The 2026 NFL season officially commences on Thursday, August 6, with the Hall of Fame Game. The Arizona Cardinals will face the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Pregame ceremonies will honor the Hall of Fame Class of 2026, including Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Drew Brees, Roger Craig, and Adam Vinatieri.
The Hall of Fame Game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. This marks the first preseason game of the season, with other preseason matchups scheduled on ESPN, FOX, and CBS later in August.
Monday Night Football will not feature any preseason games. The regular season debut for Monday Night Football is scheduled for September 14. The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Denver Broncos in the inaugural Monday night game, airing at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC.
The full Monday Night Football schedule for 2026 includes a weekly primetime game on ESPN and ABC through Week 17. Games will also be available for streaming on NFL+.
Notable matchups early in the season include the New York Giants at the Los Angeles Rams on September 21, and the Philadelphia Eagles at the Chicago Bears on September 28. Later in the season, the schedule features games such as the Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles on October 26 and the Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks on November 2.
Fans can watch Monday Night Football online through various streaming services with a cable login, including the ESPN website/app and ABC.com. Subscription services such as Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, DIRECTV, NFL+, and Sling TV also offer live streams of the games. DIRECTV, Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV provide free trials for new subscribers.