Watching NFL games in 2026 can require several different TV channels and streaming services depending on the day, matchup and whether the game is being shown in your local market.
NFL games are spread across CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, Prime Video and Peacock, while NFL Sunday Ticket provides access to eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. Some special NFL games may also be available exclusively through other streaming platforms.
Here is a complete guide on how to watch NFL games during the 2026 season.
How to Watch NFL Games in 2026
Here is the general NFL broadcast lineup:
Sunday afternoon games: CBS and FOX
Sunday Night Football: NBC and Peacock
Monday Night Football: ESPN and ABC
Thursday Night Football: Prime Video
Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games: NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube and YouTube TV
Select international and special games: NFL Network and designated broadcast or streaming partners
Mobile and tablet viewing: NFL+
Because NFL broadcast assignments can vary throughout the season, fans should check the individual game’s TV and streaming information before kickoff.
How to Watch Sunday NFL Games
Most Sunday afternoon NFL games kick off at either 1:00 p.m. ET or during the late-afternoon window and are televised by CBS or FOX.
The games available on CBS and FOX depend largely on your local television market. For example, a fan may receive their regional team’s game instead of another matchup taking place at the same time.
CBS and FOX can be accessed with an over-the-air antenna in many areas or through participating cable, satellite and live-TV streaming providers.
How to Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games
Fans who want to watch Sunday afternoon games that are not being televised in their local market can use NFL Sunday Ticket.
NFL Sunday Ticket is available through YouTube and YouTube TV and provides access to eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season NFL games.
Sunday Ticket is particularly useful for fans who follow a team located outside their home television market or who want access to a larger selection of Sunday games.
How to Watch Thursday Night Football
Thursday Night Football is primarily available on Amazon Prime Video.
Most Thursday night NFL games require access to Prime Video, although individual games can have additional local-market availability or special broadcast arrangements.
Thursday Night Football generally begins at 8:15 p.m. ET.
How to Watch Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football is broadcast nationally on NBC and is also available through Peacock.
Sunday Night Football generally kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET and typically features one nationally televised matchup.
NBC can be accessed through participating television providers and over the air in many markets, while Peacock provides a streaming option.
How to Watch Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is primarily carried by ESPN, with select games also available on ABC depending on the NFL broadcast schedule.
Monday night games generally begin around 8:15 p.m. ET, although some weeks can feature multiple Monday night matchups with different kickoff times.
Fans should check the specific week’s schedule to determine whether a game is airing on ESPN, ABC or another ESPN platform.
Can You Watch NFL Games on NFL+?
NFL+ provides another option for watching NFL content throughout the season.
NFL+ offers access to live local and nationally televised games on supported mobile devices and tablets. NFL+ Premium also provides additional features such as NFL RedZone and full and condensed game replays.
However, NFL+ should not be confused with NFL Sunday Ticket.
NFL Sunday Ticket is designed primarily for watching eligible live out-of-market Sunday afternoon games, while NFL+ offers a different package of live mobile viewing, replays and additional NFL content.
How to Watch NFL RedZone
NFL RedZone is designed for fans who want to follow scoring opportunities and major moments from Sunday afternoon games around the league.
RedZone moves between games as teams approach the end zone and is particularly popular with fantasy football players and fans who want to follow several games simultaneously.
NFL RedZone is available through NFL+ Premium and various participating television and streaming providers.
Do You Need NFL Sunday Ticket?
You do not necessarily need NFL Sunday Ticket to watch NFL games.
If you primarily follow your local NFL team and nationally televised games, access to CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN and Prime Video may cover many of the games you want to watch.
Sunday Ticket becomes more important if you want to watch an NFL team that is regularly outside your local television market.
For example, a fan living outside their favorite team’s regional broadcast area may find that many of the team’s Sunday afternoon games are unavailable on their local CBS or FOX station. Sunday Ticket provides access to eligible out-of-market games in those situations.
What Is the Best Way to Watch Every NFL Game?
There is no single service that necessarily carries every NFL game.
For broad NFL coverage during the 2026 season, fans may need access to:
- CBS
- FOX
- NBC
- ABC
- ESPN
- NFL Network
- Amazon Prime Video
- Peacock
- NFL Sunday Ticket
- Any streaming service carrying an exclusive special NFL game
The exact combination depends on which teams and games you want to watch.
Fans primarily interested in their local team may need significantly fewer services than someone attempting to watch games from across the entire league.
Can You Watch NFL Games Without Cable?
Yes. NFL fans can watch many games without a traditional cable subscription.
Local CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC stations may be available through an over-the-air antenna, depending on your location.
Live-TV streaming services can also provide many of these channels, while Prime Video carries Thursday Night Football and Peacock streams Sunday Night Football.
NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube or YouTube TV can then be added for eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
How to Watch NFL Games on Your Phone
NFL+ is one of the primary options for watching live NFL games on a phone or tablet.
Eligible local and nationally televised games can be streamed through NFL+ on supported mobile devices.
Availability and device restrictions can differ from watching games on a television, so fans should verify that their preferred game and device are supported before kickoff.
How to Find What Channel an NFL Game Is On
Because NFL games are distributed across several broadcasters, the easiest approach is to check the broadcast information for the specific matchup.
Sunday afternoon games will generally be on CBS or FOX, while the league’s major primetime packages are typically easier to identify:
Thursday: Prime Video
Sunday night: NBC and Peacock
Monday night: ESPN and/or ABC
Special international, holiday, Saturday and postseason games can have different broadcast arrangements.
NFL Games 2026: Where to Watch
The 2026 NFL season continues the league’s combination of traditional television and streaming coverage.
CBS and FOX remain essential for Sunday afternoon football, NBC and Peacock are home to Sunday Night Football, ESPN and ABC carry Monday Night Football, and Prime Video is the primary home of Thursday Night Football.
Fans wanting out-of-market Sunday afternoon coverage can turn to NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube and YouTube TV, while NFL+ provides mobile access to eligible local and national games along with additional features.
With NFL games increasingly distributed across multiple platforms, checking the TV channel, streaming service, kickoff time and local availability for each matchup is the best way to make sure you don’t miss the game.