Finding the minn vikings tv schedule shouldn't feel like a part-time job. Honestly, between the flex scheduling, the random international London or Dublin trips, and the five different streaming services you apparently need just to see a kickoff, it’s a lot. You just want to know when the Purple are on and where to find them without scrolling through three different apps.
We just wrapped up the 2025 regular season. It was a wild ride. From the high of a 48-10 blowout against Cincinnati in Week 3 to that grueling stretch in November, the schedule makers definitely didn't do Minnesota any favors.
But if you’re looking for where the team stands right now or how to plan your life around the upcoming 2026 rotation, I’ve got you.
The Reality of the 2025-2026 Broadcast Mess
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. If you tried to watch every game this past season, you probably realized your cable package is basically a suggestion at this point.
The NFL is spreading these games thin. For instance, the Vikings’ Christmas Day game against the Detroit Lions in Week 17 wasn't on "normal" TV. It was a Netflix exclusive. Yeah, Netflix. If you didn't have a subscription, you were essentially stuck listening to Paul Allen on KFAN (which is great, but you want the visuals).
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Then you had the international games. Week 4 in Dublin and Week 5 in London. Those were 9:30 AM ET kickoffs on NFL Network. If you’re a late sleeper on Sundays, you basically missed half the game before your first cup of coffee.
Where the Games Usually Live
Despite the streaming chaos, most Vikings games still follow the traditional path. Here is the rough breakdown of how the TV rights usually shake out for Minnesota:
- FOX: This is the bread and butter. Since the Vikings are an NFC team, FOX handles the majority of the Sunday afternoon slots.
- CBS: You’ll see them here when they play AFC teams at home, like that Week 18 finale against the Packers (which, fun fact, was actually a CBS game this year).
- NBC: Reserved for the big-ticket Sunday Night Football matchups, like the Week 2 Atlanta game and the Week 15 clash in Dallas.
- ESPN/ABC: Monday Night Football. We saw this right out of the gate in Week 1 against Chicago.
- Prime Video: Exclusive home of Thursday Night Football. The Week 8 loss to the Chargers was stuck behind the Amazon paywall.
Planning for the 2026 Vikings Schedule
While the official dates and times for the 2026 season won't drop until the NFL's big schedule release in May, we actually already know who the Vikings are playing. The NFL uses a rotating formula, so the "who" and "where" is already set in stone.
The 2026 season will feature nine home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and eight on the road.
Home Games at U.S. Bank Stadium
The loudest stadium in the league will host the usual suspects from the NFC North: the Bears, Lions, and Packers. Beyond the division, the Vikings welcome the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers from the NFC South.
They also drew the AFC East for 2026, meaning the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins are coming to Minneapolis. Rounding out the home slate are the Washington Commanders and Indianapolis Colts, based on where the teams finished in the 2025 standings.
Road Trips in 2026
Pack your bags. Or just get your couch ready.
The road schedule looks tough. Aside from the divisional trips to Soldier Field, Ford Field, and Lambeau, the Vikings have to travel to New Orleans and Tampa Bay. The AFC East road games are at the New England Patriots and New York Jets.
The "strength of schedule" game is a big one: a road trip to play the San Francisco 49ers. That’s never an easy flight or an easy win.
Streaming vs. Local: How to Actually Watch
If you live in the Twin Cities or the surrounding "home" markets (parts of Iowa, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin), you have it easier. Local stations like KMSP (FOX 9) or WCCO (CBS 4) will carry the games over the air. You can literally use a $20 digital antenna and get them for free.
If you’re a Vikings fan living in, say, Florida or Arizona? You’re in "out-of-market" territory. That’s where things get expensive.
Your 2026 Toolkit
- YouTube TV + NFL Sunday Ticket: This is the only way to get every single out-of-market Sunday afternoon game. It’s pricey, but it’s the gold standard.
- NFL+: This is a mobile-only play for the most part. You can watch live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet. It’s great if you’re stuck at a kid’s soccer game, but not ideal for a watch party.
- Paramount+ and Peacock: You need these for the CBS and NBC games, respectively, if you don't have cable.
- The "Specialty" Apps: Keep an eye on Netflix and Amazon Prime. The NFL is leaning harder into these platforms every year.
Why the "Flex" Schedule is Your Enemy
Don't trust the calendar you buy at the mall. The NFL uses "flexible scheduling" to make sure the best matchups get into primetime.
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Starting as early as Week 5, the league can move Sunday afternoon games to Sunday Night Football. They can also flex games into Monday night or Thursday night in the later half of the season.
Basically, if the Vikings are 10-2 and playing a massive game in December, don't be surprised if that 1:00 PM kickoff suddenly turns into an 8:20 PM spotlight. Always check the official minn vikings tv schedule about 12 days before kickoff to make sure you aren't showing up to the bar seven hours early.
Actionable Steps for the Offseason
The 2025 season is over, and the 2026 schedule is a few months away from being finalized. Here is what you should do right now:
- Mark May on your calendar. That is when the NFL drops the specific dates and times.
- Check your subscriptions. If you only got Netflix for the Vikings-Lions Christmas game, you might want to pause that until next season to save a few bucks.
- Invest in a digital antenna. If you’re in-market, it’s the most reliable way to watch without worrying about "carriage disputes" between cable companies and local stations.
- Follow the 506 Sports maps. During the season, these guys are heroes. They post maps every Wednesday showing exactly which parts of the country will see which games on their local FOX and CBS affiliates.
The TV landscape is changing fast. Between the "Dublin Classic" and the shift to streaming-only holiday games, being a fan requires a bit of tech-savviness. Keep your apps updated, keep your antenna pointed toward the towers, and Skol.