The wait is over. The full 2026 NFL schedule just dropped, and from a rare Wednesday night opener to a record-breaking nine international games, this season is shaping up to be the most expansive in league history. Whether you’re a die-hard mapping out every road trip or a casual fan looking to finally catch a game live, the 2026 NFL schedule has something worth circling. Here’s your complete breakdown of the key dates, marquee matchups, and moments you’ll want tickets for, plus how to lock them down on StubHub.
1. The Season Kicks Off on a Wednesday With a Super Bowl Rematch
For the first time since 2012, the NFL season opener falls on a Wednesday, with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots on September 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET. Seven months after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, the defending champs get their ring ceremony and their biggest challenge in the same night.
This one carries real weight. It marks the 12th Super Bowl rematch played in the following season and the fourth consecutive year to feature one — and history leans heavily toward the defending champions. Since 2004, teams playing in the season opener have gone 16-5 when they were the reigning champs.
The matchup also sets up some compelling storylines. Coach Mike Vrabel, the reigning AP Coach of the Year, leads New England into Lumen Field for his first game back on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Seattle gets to open in front of its home crowd with all the pageantry of a championship celebration. It’s a tone-setter in every sense.
📅 Get in: Wednesday, September 9 | Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
2. The First Monday Night Football Game Is a Blockbuster
The Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos on September 14 in the season premiere of Monday Night Football — the team that snapped their nine-season run as AFC West champions. It’s a rivalry renewed, and the stakes couldn’t be higher right out of the gate.
The biggest storyline entering this one is Patrick Mahomes, whose ACL and LCL tear in Week 15 of last season left his Week 1 status uncertain. Bo Nix, meanwhile, is expected back for Denver after his own ankle injury from the playoffs. Two quarterbacks, one divisional title on the line, and a Monday night audience ready to watch every snap. Arrowhead Stadium will be electric.
📅 Get in: Monday, September 14 | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
3. NFL Football Goes Global With Nine International Games in 2026
This is the year the NFL makes its biggest leap yet onto the world stage. The 2026 international schedule features a record-breaking nine games played across four continents, seven countries, and eight stadiums — and three of those cities are hosting NFL regular-season games for the very first time.
Here’s the full international slate:
🇦🇺 Melbourne, Australia — Week 1 The 49ers face the Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 10 — the first-ever NFL regular-season game played in Australia. Reigning MVP Matthew Stafford and the Rams are eyeing a Super Bowl run after reaching the NFC Championship Game last season, while San Francisco’s Brock Purdy leads an offense with plenty to prove. This is a genuine NFC West rivalry game, not a novelty matchup.
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Week 3 The Baltimore Ravens take on the Dallas Cowboys at the iconic Maracanã Stadium on September 27 — the first-ever NFL game in Rio, following two previous games held in São Paulo.
🇬🇧 London, England — Weeks 4, 5 & 6 London hosts three consecutive games: Colts vs. Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Oct. 4), Eagles vs. Jaguars at Tottenham (Oct. 11), and Texans vs. Jaguars at Wembley Stadium (Oct. 18). London remains the NFL’s most established international market, and this three-week run cements that status.
🇫🇷 Paris, France — Week 7 The Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints at Stade de France on October 25 — the first-ever NFL regular-season game in Paris.
🇪🇸 Madrid, Spain — Week 9 The Cincinnati Bengals take on the Atlanta Falcons at the Bernabéu Stadium — home of Real Madrid — on November 8, as the NFL returns to the Spanish capital for a second straight season.
🇩🇪 Munich, Germany — Week 10 The New England Patriots face the Detroit Lions at FC Bayern Munich Arena on November 15.
🇲🇽 Mexico City, Mexico — Week 11 The Minnesota Vikings take on the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Banorte on November 22.
Planning to catch an international game in person? NFL tickets on StubHub are available for games across all markets — search by matchup, city, or date to find what works for your travel window.
4. Thanksgiving Week Is Now a Five-Day Football Event
Thanksgiving has always been football’s holiday. In 2026, the NFL stretches it into a full five-day showcase that runs from Wednesday through Friday.
The season features the league’s first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game, with the Green Bay Packers visiting the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday, November 25 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix. From there, the schedule only gets better.
The full Thanksgiving week slate:
- Wednesday, Nov. 25 (Thanksgiving Eve): Packers at Rams, 8 p.m. ET (Netflix)
- Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving): Bears at Lions, 1 p.m. ET (CBS) | Eagles at Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox) | Chiefs at Bills, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
- Friday, Nov. 27 (Black Friday): Broncos at Steelers, 3 p.m. ET (Amazon)
The Thanksgiving nightcap is one to watch closely. The Bills and Chiefs meet for the seventh straight season in 2026. Buffalo owns a 5-1 edge in their last six regular-season matchups, while Kansas City has won all four of their playoff meetings over that span. Regular season bragging rights versus playoff pedigree. Five days, five games, one very long halftime show around the dinner table.
5. Christmas Is a Four-Day Football Marathon
The NFL owns Christmas now, and 2026 makes that official. With Christmas landing on a Friday, the league surrounds it with games on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, giving fans four consecutive days of football to close out the holiday.
The full Christmas slate:
- Thursday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve): Texans at Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET (Amazon Prime Video)
- Friday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day): Packers at Bears, 1 p.m. ET (Netflix) | Bills at Broncos, 4:30 p.m. ET (Netflix) | Rams at Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET (FOX)
All three Christmas Day games are playoff rematches from last season — meaning every matchup has a score to settle. The nightcap of Rams at Seahawks is a rematch of the NFC Championship Game. On Christmas. In Seattle. It’s going to be loud.
6. Playoff Rematches Are Stacked Across the Entire Schedule
The 2026 schedule doesn’t save the best stuff for the holidays. Thirteen games are Super Bowl rematches, and 12 revisit matchups from the 2025 playoffs — including both Conference Championship rematches later in the season, with Denver hosting New England in Week 17 and the Rams facing Seattle in Weeks 16 and 18.
For fans, this means almost every week carries at least one marquee game with genuine history behind it. The schedule makers clearly leaned into the drama from last season’s postseason, and the result is a regular-season slate that feels like it matters from September all the way through January.
7. Sunday Night Football Opens With a Classic Rivalry
The first Sunday Night Football game of the season features the John Harbaugh-led New York Giants hosting the Dallas Cowboys on September 13 — a marquee NFC clash to round out an opening weekend that already includes a Wednesday night Super Bowl rematch and an NFL game played in Australia. Week 1 alone is appointment television across three days.
8. The Season Ends January 3, Start Planning Now
The final day of the 2026 regular season lands on January 3, capping an 18-week slate that runs from early September through the new year. With nine international games, five Thanksgiving week matchups, a four-day Christmas stretch, and a loaded opening weekend, this season rewards fans who plan early.
The best seats at the best games go fast. Tickets for marquee games — opener night in Seattle, the international games, Thanksgiving and Christmas matchups — move quickly once the schedule drops. Checking StubHub early gives you the widest selection across every team, city, and price point.
How to Get NFL Tickets in 2026
Ready to be there? Here’s how to approach it:
Search by team. Know which team you want to see? Browse their full 2026 schedule on StubHub and find home games that fit your calendar — then sort by price, date, or seat section.
Search by city. Traveling somewhere specific? Filter by venue or city to see every NFL game happening near your destination, including international games if you’re planning a trip abroad.
Search by matchup. Have a specific game in mind — a rivalry, a holiday game, a Super Bowl rematch? Search by teams to find every listing for that exact game, with options ranging from upper deck to field level.
Buy early for big games. Opening night, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and playoff-caliber matchups tend to see inventory shrink as game day gets closer. Earlier usually means more options and better prices.
👉 Get 2026 NFL Tickets on StubHub
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