NFL schedule release 411: Potential release dates, most interesting games and more

As the NFL offseason rolls along, the next key event is the 2026 schedule release.

Below, we answer pertinent questions about the upcoming reveal.

When will the 2026 NFL schedule be released?

In recent years, the NFL has shared its slate of games during the second week of May, generally on a Wednesday or Thursday, making the 13th-14th dates to watch.

On Thursday, CNBC's Alexander Sherman wrote, "While the exact day is still in flux, I'm told the NFL plans to announce its full 2026 schedule next week on Wednesday or Thursday."

However, with no official announcement as of Thursday morning, it could be pushed back. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio recently wrote that the announcement may move to the week of May 18, making May 20-21 the most realistic potential release days. It makes sense to wait. 

May is a dead period for the sport, and building anticipation for the release fits with the league's drive to make everything with its name attached to it as grand a spectacle as possible.

Sherman notes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be at Disney's annual upfront presentation in New York City on Tuesday, so we figure to hear something about the 2026 schedule by then.

Have any games already been announced?

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will air Thursday, Sept. 10, in prime time (stateside, at least) from Melbourne, Australia, where the local time will be 10:35 a.m. on Friday. Broadcast details are not yet known.

With that game taking over the traditional Thursday night kickoff time slot, the Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks will begin their title defense on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Below is a list of their possible opponents, ordered by 2025 win percentage:

• New England Patriots
• Chicago Bears
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Dallas Cowboys
• Kansas City Chiefs
• New York Giants
• Arizona Cardinals

Of those options, the best could be the Bears, pitting Ben Johnson's explosive offense against Mike Macdonald's staunch defense in a clash of two of the NFC's best. Instead, we'll probably get the Cowboys for the second year in a row. Sigh.

Will more be revealed ahead of the full schedule?

The full international schedule, which includes a whopping nine games, should be revealed beforehand just like last year when the league's various media partners also announced select games during special windows such as Christmas (Amazon, Netflix), a Week 16 Saturday slate (Fox) and "Monday Night Football" (ESPN).

What other info is already available?

Hosts have been designated for overseas games that span across seven countries and three continents. Here's the list:

• San Francisco 49ers (Mexico City)
• Dallas Cowboys (Rio de Janeiro)
• Washington Commanders (London)
• Atlanta Falcons (Madrid)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (London), twice
• Detroit Lions (Munich)
• Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne)
• New Orleans Saints (Paris)

The Baltimore Ravens will join the Cowboys in Brazil in Week 3, while details on other games (besides Melbourne) remain scarce. As is tradition, the Lions and Cowboys will also host the league's annual Thanksgiving Day afternoon games.

Are there any media changes?

The NFL is looking into adding a second Black Friday game, but the biggest changes have come to studio shows. Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is in at NBC, while quarterback Russell Wilson is considering an offer from CBS to take over for Matt Ryan, who departed for a Falcons front-office position.

Five games we're most curious to find where they land

Patriots at Seahawks | A rematch of last season's Super Bowl will be sure to draw massive numbers. It will be a major get for whichever network gets the rights. With the game in Seattle, does the league push for it to be the season opener and begin a massive promo campaign, or wait until later in the season? As amped as the crowd is guaranteed to be in Week 1, New England would likely prefer a later trip.

Raiders at Cardinals | A later date could pit two of the year's top-drafted quarterbacks, No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza (Las Vegas Raiders) and No. 65 overall Carson Beck (Cardinals), while also potentially playing a key role in determining the top of the 2027 draft order. Otherwise, watching running backs Ashton Jeanty and Jeremiyah Love, selected in the top six of the past two drafts, would be a nice consolation prize.

Bills at Broncos | Last year's divisional-round showdown between the two AFC powers was the best game of the postseason, making the sequel one of our most anticipated games of the year. First-year Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady got his start in the NFL under Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton in New Orleans, adding a subplot to a game that could have playoff ramifications.

Ravens-Steelers | It's a new era in the league's best rivalry as both Pittsburgh and Baltimore moved on from their former longtime coaches this offseason. We'd love to see the two meet in Week 1, with either Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy or Ravens head coach Jesse Minter guaranteed a winless start.

Chiefs at Rams | Anytime these teams play, we're reminded of the 2018 "MNF" classic that Los Angeles won 54-51. Here's hoping the NFL schedules this for the second half of the season, ensuring Patrick Mahomes, who is recovering from a torn ACL, is healthy when the two prolific offenses exchange blows.