So, you’re already counting down the days until that first whistle blows. I get it. Honestly, there is something about the smell of a fresh season—the overhyped training camp clips, the fantasy drafts that inevitably end in heartbreak, and that specific Thursday night energy.
If you’re looking for the short answer: the first day of NFL season 2026 is Thursday, September 10, 2026.
But if you’ve been following the league for more than a minute, you know "the start" isn't just one date. There’s a whole rhythmic dance the NFL does before we actually get to the Kickoff Game. We’re talking about a season that officially marks the 107th year of the league, and things are looking a little different this time around, especially with the international expansion hitting high gear.
Why September 10 is the Magic Number
The NFL loves its traditions, and the biggest one is the defending Super Bowl champion hosting the season opener. Since the Philadelphia Eagles took down the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX (yeah, Jalen Hurts finally got that second ring for Philly in February 2025), they’ve earned the right to host the party.
Expect the banner to drop at Lincoln Financial Field.
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The game is scheduled for Thursday night, airing on NBC. Usually, kickoff is around 8:20 PM ET. It’s the only game on the slate that day, giving the entire world a chance to see if the Birds have a Super Bowl hangover or if they’re ready to run it back.
The "Week 1" Weekend
The Thursday game is just the appetizer. The real "first day" for most fans is that following Sunday, September 13. That’s when the chaos truly starts.
- 1:00 PM ET: The massive wave of regional games.
- 4:25 PM ET: The "America’s Game of the Week" slot on FOX or CBS.
- 8:20 PM ET: Sunday Night Football on NBC.
- Monday, Sept 14: The Monday Night Football opener on ESPN/ABC.
It’s Not Just About September Anymore
When people ask when is the first day of nfl season, they usually mean the regular season. But the league year actually starts way back in March. On March 11, 2026, the "legal tampering" period ends and the 2026 League Year officially begins. That’s when the big money moves happen and the roster you’ll be rooting for in September actually takes shape.
Then you’ve got the Draft in Pittsburgh from April 23–25. If your team stank last year, that’s your real "opening day" of hope.
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The Preseason Tease
Don't forget the Hall of Fame Game in Canton. That’s usually the first time we see pro football of any kind, likely landing on July 30 or August 6, 2026. It’s mostly third-stringers and guys who will be selling insurance by October, but hey, it’s football.
The three-week preseason stretch will then run through most of August. It’s basically a month of us all squinting at our TVs trying to figure out if the backup quarterback is actually good or if he's just playing against future car salesmen.
The International Twist: Rio and Melbourne
Here is where 2026 gets spicy. The NFL is going global in a way we haven't seen.
The league has already confirmed they are playing a regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the iconic Maracanã Stadium. Even wilder? They are heading to Melbourne, Australia.
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The Los Angeles Rams are the designated team for the Melbourne game at the MCG. Because of the massive time difference, "opening day" might actually feel like "opening morning" or "opening middle-of-the-night" depending on where you live. If the Melbourne game lands in Week 1, the 2026 season could technically start for some fans before the sun even comes up in the States.
How to Prepare for the 2026 Kickoff
If you want to be the person in the group chat who actually knows what’s going on, keep these checkpoints in mind:
- The Schedule Release: This usually happens in mid-May. That’s when we’ll know exactly who the Eagles are playing on September 10.
- Streaming Changes: Keep an eye on where games are living. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Peacock have been gobbling up exclusive windows. By 2026, don't be surprised if you need four different logins just to watch a full Sunday.
- Fantasy Deadlines: Most "serious" leagues draft the weekend of September 4–7 (Labor Day weekend). Don't be the person who drafts a guy who gets cut in the final roster trim on August 25.
The road to SoFi Stadium for Super Bowl LXI starts on that Thursday in September. It feels like a long way off, but between the draft, the trades, and the international hype, the 2026 season will be here before you can finish your first pumpkin spice latte of the year.
Actionable Next Step: Mark September 10, 2026, in your digital calendar right now with a "DO NOT BOOK MEETINGS" alert for the following morning. Then, around May, check the official NFL schedule release to see if your team is one of the lucky ones traveling to Brazil or Australia so you can start looking at flights (or stocking up on coffee for those 3:00 AM kickoffs).