The NFL preseason is around the corner. Here's when it starts in 2026

The 2026 NFL season won't start until the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots on Sept. 9 in a Super Bowl 60 rematch. However, football fans won't have to wait that long to see their favorite teams take the field.

The NFL preseason will begin on Thursday, Aug. 6 when the Arizona Cardinals face the Carolina Panthers at the league's annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. An addition 48 games will be played over the following weeks, with each of the league's 32 participating in at least three exhibition contests.

In recent seasons, NFL teams have been less and less willing to give their starters extensive playing time in the preseason. Even so, football fans are always eager to see how their favorite squad's recent draft picks and roster hopefuls perform, especially mid-to-late-round quarterbacks who are looking to prove they can be NFL contributors.

Among the top signal-callers to watch during the 2026 preseason will be first-round quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, Day 2 signal-callers Carson Beck and Drew Allar and New York Jets fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik.

Here's a full look at the NFL's preseason schedule for 2026 and when fans can see their favorite teams in action before the season begins in earnest.

2026 NFL preseason schedule

Hall of Fame Game

Wednesday, Aug. 6

• Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals, 8 p.m. ET, NBC

Preseason Week 1

Thursday, Aug. 13

• Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions, 7 p.m. ET
• Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers, 7 p.m. ET
• New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 8 p.m. ET

Friday, Aug. 14

• Atlanta Falcons vs. Denver Broncos, 7 p.m. ET
• New York Jets vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7 p.m. ET
• Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Aug. 15

• Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
• New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET
• Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4 p.m. ET
• New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4 p.m. ET
• Baltimore Ravens vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 7 p.m. ET
• Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8 p.m. ET

Preseason Week 2

Thursday, Aug. 20

• Houston Texans vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Los Angeles Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers, 10 p.m. ET

Friday, Aug. 21

• Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets, 7 p.m. ET
• Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers, 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, Aug. 22

• Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET
• Indianapolis Colts vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET
• Minnesota Vikings vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
• Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints, 4 p.m. ET
• Miami Dolphins vs. New York Giants, 4 p.m. ET
• Cincinnati Bengals vs. Chicago Bears, 7 p.m. ET
• New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 7 p.m. ET
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, Aug. 23

• Tennessee Titans vs. Seattle Seahawks, 8 p.m. ET, Fox

Preseason Week 3

Thursday, Aug. 27

• Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 7 p.m. ET
• Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots, 8 p.m. ET, Prime Video
• Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams, 10 p.m. ET

Friday, Aug. 28

• Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons, 7 p.m. ET
• Carolina Panthers vs. Houston Texans, 7 p.m. ET
• Baltimore Ravens vs. Washington Commanders, 7 p.m. ET
• New York Jets vs. New York Giants, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Kansas City Chiefs vs. Seattle Seahawks, 8 p.m. ET
• Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 8 p.m. ET, CBS

Saturday, Aug. 29

• Indianapolis Colts vs. Detroit Lions, 3 p.m. ET