The NFL will stage a record nine international games during the 2026 season, up from seven last year, as part of the continued expansion of its global schedule.
The league will visit Australia and France for the first time, with regular-season fixtures set to be played across four continents and seven countries.
The 2026 schedule was released this week and will begin on Wednesday, 9 September, with a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.
Season opener and international start
Since 2004, the NFL’s opening game has featured the defending champions. The Seattle Seahawks, winners of Super Bowl 60 in February, will host this season’s kick-off against the New England Patriots.
The fixture marks the first Super Bowl rematch to open a season since 2016.
The season opener, usually played on a Thursday, has been moved to Wednesday, 9 September, for the first time since 2012. This adjustment was made due to scheduling restrictions affecting the opening international game.
Australia and France join international slate
A day after the season opener, the NFL will stage its first-ever regular-season game in Australia. Around 100,000 fans are expected at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for a divisional matchup involving the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams are also scheduled for seven prime-time games across the season, the highest in the league, as they enter the campaign among the favourites for Super Bowl 61.
Australia and France are new additions to the NFL’s international footprint, joining established venues in the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Brazil and Spain.
The league will also continue its global rotation with fixtures in London, Munich, Madrid, Mexico City and other host cities.
Holiday schedule expanded
The 2026 season includes an expanded holiday slate. Thanksgiving week will feature five games, while Christmas Day will again include a triple-header.
A Thanksgiving Eve fixture has also been added, with the Rams hosting the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, 25 November.
That will be followed by a Thanksgiving triple-header beginning with the Detroit Lions against the Chicago Bears, then the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Philadelphia Eagles.
The final game of the day will see the Kansas City Chiefs face the Buffalo Bills, provided Patrick Mahomes is available following injury.
The holiday schedule concludes with a Black Friday matchup on 27 November, as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Denver Broncos.
Global fixtures across four continents
The NFL’s nine international games will be spread across the season, beginning in September and running through November.
Fixtures include matches in Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Mexico, alongside Australia’s debut hosting.
Key international games
San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne, Australia)
Baltimore Ravens v Dallas Cowboys (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Indianapolis Colts v Washington Commanders (London, Tottenham)
Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars (London, Wembley)
Pittsburgh Steelers v New Orleans Saints (Paris, France)
Cincinnati Bengals v Atlanta Falcons (Madrid, Spain)
New England Patriots v Detroit Lions (Munich, Germany)
Minnesota Vikings v San Francisco 49ers (Mexico City, Mexico)
Season structure and Super Bowl date
The NFL regular season remains 18 weeks long, with each team playing 17 games and having one bye week. A total of 272 regular-season games will be played, followed by 13 post-season fixtures.
The season will end on Sunday, 10 January 2027, with the play-offs starting on 16 January.
Super Bowl 61 will take place on Sunday, 14 February 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. It will be the ninth Super Bowl hosted in the Greater Los Angeles area.
The stadium, which opened in 2020, previously hosted the 2022 Super Bowl and remains the most expensive stadium ever built, costing $5.5bn.
