The 2026 NFL season kicks off on Wednesday 9 September 2026 with a Super Bowl rematch, the New England Patriots at the Seattle Seahawks, and runs 18 weeks and 272 regular-season games to Sunday 10 January 2027. The playoffs begin on Saturday 16 January and finish with Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Sunday 14 February 2027. Every game is on our NFL schedule calendar; the next games, key dates and how to watch are below.
Key facts
| Kickoff Game | Wednesday 9 September 2026, Patriots at Seahawks |
| Regular season | 18 weeks, 272 games, 9 September 2026 – 10 January 2027 |
| Thanksgiving | Thursday 26 November 2026 (three games, including Bears at Lions) |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 |
| Week 18 | Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 January 2027 |
| Playoffs | Wild Card from Saturday 16 January 2027 |
| Super Bowl LXI | Sunday 14 February 2027, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Teams | 32 (AFC and NFC, 17 games each, one bye week) |
Next NFL games
The next games on the NFL schedule with kick-off times in US Eastern and UK time. Tap a game for the full preview.
See every fixture on the calendar →
Key dates
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 9 September 2026 | NFL Kickoff Game: Patriots at Seahawks (Week 1) |
| Sunday 13 September 2026 | First full Sunday of Week 1 |
| Thursday 26 November 2026 | Thanksgiving Day tripleheader |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day games |
| Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 January 2027 | Week 18, regular season ends |
| Saturday 16 – Monday 18 January 2027 | Wild Card Weekend |
| Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 January 2027 | Divisional Round |
| Sunday 31 January 2027 | AFC and NFC Championship Games |
| Sunday 14 February 2027 | Super Bowl LXI, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California |
How the season works
Each of the 32 teams plays 17 regular-season games over 18 weeks, with one bye. Seven teams from each conference reach the playoffs: the four division winners plus three wild cards. The top seed in each conference skips Wild Card Weekend. Every playoff game is single elimination, with the higher seed hosting until the Super Bowl, which is played at a neutral site.
How to watch
Tickets
Tickets are sold by each home team through Ticketmaster and the NFL’s official ticket exchange. International games in London, Munich, Madrid and Melbourne go on sale through the host stadiums and the NFL’s international ballot in the spring.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026 NFL season start?
The 2026 NFL regular season starts on Wednesday 9 September 2026 with the Kickoff Game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, followed by the first full Sunday of games on 13 September.
When is Super Bowl LXI?
Super Bowl LXI is on Sunday 14 February 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
When does the NFL regular season end?
Week 18, the final week of the regular season, is played on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 January 2027. The playoffs start on Saturday 16 January.
What are the NFL Thanksgiving games in 2026?
Thanksgiving is Thursday 26 November 2026 and follows the usual tripleheader format, with the Detroit Lions hosting the Chicago Bears in the early game.
How can I watch the NFL in the UK?
Sky Sports NFL shows live games every week and DAZN’s NFL Game Pass streams every game. Channel 5 carries one free-to-air game on Sunday nights.
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