadelphia Eagles will meet the Cowboys in Dallas on the holiday this year, as the two NFC East rivals go head-to-head on Thanksgiving for the first time since 2015.
Here are five storylines to know ahead of the matchup.
