The Chicago Bears' 2026 schedule leaks reveal their Week 1 opponent, primetime matchups, and two holiday games. The official schedule release is set for Thursday night.
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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) gestures to the crowd after the game against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field. David Banks-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears finally know some of their upcoming 2026 schedule as the slow drip continues leading up to the NFLâs official schedule release on Thursday night.
The NFL has slowing been dripping out the 2026 schedule throughout the week leading up to the official release on Thursday night and finally the Chicago Bears got into the action on Wednesday with some games getting leaked.
Before Wednesday, all we knew is that the Bears werenât going to Madrid, Spain to face the Atlanta Falcons and werenât facing a few different opponents in Week 1 that already had matchups leaked.
After Wednesday, we now know Chicagoâs Week 1 opponent, a few different primetime games, and two holiday matchups that all got leaked. Letâs break it down.
Everyone, including myself, was hoping to see the Bears open the season in Seattle to face the defending Super Bowl Champs on a Wednesday night. Instead, the league announced that Week 1 will be a Super Bowl rematch between the Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
The Week 1 opponent for the Chicago Bears in the 2026 season has been leaked, but the specific team has not been disclosed yet.
Details about the primetime matchups for the Chicago Bears in 2026 have been leaked, but specific opponents and dates are yet to be confirmed.
The Chicago Bears are confirmed to have two holiday games in 2026, although the specific dates and opponents have not been revealed.
The official 2026 NFL schedule will be released on Thursday night.

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Not long after, it was revealed that the Bears will be on the road to open the season, but will instead be heading east to take on the Carolina Panthers. Itâll still be a fun matchup between two rising teams in the NFC and the Bears will be the first team to face Carolina after a strong offseason the team put together.
And, of course, we get to hear all about the trade between these two teams that allowed the Panthers to draft QB Bryce Young and gave the Bears QB Caleb Williams, RT Darnell Wright, WR DJ Moore, and much more. With that trade finally completed, hopefully this is the last time weâll have to hear about it.
The first holiday game has officially been confirmed Thursday morning by league reporters with the Bears set to face the Detroit Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving. It will be the fifth time in nine years the two teams played each other on Thanksgiving.
The last time Chicago played in Detroit, the Lions dropped 52 points on the Bears in Week 2, in head coach Ben Johnsonâs first game back at Ford Field. The Bears, actually, went 0-2 against the Lions last season despite winning the NFC North.
Iâm sure the disaster 2024 Thanksgiving game between the Bears and Lions, the loss that led to head coach Matt Eberflusâ firing, will be a major storyline going into this.
As for the Christmas game, itâs been rumored that the Bears will be facing the Green Bay Packers in Chicago. This game hasnât been officially confirmed, so take it with a grain of salt. However, two holiday games would be equally exciting and tough for the fans.
If having two holiday games wasnât enough, the Bears are also rumored to be playing in four other primetime games. Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday Night Football against the New England Patriots, Monday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks, and Sunday Night Football against the Tamp Bay Buccaneers. Along with a Saturday game against the Buffalo Bills.
We were warned that the Bears will be under the national spotlight this upcoming season and itâs looking like thatâll be the case if these matchups get confirmed.