2026 NFL schedule: All the intel ahead of Thursday's release
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- The 2026 NFL regular season will start on Wednesday, September 9, marking only the second time the season opens midweek, with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting an unannounced opponent.
- The schedule shift accommodates the NFL's first regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, where the Los Angeles Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, September 10, at 8:35 p.m. ET, kicking off at 10:35 a.m. local time in Melbourne.
- The 2026 season will feature a record nine international games across four continents and seven countries, underscoring the NFL's global expansion efforts.
- The first "Sunday Night Football" game announced features coach John Harbaugh's debut with the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys, who will also host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving in another NFC East rivalry matchup.
- NFL Nation reporters will release bold predictions and detailed team analyses following the schedule release, with depth charts and team pages available for all 32 NFL teams.