When does the NFL season start in 2026?

AFTER the excitement of the World Cup has finished, fans across America and the world are wondering when the NFL will be back on their screens. The Seattle Seahawks are looking to defend their Super Bowl crown from last year, but they are now the target for the 31 other teams in the league. Seattle’s Lumen Field will open the new season Credit: Getty Patrick Mahomes is looking for a huge comeback season this year after tearing his ACL in December Credit: Getty Sam Darnold and Co dominated the New England Patriots 29-13 in the showpiece game, with Kenneth Walker claiming Super Bowl MVP. Now, Walker has moved to the Kansas City Chiefs in hopes of continuing the dynasty created by Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid – the Chiefs suffered a blip last season as they crumbled to 6-11. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Elsewhere in the AFC, both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have new coaches in Buffalo and Baltimore for 2026 after sacking Sean McDermott and John Harbaugh. The powers-that-be in both franchises hope that the changes will bring them the Lombardi Trophy while their star quarterbacks are in their prime. When does the new NFL season start? The new NFL season gets underway on Wednesday, September 9. The Seattle Seahawks will host the opening match at Lumen Field in a rematch of Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots. It is only the second time ever that the first game will be played on a Wednesday – the 2012 season opened with the Dallas Cowboys beating defending champions the New York Giants 24-17 on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. The LA Rams and San Francisco 49ers clash in a divisional match being played in Melbourne, Australia that weekend on September 11. Most read in Sport The game is expected to kick-off at approximately 10.35am on Friday in Australia, meaning it will start on Thursday at 8.35pm ET in the United States (1.30am BST on Friday). That means that the first full Sunday of action will fall on September 13. Week one schedule 1pm ET Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans 3.25pm ET Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles Sunday Night Football – 8.20pm ET Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants Monday Night Football – September 14, 8.15pm Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs Comment now