The dust has barely settled on the Bank of America Stadium turf after that heartbreaking 34-31 Wild Card loss to the Rams on January 10th. If you're a Panthers fan, you're probably still feeling that sting. Honestly, it was a hell of a ride—clinching the NFC South with an 8-9 record and hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2015. But the NFL moves fast. Like, really fast. People are already asking who are the carolina panthers playing next, and while the 2026 season kickoff is months away, we actually know exactly which teams are on the slate.
Because the Panthers won their division, things are about to get a lot tougher.
The NFL’s scheduling formula is a cold, calculated machine. Since Dave Canales led the team to the top of the NFC South (even if it was via a three-way tie-breaker), Carolina now has to play a first-place schedule. That means no more "easy" basement-dweller matchups. You win the South; you play the heavyweights.
The 2026 Home Slate: Who’s Coming to Charlotte?
The Panthers will have nine regular-season home games at Bank of America Stadium this year. That’s the benefit of the 17-game rotation.
Obviously, the big three are the divisional rivals. You've got the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These games are usually dogfights. Last year was proof of that—remember that overtime win in Atlanta in November? Or the narrow loss to Tampa to close out the regular season? These six games (home and away) essentially decide the season.
But the non-divisional home list is where it gets spicy.
Carolina draws the NFC North and AFC North this year. That means the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears are coming to town. Watching Bryce Young—or whoever is under center after this offseason—go up against the Detroit defense will be a massive litmus test. On the AFC side, the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals are visiting. Seeing Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow in Charlotte is a guaranteed sell-out, but it’s a terrifying prospect for a defense that struggled at times in 2025.
Because they finished first in the South, they also host the first-place finishers from the NFC West and AFC West. That brings the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos to the Queen City.
Taking it on the Road: The Away Matchups
If you’re looking to travel, the road schedule is... well, it’s a gauntlet.
The Panthers have to travel to some of the most hostile environments in football. Beyond the usual trips to Atlanta, New Orleans, and Tampa, they are headed to:
- Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers.
- U.S. Bank Stadium for a date with the Minnesota Vikings.
- Cleveland Browns Stadium and Acrisure Stadium to face the Browns and Steelers.
And just to make it a little more interesting? The "reward" for winning the division is a road trip to play the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Why the 2025 Season Changed Everything
To understand the weight of who are the carolina panthers playing in 2026, you have to look at how we got here. 2025 was weird. It was historic. It was the first time an NFL team won two division titles with a losing record.
They finished 8-9. Jaycee Horn looked like a total shutdown corner, making the Pro Bowl and proving why he’s the anchor of that secondary. Chuba Hubbard was the workhorse, and Jalen Coker emerged as a genuine threat, especially in that playoff game where he went for 134 yards.
But 8-9 won't cut it against the Ravens or the Eagles.
The schedule is "harder on paper," as Darin Gantt from the Panthers' official site pointed out. When you play four games against the AFC North—arguably the toughest division in football—your strength of schedule skyrockets.
Breaking Down the Opponent Groups
| Matchup Type | Opponents |
|---|---|
| NFC South (Home/Away) | Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers |
| NFC North | Bears (H), Lions (H), Packers (A), Vikings (A) |
| AFC North | Ravens (H), Bengals (H), Browns (A), Steelers (A) |
| Placement Games | Seahawks (H), Broncos (H), Eagles (A) |
What to Watch For in the Offseason
So, we know the "who." We don't know the "when" yet. The NFL usually drops the actual dates and times in mid-May.
Between now and then, Dan Morgan and the front office have a massive task. The draft picks are already being discussed. We saw names like Trevor Etienne and Lathan Ransom mentioned in late-season mocks, and the team needs depth if they want to survive this 2026 schedule.
One thing is for sure: the "belief" in the building that Robert Woodcock and others have talked about is real. You don't go from the worst record in the league to a division title without a culture shift. Dave Canales has the locker room. Now he just needs the roster to match the schedule.
Actionable Steps for Panthers Fans
If you're planning your 2026 around the Panthers, here is what you need to do right now.
Check your email for playoff invoices. If you're a PSL holder, those emails regarding the 2025 post-season and 2026 renewals are hitting inboxes now. Don't let your seats lapse because you missed a deadline.
Monitor the May schedule release. While we know the opponents, the "when" matters for travel. Road games in Green Bay or Pittsburgh in December are a lot different than September.
Follow the AFC North/NFC North offseasons. Since 8 of your 17 games are against these two divisions, their free agency moves will directly impact the Panthers' win-loss record. Keep an eye on what the Ravens and Lions do in March.
Budget for the big home games. Tickets for the Ravens and Bengals games will likely be the highest-priced non-divisional tickets in years. If you aren't a season ticket holder, you'll want to jump on those the second single-game tickets go live on Ticketmaster.