🏈 2026 NFL Schedule Release (LIVE): Latest Odds, Leaks, Confirmed Dates & More

The 2026 NFL schedule release is just around the corner with the league revealing the full slate on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, but we already know a handful of key matchups across the 2026-27 schedule with opening odds from the best sports betting sites.

As we wait for the full reveal, I'm tracking the latest NFL schedule release leaks with every confirmed matchup, opening odds, and key dates for the 2026 NFL schedule. Bookmark this page as I'll be updating what we know before Thursday's full schedule release and offering full analysis once the schedule is revealed.

🔍 2026 NFL schedule leaks: Confirmed matchups & odds

While the 2026 NFL schedule won't be revealed in full until Thursday night, we've already seen a handful of matchups leaked ahead of the official schedule release. Here's a look at every confirmed game so far, including the latest odds via DraftKings as of Wednesday, May 13, and broadcast info for every matchup (all times Eastern):

➡️ See all of our NFL picks based on the latest NFL odds for the 2026 season.

1️⃣ 2026 NFL season opener: Who will Seahawks play in Week 1?

For only the second time in NFL history, the regular season will start on a Wednesday to accommodate the league's first-ever game in Australia the following day.

As is tradition, the defending Super Bowl champions will host the annual NFL Kickoff Game with the Seattle Seahawks kicking off their title defense at Lumen Field on Sept. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC). But who will they play? That's technically under wraps until Thursday night's full reveal, though it'll a virtual lock to be one of these four opponents:

• Arizona Cardinals
• Chicago Bears
• Los Angeles Chargers
• New England Patriots

Since we already know the Seahawks' 2026 opponents, we can eliminate all eight of their road opponents and five of their nine home opponents who have already been announced in other Week 1 matchups. While it could be any of the four teams above, it's an open secret that the Seahawks will host the Bears in Week 1.

That's the conclusion of NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo, who said earlier this week that it "has long felt like Chicago" will head to Seattle for Week 1, while ESPN's Adam Schefter echoed that sentiment on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday.

🌍 2026 NFL international games

The NFL will play a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents and seven countries, the most in league history.

The Jaguars and 49ers each play two international games - Jacksonville will remain in London for back-to-back games in October, while San Francisco will play in the first and last international games of the season. The Steelers' trip to Paris also marks the NFL's first regular-season game in France.

Here is the full international slate for the 2026 NFL season:

• Week 1: 49ers vs. Rams - Melbourne, Australia (Sept. 10)
• Week 3: Ravens vs. Cowboys - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Sept. 27)
• Week 4: Colts vs. Commanders - London, England (Oct. 4)
• Week 5: Eagles vs. Jaguars - London, England (Oct. 11)
• Week 6: Texans vs. Jaguars - London, England (Oct. 18)
• Week 7: Steelers vs. Saints - Paris, France (Oct. 25)
• Week 9: Bengals vs. Falcons - Madrid, Spain (Nov. 8)
• Week 10: Patriots vs. Lions - Munich, Germany (Nov. 15)
• Week 11: Vikings vs. 49ers - Mexico City, Mexico (Nov. 22)

We'll be updating our NFL Fatigue Index later this month to account for the physical toll of teams traveling internationally, as well as the impact of short rest and extended road trips during the 2026 NFL season for all 32 teams.

📺 2026 NFL primetime games

While most of the primetime matchups won't be revealed until Thursday night, we've already seen some of the biggest marquee matchups leaked in advance of the official schedule release. Here's what we know about the 2026 primetime slate so far:

• SNF opener (Week 1): Cowboys at Giants (Sept. 13)
• MNF opener (Week 1): Broncos at Chiefs (Sept. 14)
• TNF opener (Week 2): Lions at Bills (Sept. 17) (first game at new Highmark Stadium)
• Thanksgiving Eve: Packers at Rams (Nov. 25)
• Thanksgiving Day: Eagles at Cowboys (Nov. 26)

The full 2026 NFL primetime schedule drops Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. I'll update this section as the entire slate of Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football games are confirmed.

🎄 2026 NFL holiday games

In the NFL's quest to dominate the holiday schedule, we're in store for more games this season than ever before during the holiday season. Here's what we know so far:

• Thanksgiving Eve (Wed., Nov. 25): Packers at Rams, 8 p.m., Netflix
• Thanksgiving (Thu., Nov. 26): Eagles at Cowboys, 4:30 p.m., FOX (two additional games TBD)
• Black Friday (Fri., Nov. 27): Matchup TBD, Prime Video
• Christmas Day (Fri., Dec. 25): Matchups and windows TBD
• New Year's Saturday (Sat., Jan. 2): Matchup TBD, 4:30 p.m., NBC

We'll continue to update the NFL holiday schedule as matchups are confirmed.

⏰ When is the 2026 NFL schedule release?

The full 2026 NFL schedule release is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET with a two-hour primetime special on NFL Network and ESPN2. That's when we'll learn the entire 272-game slate across 18 weeks for the NFL regular season in 2026-27.

I'll be updating this article in real time as the schedule drops Thursday night, with opening odds for every Week 1 game and links to our full coverage and schedule reactions.

📜 How does the NFL schedule work?

The NFL schedule creation may seem random to the casual fan, but it actually follows a detailed formula that determines each team's opponents before league officials determine the final order and comprehensive 18-week schedule.

How are opponents determined?

Every team plays 17 regular-season games across 18 weeks with one bye week. The league uses a rotation system that ensures every team plays every other team at least once every four years. Here's how each team's 17 opponents are determined:

• Six division games (home and away vs. each division opponent)
• Four games vs. all teams in one other division within the same conference (3-year rotation)
• Four games vs. all teams in one division from the opposite conference (4-year rotation)
• Two games vs. teams in the remaining two same-conference divisions, matched by prior year standings
• One game vs. a team from the opposite conference, matched by prior year standings (the 17th game, added in 2021)

For 2026, the cross-conference matchups are:

• NFC East vs. AFC South
• NFC North vs. AFC West
• NFC South vs. AFC East
• NFC West vs. AFC North

How are home games and bye weeks decided?

NFC teams will host nine regular-season home games in 2026, while AFC teams will host eight. The conferences alternate each year. Every team gets one bye week scheduled between Weeks 5 and 14, with schedulers trying to avoid giving teams an opponent coming off a bye whenever possible.

Who makes the official NFL schedule?

The schedule is built by a small group of NFL executives - led by EVP of Media Distribution Hans Schroeder, VP of Broadcasting Planning Michael North, and VP of Broadcast Operations Onnie Bose - with help from thousands of cloud-based computers that generate thousands of possible schedule variations. The final 272-game slate is then selected from those options based on travel, competitive balance, broadcast partner needs and stadium availability.

How does NFL flex scheduling work?

While the schedule is "set" in mid-May, the NFL introduced "flex scheduling" in 2006 to allow league officials to move late-season games into better time slots to maximize viewership - a key tactic to avoid losing teams in key TV windows late in the year.

Sunday Night Football flexes are available twice between Weeks 5-10 and as needed Weeks 11-17. Monday Night Football flexes are eligible Weeks 12-17, and Thursday Night Football flexes can happen Weeks 13-17 (max two per season, announced 21 days in advance). In Week 18, the league waits until the end of Week 17 to set kickoff times based on playoff implications.

📅 2026 NFL season key dates

See our full breakdown of the NFL schedule & key dates for the 2026-27 season.

• Schedule release: Thursday, May 14, 2026, 8 p.m. ET
• Hall of Fame Game: Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 (matchup TBD)
• Preseason Weeks 1-3: Aug. 7-23, 2026
• Roster cutdown to 53: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026
• Season opener (NFL Kickoff): Wednesday, Sept. 9 (Seahawks vs. TBD)
• Trade deadline: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
• Week 18: Sunday, Jan. 10, 2027
• Wild Card weekend: Jan. 16-18, 2027
• Divisional Round: Jan. 23-24, 2027
• Conference Championships: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2027
• Pro Bowl Games: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027
• Super Bowl LXI: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium