Mark your calendars. September 10, 2026 is the date. That’s when the first NFL regular season game of the 2026 cycle finally arrives.
Honestly, the wait always feels like a decade. We go through the draft in April, the "best shape of his life" reports in June, and the preseason slog in August. But the real thing? It officially kicks off on a Thursday night in September.
People always ask "when is first NFL regular season game" right around the time the weather starts to turn. They want to know if it's Labor Day weekend or the week after. It’s almost always the Thursday following Labor Day. For 2026, Labor Day falls on September 7. That puts our opening night on the 10th.
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The Kickoff Tradition (And Who Actually Plays)
Since 2004, the NFL has followed a pretty strict tradition. The defending Super Bowl champion gets the honor of hosting the season opener.
Unless there's a weird scheduling conflict—like that one time in 2013 when the Baltimore Orioles had a home game that clashed with the Ravens—you can bet your house the champs will be at home. They’ll raise the banner, the fans will go nuts, and some poor opponent has to walk into a buzzsaw.
NBC is going to handle the broadcast. It’s a massive production.
Typically, the league looks for a "rematch" or a high-drama storyline. Maybe it’s a playoff rematch from the year before. Or perhaps a division rival. They want eyes on screens.
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Why the Date Matters So Much
The NFL schedule isn't just a list of games; it's a massive economic engine. When that first game kicks off, fantasy football leagues go live. Sportsbooks see their biggest handle of the year.
Basically, the entire American sports landscape shifts its weight.
You’ve probably noticed how the NBA and MLB sort of clear the way for this. Nobody wants to compete with the NFL on opening night. It’s a juggernaut.
What’s Different in 2026?
We are looking at an 18-week schedule again. 17 games, one bye week.
One thing people often overlook is the international aspect. The 2026 season is special because we’re expecting a game in Australia. The Los Angeles Rams are rumored to be the designated home team at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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That won't be the first game, obviously. But the season opener sets the pace for this global expansion.
The Full Opening Weekend
The Thursday game is the appetizer. The real feast happens on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
That Sunday is when we get the "witching hour." Seven or eight games all going at once at 1 PM ET. It’s chaos. It’s beautiful.
CBS and Fox split those afternoon windows. Then, of course, Sunday Night Football on NBC caps it off.
Some years, we get a Monday Night Football doubleheader to finish Week 1. It depends on how ESPN and ABC are feeling about their programming slots.
When Do We Get the Exact Matchups?
We know the when (September 10). We don't officially know the who until the schedule release.
The NFL usually drops the full schedule in mid-May. It’s become its own televised event. It’s kind of ridiculous when you think about it—people watching a TV show just to see a list of dates. But hey, that's football.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you’re planning to attend, here is what you need to do now:
- Book travel early: If you’re a fan of the defending Super Bowl champ, hotels near the stadium for that September 10 weekend will triple in price the second the schedule is official.
- Fantasy Prep: Most high-stakes drafts happen the weekend of Labor Day. If the first game is Sept 10, aim for a draft date between Sept 4 and Sept 8.
- Check Your Subs: Ensure your streaming services (YouTube TV, Peacock, etc.) are active. The NFL has been moving more games to streaming-only platforms lately.
The road to Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles starts on that Thursday night. September 10, 2026. Don't say nobody told you.