Bills 2026 schedule release: Time, date, how to watch

The Buffalo Bills already know one major date on their 2026 schedule.

Their first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium will in Week 2 on Sept. 17 for Thursday Night Football against the Detroit Lions.

The rest of Buffalo’s 2026 schedule will be unveiled Thursday night when the NFL releases its full regular-season slate. The schedule release will reveal all 272 NFL regular-season games.

Here’s how to watch the Bills schedule release.

When is the Bills 2026 schedule released?

Buffalo’s 17-game 2026 schedule will be announced during the NFL schedule release at 8-10 p.m. on Thursday, May 14.

What TV channel is the Bills schedule release on?

NFL Network and ESPN2 will carry the league's two-hour schedule release show.

How to stream the Bills schedule release

The NFL schedule release show will stream on NFL+ and the ESPN App.

What Bills games are already announced?

The NFL has already confirmed one major matchup on Buffalo’s 2026 schedule.

The Bills will host the Detroit Lions at 8:15 p.m. ET in Week 2 on Thursday Night Football in the first regular-season game played at the new Highmark Stadium.

The Bills will not play an international game in 2026 after the NFL finalized its overseas schedule Wednesday.

Buffalo Bills 2026 opponents

The Bills will host eight regular season games and possibly two preseason games, if new Highmark Stadium is ready in time, with nine road regular season games and one away preseason games.

Since the Bills finished in second place in the AFC East, they’ll play each of last year’s second-place finishers in the AFC and an additional second-place team from the NFC. Buffalo also will play the entire AFC West and NFC North.

Bills home opponents