Football is basically the only thing that keeps some of us sane during the long, hot stretch of summer. You're probably already checking your calendar, wondering exactly when you can stop pretending to care about mid-season baseball and start worrying about your fantasy roster. If you are asking when does the NFL season start this year, the short answer is September 10, 2026.
It feels far away. It always does.
But the league doesn't just wake up in September. The machinery is already humming. We’re looking at a massive year for the NFL, especially with the 2026 season marking some serious global expansion. Honestly, the "start" of the season is a moving target depending on who you ask. For the die-hards, it starts in March. For the casual viewer, it’s that first Thursday night in September.
The Big Reveal: When Does the NFL Season Start This Year?
The 2026 NFL regular season officially kicks off on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Tradition holds firm here. The defending Super Bowl LX champion will host that opening night game. While we don't know the specific matchup yet—the full schedule usually drops in mid-May—we know the "where" will be the home turf of whoever lifts the Lombardi Trophy this coming February.
If you’re a Sunday purist, the first full slate of games lands on September 13, 2026. That’s when the chaos really begins. You’ve got the 1:00 PM ET window, the late afternoon games, and then the first Sunday Night Football broadcast on NBC.
It's Not Just About September
Most people focus on that September date, but you'll miss half the fun if you ignore the lead-up. Training camps usually open in mid-to-late July. By early August, we’re into the preseason.
- Hall of Fame Game: This usually happens the first week of August in Canton, Ohio. It’s often the first time we see live football, even if the starters are mostly wearing headsets on the sideline.
- Preseason Week 1: Expect this around August 13–17.
- The Cut to 53: This is the most brutal day in sports. Around August 25, teams have to trim their rosters from 90 players down to 53.
The preseason is technically "meaningless" in the standings, but for the guys on the bubble, it's everything.
Why 2026 is Different: The Global Takeover
The NFL is getting aggressive with its international footprint this year. This isn't just about London anymore.
For the first time ever, the NFL is heading to Australia. The Los Angeles Rams are set to be the "home" team for a regular-season game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Can you imagine 100,000 Aussies watching American football? It’s going to be a spectacle.
But wait, there's more. The league is also expanding into Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the legendary Maracanã Stadium. Between Ireland (Croke Park), Spain (Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid), and the usual London and Germany games, the "start" of the season for international fans might involve some very weird kickoff times for those of us in the States.
Key Dates You Should Circle
If you want to be the smartest person in your group chat, you need more than just the kickoff date. The NFL calendar is a year-round beast.
March 11, 2026: This is the start of the new league year. Free agency begins. Teams start throwing around hundreds of millions of dollars, and the landscape of the league changes in about three hours.
April 23–25, 2026: The NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. This is where the hope lives. Every fan of a 4-13 team thinks they’re one quarterback away from the Super Bowl. Spoiler: They usually aren't.
May 2026: This is when the NFL usually drops the full, detailed schedule. We’ll know the bye weeks, the Monday night matchups, and which teams got stuck with three straight road games.
The Road to Super Bowl LXI
The regular season wraps up on January 10, 2027. All Week 18 games are divisional matchups, which the league does to keep things spicy for the playoff race.
The postseason starts on January 16, leading us all the way to Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027. We’re heading back to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California for the big one. It’s one of the latest Super Bowl dates in history. Valentines Day and the Super Bowl on the same day? Good luck navigating those dinner plans.
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Real Talk on Schedule Strength
One thing fans get wrong about when does the NFL season start this year is assuming we know who will be good. The "strength of schedule" metrics you see in May are almost always wrong. Players get hurt. Rookies bust. Random backups become stars.
Look at the New York Giants' 2026 opponents. They have to face the entire NFC West and AFC South. On paper, that looks like a grind. But who knows what those teams will look like by October?
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check your passport: If you want to see the Rams in Melbourne or the Commanders in Madrid, start looking at flights now. Those tickets sell out in minutes.
- Mark the May Schedule Drop: That’s when you can actually plan your trips and home openers.
- Fantasy Prep: Don’t draft in July. It’s a rookie mistake. Wait until the third week of the preseason when the major injury risks are (hopefully) accounted for.
- Budget for Sunday Ticket: With games moving to Netflix, Amazon, Peacock, and the traditional networks, you’re going to need a spreadsheet just to figure out how to watch your team.
The wait is long, but September 10 will be here before you know it. Start clearing your Thursdays now.