The NFL Christmas Day Games take place on 25 December 2026, with three fixtures scheduled across the afternoon and evening as part of the league’s expanding holiday programming. Christmas Day football has rapidly become one of the NFL’s most prominent broadcast windows, attracting massive global audiences during the festive period. Two of the three games are expected to stream exclusively on Netflix, continuing the partnership that debuted in 2024, with a third game on traditional broadcast television.
What Are the NFL Christmas Day Games?
The NFL has played games on Christmas Day intermittently throughout its history, but the tradition became a permanent fixture in the schedule from 2020 onwards. The league’s partnership with Netflix, which began with the 2024 Christmas Day doubleheader, marked a significant shift in how the NFL delivers content to global audiences. The 2025 season expanded the Christmas slate further, and 2026 continues this trajectory with three games. Christmas Day games occupy a unique position in the NFL calendar, falling during Week 16 or 17 of the regular season when playoff implications are at their peak, adding genuine sporting stakes to the holiday spectacle.
When Are the NFL Christmas Day Games 2026?
All three games take place on Friday 25 December 2026, Christmas Day. Kick-off times are expected to follow a staggered schedule: an early afternoon game (around 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM GMT), a late afternoon game (approximately 4:30 PM ET / 9:30 PM GMT) and a primetime fixture (8:20 PM ET / 1:20 AM GMT on 26 December). Specific team matchups and exact kick-off times are confirmed when the full 2026 NFL schedule is released, typically in May. The NFL’s scheduling committee uses the Christmas window to showcase playoff contenders and high-profile divisional rivalries.
Where Are the NFL Christmas Day Games 2026?
Venues are determined by the home teams assigned to the Christmas fixtures and will be confirmed with the full schedule release. Previous Christmas Day games have been held at venues including SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, NRG Stadium in Houston and Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The NFL selects matchups with strong nationwide appeal, and the hosting venues are typically major market stadiums capable of delivering a premium broadcast product. All NFL stadiums provide a full game-day experience with extensive food, beverage and entertainment options.
Key Contenders
The NFL’s scheduling formula means specific matchups are not confirmed until the full schedule is released, but the league’s Christmas Day strategy is clear: feature the biggest teams, brightest stars and most consequential games. In recent years, the Kansas City Chiefs (led by Patrick Mahomes), the Baltimore Ravens (Lamar Jackson), the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles have been among the teams selected for the premium holiday slot. With playoff seeding often on the line in late December, Christmas Day games frequently carry genuine postseason implications, making them among the most dramatic regular-season fixtures of the year.
How to Watch the NFL Christmas Day Games
Two of the three Christmas Day games are expected to stream exclusively on Netflix, available worldwide to all Netflix subscribers at no additional cost beyond the standard subscription. The third game is typically broadcast on a traditional US network such as Fox or CBS. In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports NFL carries all Christmas Day games live. NFL Game Pass International (available via DAZN in many countries) provides live streaming globally. Canadian viewers can watch on TSN and CTV. The Netflix games are particularly significant for international audiences, as the platform’s global reach makes them accessible in over 190 countries without the need for a separate sports subscription.
History of NFL Christmas Day Football
The NFL has played on Christmas Day periodically since the 1971 playoff doubleheader that featured the famous “Immaculate Reception” by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Franco Harris, widely considered one of the greatest plays in NFL history. Christmas Day games became a regular fixture from 2020, with the pandemic-adjusted schedule accelerating the trend. The 2024 Netflix debut attracted enormous viewership, with the Kansas City Chiefs vs Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens vs Houston Texans games reaching a combined global audience of tens of millions. Beyonce’s halftime performance during the 2024 Netflix broadcast demonstrated the entertainment ambition of the Christmas slate. The success of the Netflix partnership has cemented Christmas Day as one of the NFL’s marquee broadcast properties.
Tickets for NFL Christmas Day Games
Tickets are available through the home teams’ official websites, Ticketmaster and authorised resale platforms such as StubHub and SeatGeek once the schedule and matchups are confirmed. Christmas Day NFL tickets carry a significant premium over standard regular-season games due to the holiday timing and national spotlight. Expect prices starting from approximately $150-200 for upper-level seats, rising to several thousand dollars for premium and lower-bowl positions. Hospitality suites and club-level seats are available at most NFL venues. Given the festive nature of the occasion, game-day atmospheres at Christmas fixtures tend to be particularly celebratory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special Netflix subscription to watch the games?
No. Any standard Netflix subscription (including the ad-supported tier) provides access to the Christmas Day NFL games at no additional charge. The games are available globally wherever Netflix operates.
When will the team matchups be announced?
The full NFL schedule, including Christmas Day matchups, is typically released in May of the season year. The opponents for each team are known earlier based on the scheduling formula, but the specific dates and times are confirmed with the full release.
Are the games meaningful for the playoff race?
Yes. Christmas Day falls during the final weeks of the NFL regular season, when playoff seeding is often undecided. The NFL deliberately schedules games with postseason implications for the Christmas window.
What time do the games start in the UK?
The early game typically kicks off at approximately 6:00 PM GMT on Christmas Day, with the late afternoon game at 9:30 PM GMT and the primetime game at 1:20 AM GMT on Boxing Day morning.