The date to determine future dates.
It’s the NFL schedule release, the only day of the year where football fans get excited to fill in a calendar. Trips will be booked, tickets will be purchased and records will be predicted in the immediate aftermath.
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In other words, the schedule release almost serves as the kick off for the new season. There are still months before any meaningful action and yet, everyone will fill that void with countless hours of speculation by identifying every possible permutation for the season ahead.
NFL schedule leaks: Tracking latest news, rumors, updates about 2026 schedule
Will the Seattle Seahawks repeat as Super Bowl champions? Can the Kansas City Chiefs return to form? Who are the new stars set to emerge? Which team will crumble under the weight of expectations? How will the NFL’s debut in Australia impact the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers?
So many questions, so few answers.
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Here’s what to know about the NFL schedule release in 2026 and a look at some of the games that were already announced.
NFL schedule 2026
Week 1
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Thursday, Sept. 10: Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers in Australia (8:35 p.m. ET, Netflix)
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Monday, Sept. 14: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos* (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)
*Location TBD
Week 2
Week 3
When does the NFL season start?
The 2026 NFL regular season will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Lumen Field in Seattle. Continuing tradition, the Super Bowl champions will kick off the season as the Seahawks get one last moment in the spotlight before turning the page to 2026.
While the kickoff game is typically set for the Thursday night after Labor Day, this season’s was moved to Wednesday to accommodate a new international game. The Los Angeles Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Sept. 10, in the league’s first-ever Australia game.
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That means that fans can expect games to take place on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday in Week 1.
NFL international games, schedule in 2026
There are nine games on the NFL’s international schedule for 2026. According to the league’s announcement, the 2026 international schedule will be revealed at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13 on the “Good Morning Football” show on NFL Network.
Here’s a look at where they will be played and the participants that have been announced:
Australia game
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Week 1 (Sept. 10): Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Melbourne
According to a report from The Athletic, Netflix will broadcast the Sept. 10 game in Australia. Football fans living outside of the Los Angeles and San Francisco local markets will need a subscription to the streaming service to watch the game.
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The Rams vs. 49ers game in Melbourne will be the first of at least three games broadcast on Netflix during the 2026 season. Netflix will also broadcast two NFL games on Christmas in 2026 – the third straight year it’s done so.
Brazil game
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Week 3 (Sept. 27): Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens | Maracaña Stadium | Rio de Janeiro
France game
Germany game
London games
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Jacksonville Jaguars vs. TBA | Wembley Stadium | London
Mexico game
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San Francisco 49ers vs. TBA | Estadio Banorte | Mexico City
Spain game
NFL opponents by team
Of course, opponents for all 32 teams have already been decided, as is the way the NFL schedule is formulated. For a look at every opponent for every team in the NFL, click here.
When is the 2026 NFL schedule release?
The NFL schedule is set to be released on Thursday, May 14 at 8 p.m. ET.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL schedule release 2026: List of announced games, confirmed dates, times
Read the full article here
