The silence at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is a bit jarring right now. After years of deep playoff runs and late-February parades, fans are left asking a question they haven't had to ask this early in a long time: when do the chiefs play again?
It’s official. The 2025-2026 season is over for Kansas City.
For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the Chiefs aren't suitng up for the Divisional Round this weekend. While teams like the Bills and Broncos battle it out on Saturday, January 17, and the Texans face the Patriots on Sunday, Patrick Mahomes and company are already looking toward next year. The "Three-Peat" dream hit a wall, and the reality of a "disappointing season"—as team reporters are calling it—has set in.
If you're looking for a kickoff time this week, you won't find one. The Chiefs won't take the field for a meaningful game until September 2026.
When Do the Chiefs Play Again: The 2026 Wait Begins
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling. We’ve been spoiled. Since Mahomes took over the huddle, January usually meant high-stakes football in the freezing Missouri cold. But after a Week 18 loss to the Raiders on January 4, 2026, the lockers were packed.
So, when is the actual return?
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The NFL typically releases the official schedule in mid-May. However, we can pinpoint the windows. You can expect the first preseason game in early August 2026. The regular season opener will likely fall on Thursday, September 10, or Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Because the Chiefs didn't make the postseason cut this year, they’ll have a much longer recovery period than they’re used to. That’s eight months of "what ifs."
Who will they play in 2026?
We might not have the dates, but we definitely have the list of names. The NFL’s rotating scheduling formula means we already know exactly who is coming to Kansas City and where the team is traveling.
Home Games at Arrowhead:
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Arizona Cardinals
- Indianapolis Colts
- New York Jets
- New England Patriots
- San Francisco 49ers
Away Games on the Road:
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- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Atlanta Falcons
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
That road schedule is brutal. Flying to Seattle, Miami, and Buffalo in a single season is a lot of miles. Plus, they have to deal with the 17th game travel this year. Since the AFC had nine home games last year, the NFC gets the extra home game in 2026. This means the Chiefs will play nine road games and eight home games.
Why the 2026 Season Feels Different
Most people get wrong the idea that the Chiefs are "done." It’s easy to look at a losing record in 2025 and assume the dynasty has crumbled. But looking at the 2026 roster, the core is still there.
The biggest hurdle for the next time they play will be the salary cap and the aging of key veterans. Travis Kelce’s timeline is always a topic of conversation. Can the defense, which kept them in so many games this year, stay elite?
Andy Reid isn't one to sit still. This offseason is the longest he’s had in Kansas City in years. That extra time for scouting and recovery might actually be a "blessing in disguise," even if it’s a bitter pill for fans to swallow right now.
Key Dates for Chiefs Fans to Watch
Since there are no games to watch, the "play" moves to the front office. If you want to follow the team's progress back to the field, keep these dates on your radar:
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- March 16-18, 2026: Free agency begins. This is where the 2026 roster actually starts to take shape.
- April 23-25, 2026: The NFL Draft. Expect the Chiefs to look heavily at wide receiver and offensive line depth.
- May 2026: The official 2026 NFL Schedule release. This is when we’ll finally know if that Bengals game is a primetime showdown or a Sunday afternoon slot.
- Late July 2026: Training camp kicks off at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Just because there isn't a game on TV doesn't mean the season is totally dead.
First, keep an eye on the Divisional Round and AFC Championship games this month. Even though KC is out, the results will determine the final draft order for the non-playoff teams. The higher the Bills or Bengals go, the better the Chiefs' relative draft position looks for 2026.
Second, check your ticket options early. With the team coming off a "down" year, there might be a slight—and I mean slight—cooling of the secondary market prices for those home games against the 49ers and Jets.
Finally, gear up for the NFL Draft in April. It’s the next time we’ll see the Chiefs "win" at something. The road back to the Super Bowl in 2027 starts with who they pick in 2026.
The wait is long, but Arrowhead will be loud again soon enough.