The lights at Allegiant Stadium are dark, and if you’re a fan of the Silver and Black, that silence is deafening right now. We just watched the 2025 season wrap up with a weird, gritty 14-12 win over the Chiefs on January 4th. It was a nice little parting gift, but honestly, it didn't change the reality: the Raiders finished 3-14. No playoffs. No post-season miracles. Just a lot of questions about what comes next.
So, when do Raiders play again?
If you’re looking for a date on the calendar where pads actually pop, you’re looking at August 2026. That’s a long way off. It's basically a desert of waiting. But the "game" actually starts much sooner than that, just not on a grass field.
The Long Road to the 2026 Kickoff
The NFL is a year-round machine, but for a team that finished fourth in the AFC West, the "off-season" is where the actual winning has to happen. Right now, the Raiders are officially in the "looking for a leader" phase. On January 5th, the news broke that Pete Carroll was out after just one season. One season! It's a revolving door in Vegas lately, and it’s driving the fans crazy.
When you ask when do Raiders play again, you have to look at the preseason first. While the NFL won't release the official 2026 schedule with exact dates and times until May, we can set our watches by the league's standard rhythm:
- Late July 2026: Training Camp begins. This is the first time you'll see the team in uniform.
- August 2026: Preseason games 1, 2, and 3. Expect these to be on Friday or Saturday nights.
- September 10, 2026: The official start of the NFL regular season.
The Raiders are slated for nine road games and eight home games this year. Because they finished last in the division, they actually get a "last-place schedule," which sounds bad but is actually a blessing. It means they’ll draw the other fourth-place finishers from the AFC South, AFC North, and NFC South.
Who Is on the 2026 Raiders Schedule?
We don't have the times, but we definitely know the names. The opponents are locked in. The 2026 slate is actually pretty fascinating from a travel perspective. You’ve got the standard AFC West grind—Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos—but then it gets spicy.
The Silver and Black will be taking on the entire AFC East and the NFC West. That means games against the Bills, Dolphins, Rams, and Seahawks are coming to Vegas. If you’re a season ticket holder, those are some "get in the building" kind of matchups.
On the road, it’s a bit of a marathon. The team is scheduled to head to Arizona, Cleveland, New England, New Orleans, and New York (to face the Jets). They’ll also play in San Francisco. That’s a lot of frequent flyer miles.
Why the Wait for the Next Game Matters
There’s a massive hole in the middle of the Raiders' organization right now. John Spytek and even Tom Brady (who’s got that minority ownership stake) are currently spearheading the search for a new head coach. You can’t really get excited about when do Raiders play again until you know who’s calling the plays.
The roster is in a weird spot too. We saw some bright spots last season—Brock Bowers is a stud, and Maxx Crosby is still out there doing Maxx Crosby things. But the draft in April is where the 2026 team is actually built. The Raiders have a high pick (top 5 territory), and the rumors about taking a franchise QB are already swirling.
Honestly, watching the playoffs right now is a bit painful for Raider Nation. Seeing teams like the Texans and Bills move on to the Divisional Round makes the August preseason feel a decade away. But that’s the life of a fan. You wait. You hope. You check the schedule updates in May.
"The Raiders' 2026 opponents are now locked in... Dates and times for the 2026 season will be announced at a later date." — Official Team Statement, Jan 2026
What Fans Can Do Right Now
The next "game" isn't a game at all. It's the NFL Draft on April 23-25. That is the first time the 2026 Raiders will take shape.
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If you're planning a trip to Allegiant Stadium, keep your eyes peeled for the schedule release in mid-May. That's when the hotel prices in Vegas usually spike for the home openers. Until then, the only thing to do is watch the coaching search and hope the front office finally finds some stability. The Silver and Black have a long way to go before September, but the work starts today.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Mark your calendar for May 15th: This is the tentative window for the full NFL schedule release.
- Follow the coaching search: Keep an eye on local Vegas insiders like Vincent Bonsignore for the latest on the head coach interviews.
- Check the 2026 NFL Draft order: The Raiders will likely pick in the top 5, making the draft on April 23rd the most important day of their spring.