NFL 2026 Schedule Revealed with Super Bowl Rematch Opener

The National Football League has unveiled its 2026 regular season schedule, confirming a landmark year that will see a record nine international games played across four continents and seven countries, alongside expanded holiday programming and a Super Bowl rematch to open the season.

The campaign begins on Wednesday 9 September, earlier than usual, with the traditional season opener featuring the reigning champions from Super Bowl 60, as the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a high-profile rematch.

Season start moved forward

The NFL has shifted the opening game to a Wednesday for the first time since 2012. The change has been made due to international scheduling restrictions and broadcast rules in the United States.

The following day, attention turns to Australia, where 100,000 fans are expected at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for a blockbuster divisional clash involving the Los Angeles Rams. The fixture is one of seven prime-time games scheduled for the Rams, who are widely considered among the Super Bowl favourites.

Record international expansion

The 2026 season marks the NFL’s most ambitious global schedule yet, with games staged in Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany and Mexico, as well as a return to established European venues.

The full international schedule includes:

• 10 Sep: San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne, Australia)
• 27 Sep: Baltimore Ravens v Dallas Cowboys (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• 4 Oct: Indianapolis Colts v Washington Commanders (Tottenham, London)
• 11 Oct: Philadelphia Eagles v Jacksonville Jaguars (Tottenham, London)
• 18 Oct: Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars (Wembley, London)
• 25 Oct: Pittsburgh Steelers v New Orleans Saints (Paris, France)
• 8 Nov: Cincinnati Bengals v Atlanta Falcons (Madrid, Spain)
• 15 Nov: New England Patriots v Detroit Lions (Munich, Germany)
• 22 Nov: Minnesota Vikings v San Francisco 49ers (Mexico City, Mexico)

It is the first time NFL regular-season games will be staged in Australia and France, reinforcing the league’s global expansion strategy.

Thanksgiving and Christmas boost

Holiday football continues to be a major feature of the schedule, with Thanksgiving week expanded to five games.

For the first time, there will be a Thanksgiving Eve fixture, as the Rams host the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday 25 November in another Netflix broadcast.

Thanksgiving Day itself features a traditional triple-header:

• Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears
• Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles
• Kansas City Chiefs vs Buffalo Bills

The slate concludes with a Black Friday game as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Denver Broncos.

Christmas Day will again feature a triple-header streamed on Netflix, including Bears vs Packers, Broncos vs Bills, and Seahawks vs Rams in a repeat of last season’s NFC Championship clash.

Season structure and Super Bowl

The regular season spans 18 weeks, with each team playing 17 games and taking one bye week. A total of 272 regular-season games will be played, followed by 13 post-season matchups.

The playoffs begin on 16 January 2027, with the season concluding at Super Bowl 61 on Sunday 14 February 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The stadium, home to the Rams and Chargers, previously hosted the Super Bowl in 2022 and remains the most expensive sports venue ever built, costing $5.5bn.

With expanded international fixtures, record streaming coverage and a packed holiday schedule, the 2026 NFL season is set to be one of the most globally ambitious campaigns in league history.