Where to watch 2026 NFL schedule reveal show
It’s finally here. This week, the NFL will release its full schedule for the 2026 season. All 321 games will finally be revealed, from preseason in August to Week 18 in January.
We already know several details about Week 1. For example, the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will open the season on Wednesday, September 9, but we don’t know who they will host. It would be something if we got a Super Bowl rematch right off the bat. Hosting the New England Patriots is technically on the table. We also know that the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will play the first NFL game in Australia on Thursday, September 10, while the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants will play the first Sunday Night Football game of the year, followed by the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
All our questions about the season will be answered Thursday evening. Before we jump into some fun facts about the 2026 NFL schedule from CBS Sports Research, here’s how you can watch the schedule release show:
Where to watch the NFL schedule release show
- Date: Thursday May 14
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV: NFL Network/ESPN
- Flow: Fubo
Who will have the easiest schedules this year?
Although we don’t know the order of opponents yet, we do know which teams are likely to have the easiest schedules. Yes, teams improve and decline over the course of an offseason, but if we look at each team’s strength of schedule based on their opponents’ combined winning percentage starting in 2025, it’s Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns who will have the easiest schedule! Additionally, the AFC North may not be as grueling this year with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens working with new head coaches.
Top 5 simplest schedules
History does not favor bears
If you’re wondering who has the stronger force this year, it’s the Chicago Bears with their .550 winning percentage from last season. Each of the last NINE teams to enter a season with the toughest schedule has failed to win a playoff game.
The Bears are coming off a magical season in which they went 11-6, won the NFC North and beat their rival Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. Chicago recorded an NFL record seven wins while trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter (including the playoffs) and led the NFL in takeaways. Is this reproducible?
The 49ers will likely become the most traveled team in NFL history
The 49ers will play the first NFL game played in Australia in Week 1, setting the tempo for a historic travel season. Brock Purdy and Co. are expected to break an NFL record with 38,100 miles traveled this year. Not only will the 49ers go to the Land Down Under, but they will also play in Mexico. This makes the 49ers the first team to play multiple international games in non-consecutive weeks.
The 49ers could avoid making travel history if they combine their two East Coast trips to the Giants and Falcons. However, we don’t know when San Francisco will face these two opponents.
Revenge games to look forward to
One of my favorite things to look at when releasing the schedule is when the best revenge games are happening:
- New York Giants vs. Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones welcomes his former team to Indy.
- Kansas City Chiefs vs. Seattle Seahawks: Former Seahawks running back and reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is returning to Seattle after cashing in with the Chiefs in free agency.
- Atlanta Falcons vs. Cleveland Browns: Head coach Kevin Stefanski will return to Cleveland after being fired this offseason.
- Los Angeles Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins: New Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is returning to Miami after being fired this offseason. His offense is going to put up monster numbers in this one.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons (twice): It’s Baker Mayfield versus Kevin Stefanski. The QB-HC duo spent two seasons together in Cleveland before the Browns went all-in on struggling quarterback Deshaun Watson and signed him to a historic deal that included $230 million fully guaranteed. The Browns then traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers for a conditional Day 3 draft pick.
In January, Mayfield was angered by an article claiming that Stefanski had a “dumpster fire” at Cleveland’s quarterback. The former No. 1 overall pick responded to it on social media and took a look at Stefanski in the process:
“Failure, he’s quite a handy friend. I’m still waiting for a text/call from him after being shipped like trash. I look forward to seeing you twice a year, Coach.”
I can’t wait to see what that post-match interaction looks like!
International Games
It really feels like the NFL is trying to take over the world. The league will host a record nine international matches this season, which will include clashes in new locations like Melbourne, France and Rio de Janeiro.
Here is the whole international calendar for 2026:
- Melbourne (week 1) – Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers
- Rio de Janeiro (week 3) – Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens
- London (week 4) – Washington Commanders vs. Indianapolis Colts
- London (week 5) – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles
- London (week 6) – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
- Paris (week 7) – New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Madrid (week 9) – Atlanta Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals
- Munich (week 10) – Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots
- Mexico (week 11) – San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings
