🏈 2026 NFL Schedule Release (LIVE): Latest Odds, Leaks, Confirmed Dates & More

The 2026 NFL schedule release is almost here with the league revealing the full slate tonight at 8 p.m. ET, but we already know a handful of key matchups across the 2026-27 schedule with opening odds from the best sports betting sites.

The latest news came Wednesday night with the NFL Kickoff Game revealed to be the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch to kick off Week 1 on Wednesday - just the second time the regular season has started on that day. We've also seen multiple holiday matchups leak today for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day with just hours remaining until we see the entire schedule.

As we wait for the full reveal, I'm tracking the latest NFL schedule release leaks with every confirmed matchup, opening odds, and key dates for the 2026 NFL schedule. Bookmark this page as I'll be updating what we know before tonight's full schedule release and offering full analysis once the schedule is revealed.

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🔍 2026 NFL schedule leaks: Confirmed matchups & odds

While the 2026 NFL schedule won't be revealed in full until later tonight, we've already seen a handful of matchups leaked ahead of the official schedule release. Here's a look at every confirmed game so far, including the latest odds via FanDuel as of Thursday, May 14, and broadcast info for every matchup (all times Eastern):

➡️ See all of our NFL picks based on the latest NFL odds for the 2026 season.

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🏈 2026 NFL season opener: Patriots vs. Seahawks in Week 1

For only the second time in NFL history, the regular season will start on a Wednesday to accommodate the league's first-ever game in Australia the following day.

As is tradition, the defending Super Bowl champions will host the annual NFL Kickoff Game with the Seahawks kicking off their title defense at Lumen Field on Sept. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC). And, in a bit of a stunner, the Seahawks will host the Patriots in Week 1 in a rematch of Super Bowl LX, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Assuming that's true, it'll be the first title rematch to open the season since 2016. The Seahawks trounced the Patriots in a 29-13 win in February. I broke down the opening Patriots vs. Seahawks odds with my early preview for the Super Bowl rematch in Week 1, backing the defending champions to win with a plus-money bet at FanDuel.

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🌍 2026 NFL international games

The NFL will play a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents and seven countries, the most in league history.

The Jaguars and 49ers each play two international games - Jacksonville will remain in London for back-to-back games in October, while San Francisco will play in the first and last international games of the season. The Steelers' trip to Paris also marks the NFL's first regular-season game in France.

Here is the full international slate for the 2026 NFL season:

• Week 1: 49ers vs. Rams - Melbourne, Australia (Sept. 10)
• Week 3: Ravens vs. Cowboys - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Sept. 27)
• Week 4: Colts vs. Commanders - London, England (Oct. 4)
• Week 5: Eagles vs. Jaguars - London, England (Oct. 11)
• Week 6: Texans vs. Jaguars - London, England (Oct. 18)
• Week 7: Steelers vs. Saints - Paris, France (Oct. 25)
• Week 9: Bengals vs. Falcons - Madrid, Spain (Nov. 8)
• Week 10: Patriots vs. Lions - Munich, Germany (Nov. 15)
• Week 11: Vikings vs. 49ers - Mexico City, Mexico (Nov. 22)

We'll be updating our NFL Fatigue Index later this month to account for the physical toll of teams traveling internationally, as well as the impact of short rest and extended road trips during the 2026 NFL season for all 32 teams.

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📺 2026 NFL primetime games

While most of the primetime matchups won't be revealed until tonight, we've already seen some of the biggest marquee matchups leaked in advance of the official schedule release. Here's what we know about the 2026 primetime slate so far, excluding the international games and holiday slate (more on that below):

• NFL Kickoff Game (Week 1): Patriots at Seahawks (Sept. 9)
• SNF opener (Week 1): Cowboys at Giants (Sept. 13)
• MNF opener (Week 1): Broncos at Chiefs (Sept. 14)
• TNF opener (Week 2): Lions at Bills (Sept. 17) (first game at new Highmark Stadium)

The full 2026 NFL primetime schedule drops tonight at 8 p.m. ET. I'll update this section as the entire slate of Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football games are confirmed.

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🎄 2026 NFL holiday games

The NFL is stacking the holiday schedule more aggressively than ever in 2026 with a record number of games across Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day (and the days before and after). Here's what we know so far:

• Thanksgiving Eve (Wed., Nov. 25): Packers at Rams, 8 p.m., Netflix
• Thanksgiving (Thu., Nov. 26):
• Bears at Lions, 1 p.m., CBS
• Eagles at Cowboys, 4:30 p.m., FOX
• Chiefs at Bills, 8:20 p.m., NBC
• Black Friday (Fri., Nov. 27): Matchup TBD, Prime Video
• Christmas Day (Fri., Dec. 25): Packers at Bears, TBD, Netflix (two more games TBD)
• New Year's Eve (Thurs., Dec. 31): Ravens at Bengals, TBD, Prime Video
• New Year's Saturday (Sat., Jan. 2): Matchup TBD, 4:30 p.m., NBC

We'll continue to update the NFL holiday schedule as matchups are confirmed.

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📋 2026 NFL schedule release: Home & away opponents for every team

We still don't know the exact date and time for most of the 2026 NFL schedule, but we do already know the actual matchups for all 272 games in the regular season - including how many home and away games each team will have and their confirmed opponents.

Here's the full breakdown by division for every team's 2026 schedule:

AFC East

Buffalo Bills 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Miami, New England, N.Y. Jets
• Away: Denver, Green Bay, Houston, Las Vegas, L.A. Rams, Miami, Minnesota, New England, N.Y. Jets

Miami Dolphins 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, New England, N.Y. Jets
• Away: Buffalo, Denver, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Minnesota, New England, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco

New England Patriots 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Buffalo, Denver, Green Bay, Las Vegas, Miami, Minnesota, N.Y. Jets, Pittsburgh
• Away: Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Jacksonville, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Miami, N.Y. Jets, Seattle

New York Jets 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Buffalo, Cleveland, Denver, Green Bay, Las Vegas, Miami, Minnesota, New England
• Away: Arizona, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Miami, New England, Tennessee

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville, L.A. Chargers, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee
• Away: Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh

Cincinnati Bengals 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Baltimore, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Kansas City, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee
• Away: Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Cleveland, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, Pittsburgh, Washington

Cleveland Browns 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Cincinnati, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh
• Away: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, New Orleans, N.Y. Giants, N.Y. Jets, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee

Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis
• Away: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville, New England, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Tennessee

AFC South

Houston Texans 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Baltimore, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Dallas, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, N.Y. Giants, Tennessee
• Away: Cleveland, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, L.A. Chargers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Washington

Indianapolis Colts 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, N.Y. Giants, Tennessee
• Away: Cleveland, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Washington

Jacksonville Jaguars 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Cleveland, Houston, Indianapolis, New England, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Washington
• Away: Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, N.Y. Giants, Tennessee

Tennessee Titans 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Cleveland, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
• Away: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, N.Y. Giants

AFC West

Denver Broncos 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Buffalo, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, Miami, Seattle
• Away: Arizona, Carolina, Kansas City, Las Vegas, L.A. Chargers, New England, N.Y. Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco

Kansas City Chiefs 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Arizona, Denver, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, L.A. Chargers, New England, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco
• Away: Atlanta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Denver, Las Vegas, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, Miami, Seattle

Las Vegas Raiders 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Buffalo, Denver, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, Miami, Seattle, Tennessee
• Away: Arizona, Cleveland, Denver, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, New England, New Orleans, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco

Los Angeles Chargers 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Arizona, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, New England, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco
• Away: Baltimore, Buffalo, Denver, Kansas City, Las Vegas, L.A. Rams, Miami, Seattle, Tampa Bay

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Arizona, Baltimore, Jacksonville, N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington
• Away: Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, L.A. Rams, N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington

New York Giants 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Arizona, Cleveland, Dallas, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tennessee, Washington
• Away: Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, L.A. Rams, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington

Philadelphia Eagles 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Carolina, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, L.A. Rams, N.Y. Giants, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Washington
• Away: Arizona, Chicago, Dallas, Jacksonville, N.Y. Giants, San Francisco, Tennessee, Washington

Washington Commanders 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, L.A. Rams, N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia, Seattle
• Away: Arizona, Dallas, Jacksonville, Minnesota, N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tennessee

NFC North

Chicago Bears 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Detroit, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay
• Away: Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Detroit, Green Bay, Miami, Minnesota, Seattle

Detroit Lions 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, N.Y. Giants, N.Y. Jets, Tampa Bay, Tennessee
• Away: Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Green Bay, Miami, Minnesota

Green Bay Packers 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Minnesota
• Away: Chicago, Detroit, L.A. Rams, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, N.Y. Jets, Tampa Bay

Minnesota Vikings 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Miami, Washington
• Away: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, New England, New Orleans, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco, Tampa Bay

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Kansas City, New Orleans, San Francisco, Tampa Bay
• Away: Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, Minnesota, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington

Carolina Panthers 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, New Orleans, Seattle, Tampa Bay
• Away: Atlanta, Cleveland, Green Bay, Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay

New Orleans Saints 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Arizona, Atlanta, Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay
• Away: Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, N.Y. Giants, Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Atlanta, Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, Minnesota, New Orleans, Pittsburgh
• Away: Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, New Orleans

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, L.A. Rams, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington
• Away: Dallas, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, New Orleans, N.Y. Giants, San Francisco, Seattle

Los Angeles Rams 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Arizona, Buffalo, Dallas, Green Bay, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, N.Y. Giants, San Francisco, Seattle
• Away: Arizona, Denver, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Washington

San Francisco 49ers 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Arizona, Denver, Las Vegas, L.A. Rams, Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington
• Away: Arizona, Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, N.Y. Giants, Seattle

Seattle Seahawks 2026 schedule: Home & away opponents

• Home: Arizona, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, New England, N.Y. Giants, San Francisco
• Away: Arizona, Carolina, Denver, Las Vegas, L.A. Rams, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington

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⏰ When is the 2026 NFL schedule release?

The full 2026 NFL schedule release is set for tonight at 8 p.m. ET with a two-hour primetime special on NFL Network and ESPN2. That's when we'll learn the entire 272-game slate across 18 weeks for the NFL regular season in 2026-27.

I'll be updating this article in real time as the schedule drops later tonight, with opening odds for every Week 1 game and links to our full coverage and schedule reactions.

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📜 How does the NFL schedule work?

The NFL schedule creation may seem random to the casual fan, but it actually follows a detailed formula that determines each team's opponents before league officials determine the final order and comprehensive 18-week schedule.

How are opponents determined?

Every team plays 17 regular-season games across 18 weeks with one bye week. The league uses a rotation system that ensures every team plays every other team at least once every four years. Here's how each team's 17 opponents are determined:

• Six division games (home and away vs. each division opponent)
• Four games vs. all teams in one other division within the same conference (3-year rotation)
• Four games vs. all teams in one division from the opposite conference (4-year rotation)
• Two games vs. teams in the remaining two same-conference divisions, matched by prior year standings
• One game vs. a team from the opposite conference, matched by prior year standings (the 17th game, added in 2021)

For 2026, the cross-conference matchups are:

• NFC East vs. AFC South
• NFC North vs. AFC West
• NFC South vs. AFC East
• NFC West vs. AFC North

How are home games and bye weeks decided?

NFC teams will host nine regular-season home games in 2026, while AFC teams will host eight. The conferences alternate each year. Every team gets one bye week scheduled between Weeks 5 and 14, with schedulers trying to avoid giving teams an opponent coming off a bye whenever possible.

Who makes the official NFL schedule?

The schedule is built by a small group of NFL executives - led by EVP of Media Distribution Hans Schroeder, VP of Broadcasting Planning Michael North, and VP of Broadcast Operations Onnie Bose - with help from thousands of cloud-based computers that generate thousands of possible schedule variations. The final 272-game slate is then selected from those options based on travel, competitive balance, broadcast partner needs and stadium availability.

How does NFL flex scheduling work?

While the schedule is "set" in mid-May, the NFL introduced "flex scheduling" in 2006 to allow league officials to move late-season games into better time slots to maximize viewership - a key tactic to avoid losing teams in key TV windows late in the year.

Sunday Night Football flexes are available twice between Weeks 5-10 and as needed Weeks 11-17. Monday Night Football flexes are eligible Weeks 12-17, and Thursday Night Football flexes can happen Weeks 13-17 (max two per season, announced 21 days in advance). In Week 18, the league waits until the end of Week 17 to set kickoff times based on playoff implications.

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📅 2026 NFL season key dates

See our full breakdown of the NFL schedule & key dates for the 2026-27 season.

• Schedule release: Thursday, May 14, 2026, 8 p.m. ET
• Hall of Fame Game: Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 (matchup TBD)
• Preseason Weeks 1-3: Aug. 7-23, 2026
• Roster cutdown to 53: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026
• Season opener (NFL Kickoff): Wednesday, Sept. 9 (Patriots vs. Seahawks)
• Trade deadline: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
• Week 18: Sunday, Jan. 10, 2027
• Wild Card weekend: Jan. 16-18, 2027
• Divisional Round: Jan. 23-24, 2027
• Conference Championships: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2027
• Pro Bowl Games: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027
• Super Bowl LXI: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium

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