2026 NFL regular season starts September 9 with Seahawks hosting Patriots
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 13, 2026, 10:30 PM
Last updated Aug 13, 2026

The 2026 NFL regular season kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots at Lumen Field. This opening night marks a departure from the traditional Thursday start, allowing for an internationally focused opening week. Following the season opener, the San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams in Australia on September 10. The first week's schedule continues through September 14, featuring several matchups including the Chicago Bears against the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys versus the New York Giants.
- •Seahawks host Patriots on September 9, 2026, at 8:20 p.m. ET.
- •First game of the season to be broadcasted on NBC Sports.
- •San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams play in Australia on September 10.
- •Full Week 1 schedule includes multiple matchups on September 13 and 14.
- 10:30 PMYahoo Sports — When Does the 2026 NFL Regular Season Start? Date, Schedule, Times, and More for Season Opener and Week 1
"The 2026 NFL season is almost here, and the wait is nearly over. After the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, the offseason delivered plenty of drama.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NFL•Aug 14, 2026, 12:14 AMLas Vegas Raiders vs Arizona Cardinals
NFL•Aug 14, 2026, 12:00 AMSource: Seahawks expected to sign Terrion Arnold. But what of his felony case?
NFL•Aug 13, 2026, 11:53 PMFormer Lions first-round pick Terrion Arnold plans to sign with Seahawks
NFL•Aug 13, 2026, 11:51 PMRams’ rivals sign CB facing 8 felony charges
NFL•Aug 13, 2026, 11:44 PMSources: CB Arnold plans to sign with Seahawks
NFL•Aug 13, 2026, 11:36 PMSuper Bowl champion Seahawks signing CB charged with kidnapping
