Wait. Is it actually September yet? If you’re like me, the second the Super Bowl confetti hits the turf, you’re already counting down. We endure the February lulls, the March free agency frenzy, and the hope-filled April draft just to get back to the real thing. But pinning down the exact date for the when does regular season nfl start question is actually a bit of a moving target until the league makes it official.
Generally speaking, the NFL loves its traditions. The regular season almost always kicks off on the first Thursday after Labor Day. For the upcoming 2026 cycle, that magic date is September 10, 2026.
It’s a Thursday. It’ll be primetime. And if history holds—which it almost always does—the defending Super Bowl champion will be hosting the game.
The Thursday Night Kickoff Tradition
The "Kickoff Game" isn't just another game. It’s a massive televised event. Since 2002, the league has used this standalone Thursday slot to celebrate the previous year’s winner.
Think about the atmosphere. The banner drop. The crowd going absolutely bananas before a single snap is even taken. It’s arguably the loudest any stadium gets all year, maybe except for the Conference Championships. For 2026, the game is scheduled for that September 10th slot, likely airing on NBC as it has for years.
But here’s the thing. While we know when it starts, we don’t always know who is playing until the full schedule drops in mid-May. The NFL treats that schedule release like a national holiday. They drag it out. They leak bits and pieces. Then, suddenly, your Twitter feed is just a wall of graphics and "strength of schedule" spreadsheets.
Why the Date Sometimes Feels Confusing
Labor Day is the culprit here. Since the NFL tethers its start date to the holiday, the calendar drift can be annoying.
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If Labor Day falls late, the season starts late. In 2026, Labor Day is Monday, September 7. Following the "Thursday after" rule, we land on the 10th. If you’re planning a trip or a massive watch party, that’s the date you need to circle in red marker.
Some fans get confused by the "Week 1" label. They see preseason games in August and think the season has started. It hasn't. Preseason is for the roster bubble guys and seeing if the rookie quarterback can actually read a zone blitz. The regular season—the games that actually count toward the standings—begins with that Thursday night opener.
The 18-Week Grind
We aren’t in the old 16-game era anymore. Ever since the league expanded to 17 games spread over 18 weeks, the calendar has shifted deeper into January.
The 2026 regular season is expected to wrap up on January 10, 2027.
That’s a long time to keep a roster healthy. It’s a lot of Sundays on the couch. The schedule is a brutal masterpiece of logistics. Each team gets one bye week, usually tucked somewhere between Week 5 and Week 14.
When Does Regular Season NFL Start for the Rest of the Teams?
Most of the league doesn't play on that opening Thursday. The bulk of the NFL 2026 Week 1 action happens on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
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You've got the 1:00 PM ET window, which is usually a chaotic blur of eight or nine games. Then the 4:05/4:25 PM ET "late" window. Then, of course, Sunday Night Football.
And don't forget the Monday Night Football doubleheader potential. The league has been experimenting with overlapping Monday night games lately. It’s a lot of football. It’s honestly a little overwhelming if you’re trying to track a fantasy team and three different bets at the same time.
International Games and Early Starts
One weird quirk to watch for in 2026 is the international schedule. The NFL is obsessed with global expansion. We’re talking London, Munich, maybe even Madrid or South America.
Sometimes these international games start at 9:30 AM ET. If your team is playing in London during Week 1 (which is rare but not impossible), you're waking up to football with your morning coffee.
The 2026 season is also rumored to have some interesting scheduling around Christmas, which falls on a Friday. Usually, the league avoids Fridays, but they made a massive exception for "Black Friday" games recently. Expect the NFL to dominate the holiday calendar regardless of what day it is.
Mapping Out the 2026 Offseason Milestones
To understand the start date, you have to look at the runway leading up to it. It’s not like the players just show up on September 9th and start hitting.
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- March 11, 2026: The new league year begins. This is when the "legal tampering" ends and the big money starts flying.
- April 23–25, 2026: The NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. This is where the hope lives.
- Late July 2026: Training camps open. The humidity is 100%, and everyone is "in the best shape of their life."
- August 2026: Preseason games. They’re boring, but we watch them anyway because we’re desperate.
Common Misconceptions About the NFL Start Date
People always ask if the Hall of Fame Game counts. It doesn’t.
The Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, is the first preseason game, usually happening in early August. It’s a cool atmosphere, but the starters almost never play. If you're betting on the Hall of Fame Game, you might have a problem.
Another big one: "The season starts on Labor Day." Nope. It never has. It’s always the Thursday after. The NFL doesn't want to compete with your Labor Day barbecue or the final day of a long holiday weekend. They want your undivided attention on a workday evening when you’re stuck at home.
How to Prepare for Kickoff
If you’re a serious fan, knowing the date is only half the battle. You’ve got to handle the logistics.
- Check your subscriptions. Did you cancel Sunday Ticket? Is your YouTube TV or Peacock sub still active? The NFL has scattered games across so many platforms now that you practically need a degree in streaming services to find your team.
- Fantasy Drafts. Most high-stakes leagues draft the weekend before the opener (September 5-7, 2026). Don't be the person who drafts in August only to have their RB1 tear an ACL in a meaningless preseason game.
- The Schedule Release. Keep your eyes peeled in mid-May 2026. That’s when the "when" becomes the "who" and "where."
The road to Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium officially begins on that Thursday night in September. It feels like a lifetime away when it’s cold outside, but the NFL calendar moves faster than you think.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Set a Calendar Alert: Mark September 10, 2026, as "NFL Kickoff."
- Budget for Tickets: If you want to be at the opener, ticket prices usually spike the moment the schedule is announced in May. Start a "rainy day" fund now.
- Verify Your Streaming: Confirm which services hold the rights for 2026; with the way things are moving to Amazon and Netflix, the "where to watch" is just as important as the "when."