The 2026 NFL season is officially on the horizon, though the league’s full schedule won’t be revealed until Thursday, May 14. As in past years, the NFL will gradually disclose details about key matchups ahead of the official release. Here’s what we know so far about Week 1 of the 2026 regular season.
NFL Kickoff Game 2026: Defending Champions to Open on Wednesday
The defending Super Bowl champions will raise their banner to kick off the new season, but this year’s opening game breaks tradition. The Seattle Seahawks will host their first opponent of the season at Lumen Field—but not on a Thursday night as usual. Instead, the game will be played on Wednesday, September 10.
The reason for the midweek start? The NFL is debuting its first regular-season game in Australia, which shifts the schedule for the season opener.
While the Seahawks’ Week 1 opponent hasn’t been announced, speculation points to a few potential matchups. One thing is certain: the league is preparing for a historic international debut.
First International NFL Game: Rams vs. 49ers in Melbourne
For the first time in NFL history, a regular-season game will be played on the continent of Australia. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will face off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday, September 11 at 10:35 a.m. local time—which translates to 8:35 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, September 10.
Sunday Night Football Opener: Cowboys vs. Giants at MetLife Stadium
The NFL has also confirmed the first Sunday Night Football game of the 2026 season. The matchup will feature NFC East rivals: the Dallas Cowboys, led by quarterback Dak Prescott, will travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants, quarterbacked by Jaxson Dart.
The Giants’ new head coach, John Harbaugh, will make his debut in this high-stakes divisional clash.
@dallascowboys vs. @Giants on the first @SNFonNBC of the 2026 season 🔥📺: NFL Schedule Release – Thursday at 8pm ET on @nflnetwork https://t.co/ZliiBKJgTZ
This is a developing story. As more Week 1 games are announced, updates will follow.
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