What date is the 2026 NFL regular season scheduled to begin?
Answer
September 9, 2026
The 2026 NFL regular season is scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026.
The opening game is an unusual Wednesday night kickoff, rather than the more familiar Thursday start. The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field in Seattle.
The date is easy to confuse with the Sunday dates often associated with Week 1. In 2026, the league’s calendar and kickoff arrangement move the first regular-season game to Wednesday, September 9. The NFL schedule identifies that contest as the season opener and a rematch of Super Bowl LX.
The 2026 regular season is scheduled to continue through January 10, 2027. September 9 is therefore the start of the regular season, not the preseason or the Hall of Fame Game. The Hall of Fame Game is an exhibition contest traditionally played in early August, while the regular season begins with games that count in the standings.