How many primetime games do the Cowboys have this year? 2026 schedule

"America's Team" will be well-represented in primetime once again in 2026.

Last year, the Dallas Cowboys' six primetime games were second in the NFL – one behind the Kansas City Chiefs' seven such matchups. This year, the Cowboys are again among teams with the most primetime contests.

Even before the NFL announced the full 18-week schedule for the 2026 season, Dallas knew it would get an evening game early in the season. On May 11, the league, in tandem with NBC, announced that the New York Giants would host the Cowboys in the first "Sunday Night Football" game of the season.

In addition to the benefits of extra eyes that come with being "America's Team," Dallas is expected to be an exciting squad during the 2026 season. The 2025 team was second in the NFL in total offensive yards and seventh in the league in points per game. Simultaneously, their defense last year was the worst in the NFL at preventing opponents from scoring.

After an offseason spent investing heavily in improving the defense, the Cowboys will get to test their mettle in primetime early and often. Here's a look at their 2026 primetime schedule:

How many primetime games do the Cowboys have?

Dallas has six more primetime matchups in 2026, one year after having the same number of games in an evening slot.

Cowboys primetime schedule 2026

Of the Cowboys' six primetime games, three of them are back-to-back-to-back in a three-week stretch. Here's a closer look at Dallas' primetime slate in 2026:

• Week 1 – Sept. 13: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
• Week 5 – Oct. 8: Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video ("Thursday Night Football")
• Week 6 – Oct. 18: Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m., NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
• Week 7 – Oct. 26: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m., ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
• Week 13 – Dec. 7: Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
• Week 16 – Dec. 27: Dallas Cowboys vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC ("Sunday Night Football")

Dallas also plays an additional standalone game in the late afternoon on Thanksgiving. Its matchup with the Ravens in Rio de Janeiro in Week 3 will not be a standalone game – that contest will be broadcast alongside three others in the late afternoon slate on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Cowboys 2026 schedule

Here's a full look at the Cowboys' schedule in 2026:

• Week 1 – Sept. 13: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
• Week 2 – Sept. 20: Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 3 – Sept. 27: Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS (Rio de Janeiro game)
• Week 4 – Oct. 4: Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 5 – Oct. 8: Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video ("Thursday Night Football")
• Week 6 – Oct. 18: Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m., NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
• Week 7 – Oct. 26: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m., ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
• Week 8 – Nov. 1: Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 9 – Nov. 8: Indianapolis Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 10 – Nov. 15: Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 11 – Nov. 22: Dallas Cowboys vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 12 – Nov. 26: Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox (Thanksgiving)
• Week 13 – Dec. 7: Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
• Week 14: BYE
• Week 15 – Dec. 20: Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 16 – Dec. 27: Dallas Cowboys vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
• Week 17 – Jan. 3: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 18 – Jan. 10: Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys, TBD, TBD