The 2026 NFL schedule is here. Released May 14, it delivers the drama fans expect with 13 Super Bowl rematches, a record nine international games, and expanded holiday programming that includes the league’s first Thanksgiving Eve contest on Netflix.
Week 1 opens with a Wednesday night bang. The Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots on NBC in a Super Bowl LX rematch. That sets the tone for a season full of unfinished business.
Seattle and New England renew their rivalry under the lights on September 9. The Seahawks get the home opener advantage in what marks the first Wednesday night kickoff since 2012. Both teams enter with stories to finish from last season’s playoffs.
These early rematches matter. They keep last year’s biggest storylines alive instead of letting them fade. Players and coaches remember every detail from the previous meeting. The crowd in Seattle will feel that tension from the first snap.
Nine regular-season games will be played outside the United States — the most ever. New cities join the rotation: Melbourne, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro. The 49ers and Rams open the international slate in Australia on Netflix on September 10.
Fans in those markets get prime-time football. The league continues building its global footprint while giving domestic audiences fresh matchups on unique stages.
History arrives November 25. The Green Bay Packers visit the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL’s first Thanksgiving Eve game. Netflix will stream the primetime showdown from SoFi Stadium at 8 p.m. ET.
Families will gather a day early. The midweek timing creates a new tradition. Packers-Rams carries NFC flavor and gives both clubs a high-profile platform right before the holiday weekend. Expect a physical, playoff-style atmosphere even in late November.
December 25 turns into a full football feast. Netflix and FOX combine for three games that keep viewers glued to their screens all afternoon and evening.
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 p.m. | Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears | Netflix |
| 4:30 p.m. | Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos | Netflix |
| 8:15 p.m. | Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks | FOX |
The Christmas tripleheader features multiple playoff rematches. The late window pits the Rams against the Seahawks in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship game. Snow or clear skies, these games will feel like postseason previews.
Picture Soldier Field on Christmas afternoon. The Packers-Bears rivalry adds extra spice for Midwest fans. Then the Bills and Broncos take over the 4:30 window on Netflix. By nightfall, the Rams and Seahawks close the day with everything on the line in Seattle.
Beyond the headline games, the full schedule includes 13 Super Bowl rematches and 12 additional playoff rematches from 2025. Denver travels to New England in Week 17 for an AFC Championship sequel. The Rams and Seahawks square off twice late in the year.
These repeated matchups create natural story arcs. A team that lost in the playoffs last January gets another chance at redemption. Coaches study the same tendencies they faced months earlier. Players carry personal motivation into every meeting.
The league leaned into this approach. Fans love the continuity. It turns the regular season into an ongoing conversation rather than a string of one-off games.
The 2026 slate balances star power with fresh ideas. Netflix’s expanded role — including the Australia opener, Thanksgiving Eve debut, two Christmas games, and a Week 18 contest — brings NFL action to more households than ever.
Holiday programming continues to grow because it works. Viewership spikes when families are together. The Christmas tripleheader and new Thanksgiving Eve game give the league three distinct windows to capture that audience.
Travel and rest will matter for some teams. International games and the midweek Thanksgiving Eve contest create unique challenges. Smart coaches will manage their rosters accordingly.
The season begins September 9 and runs through Week 18 in early January 2027. Playoffs start the following weekend. Every team already knows its 17 opponents. Now they know exactly when and where those battles take place.
Mark the dates. The rematches will deliver drama. The holiday games will create memories. And the first Thanksgiving Eve game on Netflix marks another step forward for how fans watch football.
This is the 2026 NFL schedule. It’s built for competition and built for viewers.
