2026 Important NFL Dates
Get an overview of the important NFL dates for the 2026 league year.
operations.nfl.comThe 2026 NFL schedule was released in mid-May 2026, with the full slate announced on May 14, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET, after weeks of coverage about potential dates and times [sources note: multiple outlets reported May 12–14 as the target window, and the official release occurred May 14].[3][5]
Key points you might want to know
- Release window: The league targeted a mid-May release, with expectations around May 12–14, though some reports mentioned a possible shift to May 19–21 if negotiations dragged on.[1][2]
- Official reveal: The complete 2026 schedule was revealed on NFL Network and ESPN2 on May 14 at 8 p.m. ET, including Tuesday’s international game unveil and Week 1 matchups already announced.[5][3]
- International games: A record nine international games were set for 2026, all of which were highlighted during the schedule reveal process, with the full international slate shown on May 13/14 as part of the rollout.[3]
Would you like me to pull the exact Week 1 and international games for your favorite team, or provide a printable summary of the 2026 schedule by month? I can also compile a CSV or chart of home/away opponents by team if you’re planning a viewing schedule.