2026 NFL Season Kicks Off September 9th with Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl LX Rematch

Football fans, mark your calendars: The 2026 NFL regular season is slated to kick off on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 8:20 p.m. ET. The highly anticipated opening night will see the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field, a blockbuster rematch of Super Bowl LX, according to confirmed reports from NFL.com and FOX Sports.

This marks a rare Wednesday start for the NFL, the first since the 2012 season. As is tradition, the defending Super Bowl champions will unfurl their banner and host the league's initial contest, setting the stage for 18 weeks of gridiron action.

When does the 2026 NFL regular season officially begin?

The 2026 NFL regular season officially begins on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 8:20 p.m. ET, with the Seattle Seahawks facing the New England Patriots. This marquee matchup, a Super Bowl LX rematch, will unfold at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The NFL's decision to open on a Wednesday is a notable break from its typical Thursday night kickoff, making the opener even more distinct for fans tuning in across the globe.

Preseason action has already been underway, with the Hall of Fame Game featuring the Carolina Panthers against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The first full slate of preseason games ran from August 13-16, 2026, and exhibition play will continue through August 29, 2026, before teams finalize their rosters for the regular season push.

What's the full schedule for the 2026 NFL season?

The complete 2026 regular-season schedule, encompassing all 272 games, was officially unveiled on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Following the Kickoff Game, the regular season will extend through January 10, 2027. The postseason will then commence on January 16, 2027, building towards Super Bowl LXI, which is scheduled for February 14, 2027. This ultimate showdown will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, marking the latest date the NFL has ever held its championship game.

Which international games are scheduled for 2026?

The 2026 season will feature a record nine international games, expanding the NFL's global footprint more than ever. These highly anticipated matchups will take place across five different countries, introducing regular-season football to new territories and returning to familiar ones:

• September 11, 2026: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia (first regular-season game in Australia).
• September 27, 2026: Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• October 4, 2026: Indianapolis Colts at Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom.
• October 11, 2026: Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom.
• October 18, 2026: Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom.
• October 25, 2026: Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints at Stade de France in Paris, France (first regular-season game in France).
• November 8, 2026: Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons at Bernabéu in Madrid, Spain.
• November 15, 2026: New England Patriots at Detroit Lions at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
• November 22, 2026: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico.

With preseason winding down and the full schedule locked in, NFL Media is preparing for extensive fall programming, which will roll out in early September to cover all the action and storylines throughout the season. The stage is set for an exciting and globally expansive 2026 NFL campaign.