The NFL has officially unveiled the 2026 regular-season schedule, and the league is once again doubling down on prime-time games, streaming platforms, and marquee holiday matchups. With 272 games spread across traditional television and exclusive streaming services, the new season promises blockbuster rivalries, international showcases, and a major push toward digital viewing.
The 2026 NFL schedule release signals the league’s continued dominance in American sports television while also reshaping how fans consume games across multiple networks and streaming apps.
NFL Expands Holiday Game Lineup in 2026
One of the biggest storylines from the 2026 NFL schedule release is the league’s aggressive expansion into holiday programming.
Netflix will stream a new Thanksgiving Eve game featuring the Green Bay Packers against the Los Angeles Rams. The NFL’s traditional Thanksgiving Day slate will include fierce divisional rivalries on CBS and Fox before closing the night with a highly anticipated matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills on NBC.
Amazon Prime Video will once again carry the Black Friday game, featuring the Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers.
Christmas Day will also be packed with marquee matchups. Netflix’s Christmas doubleheader includes:
- Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
- Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos
Fox will then air a primetime NFC Championship rematch between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks later that evening.
The NFL’s increased focus on holiday games comes after record-breaking holiday ratings during the 2025 season.
Patriots vs. Seahawks Opens 2026 NFL Season
The 2026 NFL season officially begins on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with a Super Bowl LX rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks on NBC.
The kickoff game also places national attention on Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel amid ongoing controversy surrounding the franchise.
NFL International Games Reach Record Levels
The NFL continues expanding globally with a record nine international games scheduled for the 2026 season.
CBS, Fox, and NBC will all participate in broadcasting the overseas matchups as the league looks to grow international viewership and fan engagement. The expanded global slate is expected to deliver some of the highest international ratings in league history.
ESPN, Amazon, CBS, Fox, and Netflix Showcase Top Matchups
Every major NFL broadcast partner received premium games for the upcoming season.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon’s Thursday Night Football schedule includes every 2025 playoff team, highlighted by:
- Texans vs. Eagles on Christmas Eve
- Joe Burrow vs. Lamar Jackson
- Patrick Mahomes vs. Matthew Stafford
CBS Sports
CBS will air the Chiefs, Bills, Patriots, and Steelers up to nine times each during the season.
NBC Sports
NBC highlighted its highly anticipated Chiefs vs. Bills showdown, calling it the “Rivalry of the Decade.”
ESPN and Disney
ESPN’s Monday Night Football slate features every 2025 playoff team and includes:
- 26 total regular-season games
- Week 18 Saturday doubleheader coverage
- Multiple appearances by the Bills, Chiefs, Eagles, Rams, and Seahawks
Fox Sports
Fox will once again feature the largest number of NFL broadcast windows, including a special Week 10 tripleheader.
Raiders Rookie Fernando Mendoza Left Out of Primetime
Despite selecting Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders currently have no scheduled primetime appearances.
That could change later in the season through the NFL’s flex scheduling system.
NFL Streaming Push Continues in 2026
The 2026 season further expands the NFL’s streaming footprint after the league completed a major equity and broadcast rights agreement with Disney and ESPN.
The NFL later redistributed several games to Netflix, Fox, and NBC, increasing the number of exclusive streaming windows. Netflix now carries five NFL games this season, up from two in 2025.
While fans now have more viewing options than ever, the growing number of streaming-exclusive games means viewers may need multiple subscriptions to watch the full NFL schedule.
Still, the league maintains that 87% of NFL games remain available on free over-the-air television, with all local-market games accessible in participating team cities.
NFL Remains America’s Most-Watched Television Product
Despite increased political scrutiny and ongoing regulatory discussions surrounding media rights, the NFL continues to dominate U.S. television ratings.
The league’s 2026 schedule reflects its strategy to maximize both traditional TV audiences and streaming growth while continuing to deliver marquee matchups throughout the season.