You know that feeling. The late August sun is still beating down, but there’s a specific crispness starting to creep into the evening air. It’s the smell of charcoal, the sound of pads popping in the distance, and the realization that your Sundays are about to belong to the couch again. If you're counting down the seconds, the wait is almost over. The first regular season NFL game of 2026 is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2026.
This isn't just any game. It’s the "NFL Kickoff Game," a tradition that’s basically a national holiday at this point.
We’re currently sitting in the middle of the 2025-26 playoffs—literally, as I write this, the Divisional Round is wrapping up with the Patriots and Texans duking it out—but the league's clock never stops. While we don’t have the specific matchup for that September Thursday yet, the formula is set in stone. The defending Super Bowl LX champion (whoever wins that trophy on February 8 at Levi's Stadium) will host the season opener.
Why the Thursday Start Matters
People always ask why we don't just start on a Sunday. Honestly, it’s about the spectacle. The NFL realized years ago that owning a standalone Thursday night gives them a massive ratings "pop" before the Sunday chaos begins.
For the 2026 season, this September 10 date marks the beginning of an 18-week marathon. Every team gets 17 games and one bye week. It’s a grind. But for fans, it’s the return of hope. Even if your team went 4-13 last year, on September 10, everyone is 0-0.
When Is First Regular Season NFL Game? Breaking Down the 2026 Calendar
If you’re trying to plan a wedding or a vacation and need to avoid "The Game," you need more than just the opening night. The NFL schedule is a complex beast, but it follows a very predictable rhythm.
Here is the "cheat sheet" for how the 2026 opening weeks look:
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- The Hall of Fame Game: Usually happens in early August (likely August 6, 2026) in Canton, Ohio. It’s mostly backups and rookies, but it’s the first time we see NFL jerseys on a field.
- The Preseason: Three weeks of "dress rehearsals" throughout August.
- The Real Deal: Thursday, September 10. This is the official when is first regular season nfl game answer.
- The First "NFL Sunday": September 13, 2026. This is the day of the first full slate, the 1:00 PM ET madness, and the return of RedZone.
- The First Monday Night Football: September 14, 2026.
The 2026 Schedule Release: Mark Your May Calendar
We know when the games start, but we won't know the full 18-week schedule until the spring. Historically, the NFL turns the "Schedule Release" into a primetime TV event.
Expect the full 2026 schedule to drop on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Why May? Because the league waits until after the NFL Draft (happening April 23-25 in Pittsburgh) to finalize things. They want to make sure they put the flashy new rookie quarterbacks in the biggest primetime slots. If a team like the Raiders lands a superstar QB at #1, you can bet they’ll be playing a lot of night games.
Where Will the First Game Be Played?
The location of the first regular season NFL game is always the home stadium of the previous year's Super Bowl winner.
Right now, the 2025-26 playoffs are a literal gauntlet. We've got the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks sitting as #1 seeds with byes. If the Broncos win it all, we’re heading to Empower Field at Mile High on September 10. If the Seahawks pull it off, Lumen Field will be rocking.
There is one weird quirk to watch out for. Sometimes, a team can't host the opener due to a stadium conflict (like a baseball game next door or a massive concert). It's rare, but it’s happened. Barring a scheduling disaster, the banner-raising ceremony will happen at the champ's house.
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International Games: A Huge 2026 Twist
2026 is going to be a weird year for "firsts." While the US kickoff is September 10, the NFL is getting aggressive with its global expansion.
The big news? Australia. The NFL has confirmed that the first-ever regular season game in Australia will happen in 2026. The Los Angeles Rams are the designated home team, and they’ll be playing at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Think about the logistics of that. It’s a massive flight and a huge time difference. This likely won't be the very first game of the season, but it will be a "first" in the history books. We’re also looking at games in:
- London (Tottenham and Wembley)
- Munich (Allianz Arena)
- Mexico City (Estadio Azteca)
- Rio de Janeiro (Maracanã)
- Madrid (Santiago Bernabéu)
Basically, if you have a passport and some airline miles, 2026 is your year.
The TV Landscape for 2026
Watching the NFL has become a bit of a scavenger hunt lately. You need five different apps just to see your own team play.
For the opener on September 10, NBC holds the rights. They always do the Kickoff Game. It’ll be Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth in the booth.
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But for the rest of the season?
- Sundays: CBS (AFC-heavy) and FOX (NFC-heavy).
- Sunday Night: NBC.
- Monday Night: ESPN/ABC.
- Thursday Night: Amazon Prime Video.
- International/Niche: Netflix, Peacock, and ESPN+ usually snag a few exclusive games too.
It’s expensive. It’s annoying. But we all pay for it anyway.
Common Misconceptions About the Start Date
I see this every year on social media. Someone posts that the NFL starts on Labor Day weekend.
It almost never does. The NFL stays away from Labor Day weekend to avoid competing with the massive opening weekend of College Football. The pros let the college kids have the spotlight for that holiday weekend, then they swoop in the following Thursday to take over the world. So, even though Labor Day is September 7, 2026, don't go looking for NFL games that Sunday. You’ll be watching Ohio State or Alabama instead.
Preparing for the 2026 Kickoff
So, what should you be doing now?
If you’re a fantasy football degenerate, your draft prep shouldn't start until the third week of August. Don't be the person who drafts in July only for their star running back to tear an ACL in a preseason practice.
If you're looking for tickets, wait for that May schedule release. The secondary market (StubHub, SeatGeek) will explode the second the dates are official. Pro tip: if your team is playing in one of those international cities, book your hotel before the schedule is officially announced if you can guess the date based on rumors. Prices triple within an hour of the NFL's Twitter post.
Actionable Steps for Fans
- Sync Your Calendar: Once the schedule drops on May 13, use a service like Stanza to auto-sync your team's schedule to your phone.
- Review Your Subs: Check which streaming services you actually need. If you only care about your local team, a cheap digital antenna often gets you CBS, FOX, and NBC for free.
- Watch the Super Bowl: Pay attention on February 8. The winner of that game is the team you'll be watching on Thursday, September 10.
The road to Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium starts the second that first whistle blows in September. Whether you're a die-hard or just there for the snacks, the countdown to September 10 is officially on.