You've probably got that itch. That specific, late-summer feeling where the air starts to turn just a little bit, and suddenly, your Sundays feel empty. We've all been there, counting down the days until the pads pop and the real games finally count. If you are trying to figure out what time does the first NFL game come on, you aren't just looking for a number on a clock. You’re looking for the official return of sanity.
The short answer for the 2026 season? Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 10, 2026. Traditionally, the NFL Kickoff Game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET.
But as any seasoned fan knows, the NFL rarely keeps things simple. Between international games in London and Madrid, the ever-shifting "flex" scheduling, and the move to streaming platforms, the "start time" of the season is more of a rolling launch than a single event.
The Prime Time Tradition: Thursday Night Kickoff
The NFL doesn't just start; it makes an entrance. For the 2026 season, the league is sticking to its winning formula. The defending Super Bowl LX champion (whoever hoisted the Lombardi at Levi's Stadium in February 2026) will host the opener on a Thursday night.
NBC holds the keys to this broadcast. Typically, the pre-game festivities—the banner dropping, the musical acts, the hype packages—start around 7:00 p.m. ET, but the actual pigskin won't fly until that 8:20 p.m. ET window. Honestly, if you're tuning in at 8:00 p.m. sharp, you’ll just be catching the tail end of the warm-ups and a lot of commercial breaks.
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This game is the only one on the slate for that Thursday. It’s a standalone spectacle. No other games will compete for your attention until the following Sunday, which is when the real chaos begins.
What Time Does the First NFL Game Come On on Sunday?
If you consider "the first game" to be the massive wave of Sunday matchups, your internal clock needs to be set for the 1:00 p.m. ET window.
On Sunday, September 13, 2026, the league will unleash about eight to nine games simultaneously. For fans on the East Coast, it’s the classic "early window." For West Coast fans? Well, I hope you like breakfast with your blitzes, because those games are kicking off at 10:00 a.m. PT.
The Sunday schedule for Week 1 generally follows this rigid (but beloved) structure:
- The Early Window: 1:00 p.m. ET (usually featuring AFC/NFC North and East teams).
- The Late Afternoon Window: 4:05 p.m. or 4:25 p.m. ET (the "America's Game of the Week" slot).
- Sunday Night Football: 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
There is a nuance here that messes people up every year. If you’re looking for a specific team, they might not be in that first 1:00 p.m. slot. The NFL likes to stagger the high-profile coastal matchups. If a West Coast team is playing at home, they will almost never be the "first" game on Sunday; they'll be tucked into that 4:25 p.m. ET slot to ensure their local fans aren't waking up at dawn to tailback.
The 2026 International Twist
Here is where things get interesting for the 2026 season. The NFL is expanding its global footprint faster than ever. We already know there are games slated for the U.K., Germany, and Mexico, but 2026 is also the year the league reaches into Spain, with a game at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
While these international games usually happen a few weeks into the season, there is always the possibility of a "Week 1" international special. When the NFL plays in Europe, the kickoff time is often around 9:30 a.m. ET.
If the league decides to put a Week 1 game in London or Madrid, that becomes the actual first game of the Sunday slate, beating the 1:00 p.m. ET games by several hours. You’ve been warned: check the schedule in May when it officially drops, or you might sleep through the first three touchdowns of the year.
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Why the Schedule Release Date Matters
We won't know the exact matchups—meaning we won't know who is playing in that first Thursday night slot—until the NFL Schedule Release in mid-May 2026.
Historically, the league drops the full 18-week, 272-game schedule on the second or third Wednesday of May. Based on the 2026 calendar, most insiders are circling Wednesday, May 13, 2026, as the likely date.
That’s the day the "what time does the first NFL game come on" question gets its final, granular answer. Until then, we just know the patterns. The patterns are consistent because the NFL is a creature of habit (and television contracts). NBC gets the Thursday opener, CBS and FOX split the Sunday afternoon carnage, and ESPN/ABC handles the Monday Night finale of Week 1.
Streaming vs. Linear: Where to Watch
Basically, you need a spreadsheet to keep track of where to watch these days. The 2026 season will continue the trend of "fragmented" viewing.
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- Thursday Night (The Opener): NBC and Peacock.
- Sunday Morning (International): NFL Network or ESPN+.
- Sunday Afternoon: Your local CBS or FOX affiliate.
- Sunday Night: NBC and Peacock.
- Monday Night: ESPN, ABC, and sometimes ESPN+.
If you’re a cord-cutter, you'll want to make sure your subscriptions are active by early September. There is nothing worse than the first game kicking off and you're stuck staring at a "Sign Up Now" screen while your group chat is already exploding.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Don't wait until September 10th to get your house in order. If you want to be ready the second the first game comes on, do this:
- Sync the Schedule: On May 13, 2026, go to the official NFL site or your team's app and use the "Add to Calendar" feature. This automatically adjusts for your time zone so you aren't doing "Eastern to Mountain" math in your head.
- Audit Your Services: Check if your YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo subscription is active. Specifically, check if you have access to your local channels (CBS/FOX), as some cheaper packages omit them.
- The "Flex" Factor: Remember that while Week 1 times are usually set in stone, the NFL can flex games starting as early as Week 5. The "first game" of a Sunday in October might be different than what was printed on your magnet schedule in August.
- Plan the International Mornings: If your team is headed to Madrid or London in 2026, clear your Sunday morning. Those 9:30 a.m. ET starts come fast, especially if you had a late Saturday night.
The 2026 season is going to be a massive one, culminating in Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium. It all starts with that one Thursday night in September. Set your alarm for 8:20 p.m. ET, grab your jersey, and get ready.