Football weather is a state of mind, but for those of us counting down the days, the calendar is the only thing that matters. We've survived the post-Super Bowl slump, the frantic speculation of free agency, and the over-analysis of the draft. Now, we’re staring at the summer heat and asking the big question: when is nfl preseason starting so we can finally see some real contact?
Honestly, the wait is almost over. If you’re looking for the exact moment the 2026 season breathes its first breath of life, mark your calendar for Thursday, August 6, 2026. That’s when the Hall of Fame Game kicks things off in Canton, Ohio. It’s the official bridge between the long off-season and the chaos of the regular season.
The Hall of Fame Game: The Official Start
The NFL doesn't just slide into the season; it starts with a celebration of history. The Hall of Fame Game is always a bit of a weird one because the stars rarely play more than a series—if they play at all. But there's something about that Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium lights that just feels right.
For 2026, the game is scheduled for that first Thursday in August. While the league usually waits until the spring to announce the specific teams, they almost always pick squads that have a "legend" being inducted into the Hall that year. With potential finalists like Drew Brees, Eli Manning, and Larry Fitzgerald on the ballot for the Class of 2026, you can bet the NFL will try to match the teams accordingly.
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If Eli gets the nod, don’t be shocked to see the Giants in Canton. If it's Brees, the Saints are a safe bet. It’s basically a televised practice with better uniforms, but it’s our televised practice.
When the Rest of the League Joins In
After that lone Thursday night game, the rest of the NFL wakes up about a week later. Preseason in the modern era is a three-week sprint. Ever since the league moved to the 17-game regular season format, the four-game preseason died off, much to the relief of veterans everywhere.
Here is how the 2026 preseason window is shaping up:
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- Preseason Week 1: Begins around August 13, 2026. This is usually a massive slate of games across Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Preseason Week 2: Moves into the weekend of August 20, 2026. This is typically the "rehearsal" week where starters might actually stay out there for a full quarter.
- Preseason Week 3: The finale happens around August 27, 2026.
One thing people often get wrong is thinking every team plays three games. Actually, the two teams in the Hall of Fame Game end up playing four. It’s a bit of an extra burden on those rosters, especially for the guys on the bubble trying to avoid the final cut.
The Gap Year Strategy
There is a weird "dead week" now. Once the preseason ends on that last weekend of August, there is a full week of... nothing.
The NFL does this on purpose. It gives teams time to make their final roster cuts—moving from 90 players down to the final 53—without the immediate pressure of a game on Thursday. It also gives the league a chance to breathe before the Regular Season Kickoff on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Why Preseason Actually Matters in 2026
You'll hear people complain that preseason is "meaningless." Those people aren't looking at the practice squad or the backup QB battle. For a team like the Cleveland Browns or the New York Jets, who have had their share of roster volatility, these games are the only time coaches get to see players in "live" situations where the whistle doesn't blow just because a jersey was tugged.
We also see the "joint practice" trend continuing to grow. Often, the real work happens on the Tuesday and Wednesday before a preseason game when two teams meet up to scrimmage. Sometimes these practices are more intense than the games themselves. By the time the game actually starts on Friday or Saturday, the coaches might have already decided who is making the team based on those private sessions.
Tracking the Key Dates
If you are planning a trip or a fantasy draft, keep these benchmarks in mind:
- Late July: Training camps open for most of the league. Rookies usually report a few days earlier than the vets.
- August 6: The Hall of Fame Game.
- August 29-30: The final preseason games wrap up.
- September 1: Mandatory roster cuts to 53 players. This is the "bloody Tuesday" of the NFL.
- September 10: The defending Super Bowl champions host the season opener.
Getting Ready for the Kickoff
If you're wondering when is nfl preseason starting because you want to book tickets, keep an eye on the official schedule release, which usually happens in mid-May. That’s when the specific times and broadcast partners (like NFL Network, ESPN, or Amazon) get locked in.
For now, just know that once August hits, the drought is over. The best way to prep is to start tracking your team's undrafted free agent signings now, because those are the names you'll be screaming for during the fourth quarter of a Week 2 preseason game.
Check the NFL Operations website or your specific team’s app around May to see exactly who they’ll be facing in those three crucial weeks before the real games begin.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Sync your digital calendar: Set a reminder for mid-May 2026, which is the historical window for the full NFL schedule release.
- Watch the Hall of Fame Class Announcement: This happens in February during Super Bowl week; the teams selected for the August 6th opener almost always correlate with the legends being inducted.
- Monitor Roster Limits: Keep an eye on the transition from the 90-man off-season roster to the 53-man active roster starting the final week of August.