When does the 2026 NFL season start? Schedule release reveals Week 1
Jack McKessyA journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The NFL's annual journey of 18 weeks of regular-season action begins with a single game.
This year, that first game will take place on a Wednesday. The Seattle Seahawks, fresh off their Super Bowl 60 championship, will host the New England Patriots on Sept. 9 in the annual NFL Kickoff Game to begin Week 1. The game will mark the second time the season has started on a Wednesday – it last happened in 2012 to avoid conflicting with the Democratic National Convention.
After the Seahawks and Patriots kick off Week 1, the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will kick off this year's international schedule.
On Sept. 10 (but Sept. 11 in the local time zone), the two NFC West rivals will face off in Melbourne for the first NFL regular-season game in Australia. It's the first of an NFL-record nine international series games in 2026.
The rest of the Week 1 schedule will take place on Sunday and Monday. Here's everything to know about when the NFL season starts this year:
When does the NFL season start 2026?
- Week 1: Wednesday, Sept. 9 to Monday, Sept. 14
The Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks will host the annual NFL Kickoff Game to begin the 2026 season. They'll host the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch to kick off the Week 1 action.
One day later, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will meet in Melbourne, Australia, for the first regular-season NFL game to ever take place down under. That game will be broadcast on Netflix and is the last weekday game in Week 1.
The remainder of Week 1's slate will take place on Sunday, Sept. 13 and end with "Monday Night Football" on Sept. 14.
2026 NFL Week 1 schedule
To see the full schedule for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, click here.