2026 NFL Regular Season Kickoff: Schedule, Matchups, and More
The highly anticipated 2026 NFL regular season is almost here, with the first game scheduled for Wednesday, September 9. Unfortunately, there are no NFL games on Sunday, September 6. The season kicks off with the Seattle Seahawks facing the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl LX. The schedule for Week 1 is quite unique, with a Thursday night game in Australia and a full slate of games on Sunday, including the return of Monday Night Football.
The preseason has concluded, and fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the 2026 NFL regular season on Wednesday, September 9. The first game will feature the New England Patriots taking on the Seattle Seahawks at 8:20 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock, with mobile streaming available on NFL+. This matchup is a fitting way to begin the season, as it is a rematch of the Super Bowl from the previous season.
The NFL is shaking things up with its schedule, starting the regular season on a Wednesday this year. The first Thursday game will be between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams on September 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET. This game will be exclusively streamed on Netflix and will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, marking the NFL's first regular-season game in the country. The full Week 1 schedule includes 16 games spread across four days, offering fans plenty of exciting matchups to look forward to.
Week 1 of the NFL regular season is packed with intriguing games right from the start. The Super Bowl rematch between the Patriots and Seahawks is a must-watch, along with the international game in Australia between the 49ers and Rams. Sunday's lineup includes exciting matchups like Bills-Texans, Packers-Vikings, and Commanders-Eagles, leading up to the Sunday Night Football game between the Cowboys and Giants. The week concludes with the Broncos facing the Chiefs on Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium. The regular season is just around the corner, and fans can finally enjoy meaningful football games after the preseason.