2026 NFL full schedule unveiled highlights nine international games

The National Football League released its 2026 season schedule on Thursday night with nine international games and a Super Bowl LX rematch to open the season.

The NFL officially released its 2026 regular season schedule Thursday night, and the league wasted no time delivering marquee matchups, historic firsts, and blockbuster holiday games that could shape the playoff race.

One of the biggest headlines surrounding the schedule release is the NFL’s continued international expansion. The league will stage a record nine international games across four continents and seven countries, including the first-ever regular season game in Australia when the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground to open the season.

Another major storyline is the opening-night rematch of Super Bowl LX, with the defending champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in primetime to kick off the new campaign. It marks the first Super Bowl rematch to open a season since 2016.

The NFL also introduced a brand-new Thanksgiving Eve game for the first time in league history. The Green Bay Packers will travel to face the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in a nationally streamed Netflix showcase.

Thanksgiving Day once again features some of the league’s biggest brands and rivalries. The Chicago Bears will battle the Detroit Lions in the traditional early game before the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Dallas Cowboys in the afternoon window. The nightcap features one of the NFL’s premier quarterback rivalries as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs face Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

Christmas Day will feature another tripleheader, highlighted by the rivalry matchup between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. The Denver Broncos will visit the Buffalo Bills before the Seattle Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams in primetime.

The schedule also reflects the league’s push toward younger stars and emerging contenders. The Chicago Bears, led by quarterback Caleb Williams, are expected to receive seven nationally televised appearances after their playoff breakthrough last season.

Meanwhile, the New York Giants begin the John Harbaugh era with multiple early-season prime-time games, including a Week 1 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Buffalo Bills also drew one of the league’s toughest and most visible schedules, including six prime-time games and marquee matchups against the Chiefs, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers.

Some of the most anticipated games on the 2026 calendar include:

• NFL Kickoff Game 2026 — Super Bowl LX rematch in Seattle

• NFL International Series Melbourne Game 2026 — first NFL regular season game in Australia

• Thanksgiving Day NFL 2026 — Mahomes vs Allen under the lights

• Christmas Day NFL 2026 — classic NFC North rivalry on Christmas

• Thanksgiving Eve NFL Game 2026 — league’s first-ever Thanksgiving Eve showcase

With more international exposure, expanded streaming partnerships, and heavyweight prime-time clashes nearly every week, the 2026 NFL season is shaping up to be one of the league’s most ambitious and high-profile schedules ever.