The 2026 NFL season is almost here, and the league is breaking with tradition to kick things off. Rather than the customary Thursday-after-Labor-Day opener, the NFL has scheduled its 2026 Kickoff Game for Wednesday, September 9, when the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl LX. The game airs at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
The NFL 2026 season promises to be one of the most geographically ambitious in league history, with a record nine international games spread across seven countries. Domestically, storylines from a busy preseason are already shaping expectations heading into Week 1, from quarterback battles to new coaching regimes settling in across the league.
Kickoff Game and Opening Week Storylines
Seattle’s selection as Kickoff Game hosts makes sense given the Seahawks’ status as defending Super Bowl champions after their win over New England in Super Bowl LX. Facing the same opponent they beat in the title game adds an extra layer of intrigue to the opener, giving the Patriots an immediate chance for measure-taking revenge in front of a national audience.
Elsewhere in Week 1, the league’s international slate continues just a day later, on Thursday, September 10, when the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia — the league’s first-ever regular-season game on Australian soil. That contest streams exclusively on Netflix at 8:35 p.m. ET, continuing the NFL’s push to expand its media footprint through major streaming partners.
Beyond those marquee openers, the Dallas Cowboys begin their campaign on the road against the New York Giants in a Sunday Night Football slot, while the Philadelphia Eagles — two-time defending NFC East champions — open at home against the Washington Commanders. Washington enters that game with plenty of intrigue of its own after a healthy Jayden Daniels returns at quarterback, though the Commanders will have to navigate a reshaped offensive line following a training-camp injury to veteran left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
A Record International Schedule
The 2026 season features nine international games in total, spanning the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Mexico and Australia — the league’s most extensive global slate to date. Among the highlights, the Cowboys are set to play the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro in Week 3, marking the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Brazil the previous year and now a expanding fixture on the calendar, while the league is also sending teams to Paris for the first time as part of its broader European expansion strategy.
This continued international push reflects the NFL’s long-term ambition to grow its fan base well beyond North America, with nine games now representing a substantial portion of the early-season schedule spread across four continents.
Season Structure and Key Dates
The 2026 regular season runs 18 weeks, concluding with a full slate of division games in Week 18 — three games on Saturday, January 9, and thirteen on Sunday, January 10, 2027. As has been the case for several years, every team will play 17 regular-season games, having also completed a three-game preseason slate in August.
Thanksgiving football, always one of the most-watched days on the NFL calendar, returns on Thursday, November 26, with three games: the Chicago Bears at the Detroit Lions on CBS, the Philadelphia Eagles at the Dallas Cowboys on FOX, and the Kansas City Chiefs at the Buffalo Bills on NBC. The Eagles-Cowboys Thanksgiving pairing is particularly notable, marking the first time the two NFC East rivals have met on the holiday since 2014.
Preseason Takeaways Heading Into the Year
August’s preseason action offered an early look at several teams navigating quarterback competitions and roster battles. In Cleveland, veteran Deshaun Watson made his return to live action after nearly two years out, going 11-of-15 for 126 yards against the Chicago Bears while rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel continued to compete for a role in the Browns’ quarterback picture. In Los Angeles, first-round rookie Ty Simpson — the No. 13 overall pick out of Alabama — saw extended reps behind veteran Matthew Stafford as the Rams continue to develop their quarterback depth chart for the future.
Elsewhere, Miami’s offense under new head coach Jeff Hafley leaned heavily on running back De’Von Achane in the preseason opener against Washington, an early hint at how the Dolphins may look to build their offensive identity this season.
What This Means Going Forward
With a defending champion looking to go back-to-back, a historic international schedule, and several teams entering the year with new coaches or unsettled quarterback situations, the 2026 season sets up as one of the more unpredictable in recent memory. The early slate of marquee matchups — from the Kickoff Game rematch to the Melbourne opener — gives fans plenty to watch right from Week 1, while the Thanksgiving Day schedule and international games later in the year will continue to shape the storylines through the heart of the season.
Upcoming Fixtures
Following the September 9 Kickoff Game and the September 10 Melbourne opener, the rest of Week 1 unfolds across Sunday and Monday, setting the tone for a season that will build toward the postseason in January 2027 and, ultimately, Super Bowl LXI.
FAQ Section
Q1: When does the 2026 NFL season officially kick off?
The season opens on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl LX rematch.
Q2: How many international games are on the 2026 NFL schedule?
A record nine international games are scheduled across seven countries: the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Mexico and Australia.
Q3: Which teams are playing in Australia for the first time?
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will meet in Melbourne on Thursday, September 10, in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia.
Q4: What games are scheduled for Thanksgiving 2026?
Three games are set for Thursday, November 26: Bears at Lions (CBS), Eagles at Cowboys (FOX), and Chiefs at Bills (NBC).
Q5: How long does the 2026 NFL regular season run?
The season spans 18 weeks, with each team playing 17 games, concluding with Week 18 games on January 9-10, 2027.
