The NFL Has Officially Set 3 Week 1 Games

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Holleran | Last updated May 11, 2026 10:07 AM ET

The NFL has officially set three Week 1 games, as the entire 2026 regular season schedule will come out later this month.

The schedule, which is often released during this week in May, is expected to be delayed by about a week.

“Most fans know full well that the schedule comes out in mid-May now,” NFL VP Mike North said. “That’s what we’ve done the last five or six years. That’s sort of our target. Is there any magic to May 12, 13, 14? No. Is there any real downside to May 19, 20, or 21? No. I don’t think it’s coming out in June, but that second week in May has been our target the last few years, but I don’t know that it’s impossible to think about that third week in May.”

The schedule is set to come out in full next week.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 12: NBC Sunday Night Football color commentator Cris Collinsworth (L) and play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico walk onto the field before a game between the New York Jets and the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The NFL has already set three Week 1 games, though:

Thursday night game featuring the Super Bowl champion Seahawks against an opponent TBD, airing on NBC
Wednesday night game featuring the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers from Australia, airing on Netflix
Sunday night game featuring the Cowboys and Giants on NBC

The last game was confirmed on Monday.

First Sunday night game of the season, Sept. 13, will be the Cowboys at the Giants. pic.twitter.com/YPZTYO6xYw
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 11, 2026

NFL fans react to the Week 1 schedule announcement

NFL fans are weighing in.

"Wouldn’t be opening weekend without the NFC force feeding us NFC East football," one fan joked.

"The last time you put them on Sunday night against Dallas they got blown out 40-10," one fan added.

"Does anyone else ever get exhausted of this? The first Sunday night game of the year is between two non-playoff teams that went a combined 11-23 a year ago?" one fan added.

"Same game every year. I'm so sick and tired of opening every year against Dallas in primetime," another added.

The game is set, though, like it or not.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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