The 2026 NFL regular season officially kicks off this week, with Week 1 featuring games from Wednesday, September 9 through Monday, September 14.
The opening week includes several major matchups, beginning with the New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Kickoff Game and concluding with an AFC West showdown between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
So, what is the NFL Week 1 schedule for 2026?
NFL Week 1 begins Wednesday, September 9 with the Patriots visiting the Seahawks at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. The schedule continues Thursday with the 49ers vs. Rams in Melbourne, Australia, followed by 13 games Sunday and Broncos vs. Chiefs on Monday night.
Here is the complete NFL Week 1 schedule for the 2026 season, including dates, times and TV channels.
NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026
Wednesday, September 9
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
The 2026 NFL Kickoff Game features the New England Patriots traveling to Seattle to face the Seahawks.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, giving the NFL a standalone Wednesday night game to begin the new season.
Thursday Night Football – September 10
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams | 8:35 p.m. | Netflix |
The second game of Week 1 takes the NFL internationally, with the San Francisco 49ers facing the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
The NFC West matchup is scheduled for 8:35 p.m. ET on Netflix.
Sunday NFL Schedule – September 13
Sunday features the largest slate of Week 1 games.
1 p.m. ET Games
| Matchup | TV |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals | FOX |
| New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions | FOX |
| New York Jets at Tennessee Titans | CBS |
| Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts | CBS |
| Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers | FOX |
| Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers | FOX |
| Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars | CBS |
| Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans | CBS |
Eight games are scheduled for the traditional 1 p.m. ET window, highlighted by the Ravens visiting the Colts and the Bills traveling to Houston to face the Texans.
4:25 p.m. ET Games
| Matchup | TV |
|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders | FOX |
| Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings | CBS |
| Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles | FOX |
| Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers | CBS |
Four games make up the late-afternoon window.
The schedule includes two major divisional matchups, with the Packers visiting the Vikings and the Commanders facing the Eagles in Philadelphia.
Sunday Night Football – Cowboys vs. Giants
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
The first Sunday Night Football game of the 2026 season features one of the NFL’s biggest rivalries.
The Dallas Cowboys visit the New York Giants on Sunday, September 13, with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
The NFC East matchup gives both teams an immediate opportunity to pick up a divisional victory in Week 1.
Monday Night Football – Broncos vs. Chiefs
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN/ABC |
Week 1 concludes with another divisional rivalry.
The Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, September 14, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC.
The matchup gives the Broncos and Chiefs an early AFC West test to close the opening week.
How Many NFL Games Are in Week 1?
There are 16 games on the NFL Week 1 schedule for 2026, with all 32 teams scheduled to play.
The games are spread across four days:
- Wednesday, September 9: 1 game
- Thursday, September 10: 1 game
- Sunday, September 13: 13 games
- Monday, September 14: 1 game
Sunday remains the busiest day, featuring eight games at 1 p.m. ET, four at 4:25 p.m. ET and the Cowboys-Giants Sunday Night Football matchup at 8:20 p.m. ET.
What Time Does NFL Week 1 Start?
NFL Week 1 begins Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 8:20 p.m. ET.
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will play the opening game of the regular season.
The Week 1 schedule then continues through Monday, September 14, when the Broncos and Chiefs close the week on Monday Night Football.
NFL Week 1 Primetime Games
The 2026 opening week features four standalone national games:
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 9 | Patriots at Seahawks | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
| Sept. 10 | 49ers vs. Rams | 8:35 p.m. | Netflix |
| Sept. 13 | Cowboys at Giants | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
| Sept. 14 | Broncos at Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN/ABC |
These games provide national audiences with NFL action across four different days during the league’s opening week.
NFL Week 1 Games Today
The NFL regular season begins today, Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with the New England Patriots visiting the Seattle Seahawks.
Patriots vs. Seahawks kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally on NBC.
It is the only NFL game scheduled for Wednesday before Week 1 continues Thursday night with the 49ers and Rams.
NFL Week 1 2026 Schedule at a Glance
The NFL’s opening week stretches from September 9-14, 2026, giving football fans four days of regular-season action.
The Week 1 schedule is headlined by Patriots vs. Seahawks in the NFL Kickoff Game, 49ers vs. Rams in Melbourne, Cowboys vs. Giants on Sunday Night Football and Broncos vs. Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
With all 32 teams in action, Week 1 officially launches the road to the 2026 NFL playoffs and Super Bowl LXI.