Honestly, the moment the confetti settles after the Super Bowl, most of us are already staring at our calendars. We're counting. We're waiting. If you're wondering when is the start of the nfl season, the short answer for 2026 is Thursday, September 10. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Football doesn't just "happen" in September. It's a slow burn.
The NFL operates like a giant, well-oiled machine that starts its gears turning months before a single regular-season pass is thrown. For the 107th season of the league, we're looking at a schedule that officially kicks off under the lights with the defending Super Bowl LX champion—whoever that ends up being—hosting a marquee opponent.
When Is the Start of the NFL Season and Why It Matters Now
The 2026 NFL season isn't just another year. It marks a massive milestone with the first-ever regular-season game in Australia. Imagine that. The Los Angeles Rams are slated to be the home team at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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If you're trying to plan your life, here’s the basic progression. The "league year" actually begins much earlier, on March 11, 2026. This is when the chaos of free agency starts. But the games? The stuff we actually care about? That begins with the Hall of Fame game in early August, followed by three weeks of preseason.
- Preseason Kickoff: Early August (Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio).
- The Real Deal: Thursday, September 10, 2026.
- International Flair: Games in London (Tottenham and Wembley), Madrid, and Melbourne.
Most people wait for the schedule release in mid-May to book their travel. Historically, the NFL drops the full 18-week, 272-game schedule on the second or third Wednesday of May. For 2026, insiders like Mike North and various league trackers are eyeing May 13 as the likely release date.
The 18-Week Grind
The 17-game season is the new normal. Each team gets one bye week, stretching the regular season into January 2027. It’s a marathon. You’ve got the traditional Thanksgiving triple-header on November 26, and since Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, expect the NFL to dominate your holiday leftovers with a special Friday broadcast.
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The Offseason Milestones Leading to Kickoff
You can't just wake up on September 10 and expect to know what's going on. The roster you see on opening night is built through a series of high-stakes dates.
- The NFL Combine (Feb 23 – March 2): Where draft stock lives or dies in Indianapolis.
- The 2026 NFL Draft (April 23–25): Pittsburgh is hosting this time around. Expect Acrisure Stadium to be packed with fans hoping for a franchise-saving quarterback.
- Training Camps (Mid-July): This is when the pads come on and the "hard knocks" stories actually begin.
Surprising Details About the 2026 Schedule
While we know when is the start of the nfl season, the where is getting more interesting. The league is obsessed with global expansion. Beyond the Australia game, the NFL is returning to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
Football is becoming a 365-day conversation. Even in the "dead" month of June, coaches are obsessing over rookie minicamps and veteran OTAs (Organized Team Activities).
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The regular season will wrap up on January 10, 2027. This leads into a Wild Card Weekend that has become a three-day extravaganza, starting January 16. It all culminates in Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on February 14, 2027.
Yes, Valentine’s Day. Good luck explaining that to your significant other.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're serious about attending a game or just winning your fantasy league, don't wait until August.
- Mark May 13 on your calendar. That’s when you can actually see the home/away splits and travel requirements.
- Monitor the London and Melbourne ticket portals early. International games usually sell out within minutes of the public release.
- Check your local team's training camp dates in June. Many of these sessions are free to the public and offer the best chance for player autographs before the September rush.
The countdown to September 10 is on. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just in it for the halftime snacks, the 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most geographically diverse years in league history.