The National Football League is set to commence its 2026 regular season with an unusual Wednesday night kickoff, breaking from the long-standing tradition of a Thursday night opener.
The season will officially begin on Wednesday, September 9, with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. The game is scheduled to air at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Following the season opener, a second game will be broadcast live on Netflix, featuring the San Francisco 49ers against the Los Angeles Rams. This matchup will mark a historic occasion as it takes place in Australia.
The traditional Thursday Night Football slot will be occupied later in the week.
Monday Night Football will return the following week, with the first regular-season game slated for September 14. The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Denver Broncos at 8:15 p.m. ET, with broadcast coverage on ESPN, ABC, and NFL+.
The Monday Night Football schedule for the 2026-2027 season will feature weekly matchups on ESPN and ABC. Fans will also have the option to stream games live via a subscription to NFL+.
Notable matchups in the early weeks of Monday Night Football include the New York Giants at the Los Angeles Rams on September 21 and the Philadelphia Eagles at the Chicago Bears on September 28, both scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC.
For fans seeking to watch Monday Night Football without a traditional cable subscription, live TV streaming services offer a solution. Options include DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Sling TV. Some services, such as Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV, provide free trials for new subscribers.