NFL to unveil full 2026 schedule May 14; Week 1 openers confirmed

The National Football League will unveil its full 2026 schedule on Thursday, May 14. The release will set dates, times and venues for all 321 games from the preseason through Week 18. Several Week 1 fixtures are already locked in, headlined by the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks opening on Wednesday, September 9. The league will confirm the remaining kickoff windows and stadium assignments on Thursday evening.

Prime-time openers include the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Giants on Sunday night and the Denver Broncos at the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night. The slate also features a historic international start, with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams scheduled to play the league’s first game in Australia on Thursday, September 10. Those placements, alongside the defending champions’ Wednesday opener, will shape the early-season narrative before the full order is revealed.

The league continues to expand its international footprint. In addition to the Australia opener, San Francisco is slated to play later in Mexico City, which would make the 49ers the first team to play multiple international games in non-consecutive weeks. The final reveal will confirm kickoff windows and broadcast details for each game.

Travel is expected to be a major storyline. The 49ers are projected to log approximately 38,100 miles during the regular season, a total that would set a new NFL record if realized. Team planners could mitigate that figure slightly by bundling two East Coast road trips — which include games against the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons — though dates have not yet been set.

While full dates and times remain under wraps until the reveal, the order of opponents and early prime-time windows will frame September momentum and December playoff races. The approach mirrors recent years, balancing rivalry games, international showcases and late-season schedule flexibility.

Week 1 openers and international venues

Prime-time matchups set

The opening slate is anchored by the Seahawks’ midweek kickoff as defending champions, followed by the Australia game between NFC West rivals a day later. The Cowboys–Giants rivalry will take center stage on Sunday night, before the Broncos visit the Chiefs on Monday night.

First game in Australia

The Rams–49ers matchup will be the first NFL game played in Australia, underscoring the league’s push to stage meaningful contests outside the United States. Specific kickoff times and broadcast details will be finalized with the full release.

Strength of schedule and travel projections

Browns draw easiest slate

Based on opponent winning percentages from the 2025 season, the Cleveland Browns enter 2026 with the league’s easiest strength of schedule at .429 (opponents combined 125–165). The New Orleans Saints (.434; 125–163–1) and Cincinnati Bengals (.450; 130–159) follow, with the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons tied at .465 (134–154–1). The AFC North landscape could also shift, with Pittsburgh and Baltimore working in new head coaches.

Bears face toughest path

The Chicago Bears have the toughest projected slate with a .550 opponent win percentage. Recent history is not kind to teams in that position: each of the last nine clubs that opened a season with the league’s hardest strength of schedule failed to win a playoff game. Chicago is coming off an 11–6 campaign that included an NFC North title, a playoff win over Green Bay and an NFL-record seven victories when trailing inside the final two minutes (including playoffs).

With the full schedule set to drop Thursday evening, teams and fans will soon have clarity on travel logistics, bye weeks and marquee windows as preparations for the 2026 season accelerate.