NFL releases 2026 Monday Night Football schedule: 17 games, 8:15 p.m. ET starts

The National Football League released its 2026 Monday Night Football schedule on May 14, detailing 17 regular-season matchups. The slate kicks off on September 14, 2026, when the Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs. Every game is set for an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, and the league has removed Monday doubleheaders for this season. The regular-season Monday schedule concludes on January 4, 2027, with the Houston Texans traveling to face the Green Bay Packers.

According to the league’s release, the 2026 lineup spans all 17 weeks of the regular season. Most games will air on the NFL’s cable partner, with nine also simulcast on a broadcast network. The consistent start time mirrors recent seasons and simplifies national viewing, while the removal of doubleheaders returns Monday nights to a single, marquee window.

Traditional rivalries and playoff-caliber pairings feature prominently. Early in the season, the New York Giants visit the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2, and the Dallas Cowboys head to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7. The run-in includes the New England Patriots at the Chiefs in Week 15 and the New York Giants at the Detroit Lions in Week 16 before the Texans-Packers finale in Week 17.

Monday Night Football has served as the NFL’s weekly primetime capstone since 1970, typically closing each regular-season week with a national broadcast. The 2026 plan maintains that position with a single, nationally televised matchup each Monday and a uniform kickoff time designed to anchor the prime-time schedule.

Key changes and kickoff details

The most notable change for 2026 is the elimination of Monday night doubleheaders, restoring a single-game focus each week. All 17 games begin at 8:15 p.m. ET, continuing the league’s standardized start adopted in recent years. Nine contests will be carried on both the NFL’s cable partner and a broadcast network, with the remainder exclusively on cable.

Notable matchups and weekly flow

The slate opens with a high-profile AFC West meeting between the Broncos and Chiefs in Week 1. The NFC East appears multiple times, including Giants-Rams in Week 2 and Cowboys-Eagles in Week 7. The back half highlights include Patriots-Chiefs in Week 15 and Giants-Lions in Week 16, leading into a cold-weather finale featuring the Texans at the Packers in Week 17.

Full 2026 Monday night schedule

• Week 1 (Sept. 14): Broncos at Chiefs

• Week 2 (Sept. 21): Giants at Rams

• Week 3 (Sept. 28): Eagles at Bears

• Week 4 (Oct. 5): Falcons at Saints

• Week 5 (Oct. 12): Bills at Rams

• Week 6 (Oct. 19): Commanders at 49ers

• Week 7 (Oct. 26): Cowboys at Eagles

• Week 8 (Nov. 2): Bears at Seahawks

• Week 9 (Nov. 9): Bills at Vikings

• Week 10 (Nov. 16): Chargers at Ravens

• Week 11 (Nov. 23): Bengals at Commanders

• Week 12 (Nov. 30): Panthers at Buccaneers

• Week 13 (Dec. 7): Cowboys at Seahawks

• Week 14 (Dec. 14): Steelers at Jaguars

• Week 15 (Dec. 21): Patriots at Chiefs

• Week 16 (Dec. 28): Giants at Lions

• Week 17 (Jan. 4): Texans at Packers

The league will confirm any updates or adjustments closer to kickoff windows. Fans can monitor team and league channels for any changes to dates or assignments during the season.