The 2026 NFL season is poised to start in September, but the usual Labor Day Monday Night Football slot will be absent, leaving the first taste of the new campaign to a mid‑week primetime showdown.
Season Opener Highlights
On Wednesday, September 9, the New England Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks in the league’s opening game, kicking off a schedule that blends traditional Sunday action with a revived Monday night slot later in the week.
The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are slated to meet on Monday Night Football in Week 1, while the remaining games of the opening week will follow the familiar Sunday schedule, giving fans a full slate of Sunday afternoon and evening contests.
Adding a global dimension, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are set to play on Thursday, September 10, in Australia, marking the NFL’s continued effort to broaden its international footprint.
Beyond the opening week, the regular season will proceed with the customary cadence of weekly matchups, maintaining the balance between Sunday games and the occasional Thursday or Monday night broadcast.