The Detroit Lions' 2026 schedule will be officially released tonight, May 14, with some matchups already leaked, including a primetime game and a Thanksgiving matchup. Fans can watch the full schedule reveal on ESPN and NFL Network starting at 8 p.m. ET.
Key points
Detroit Lions' 2026 schedule release tonight
Week 2 primetime matchup revealed
Game in Germany confirmed
Thanksgiving divisional game scheduled
Full NFL schedule released at 8 p.m. ET
Detroit LionsNFL
Lions 2026 schedule release leaks, live updates
We will learn the official Detroit Lions 2026 schedule in full tonight, Thursday, May 14.
The NFL will release the entire 2026 schedule for all 32 teams on Thursday, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. It will be on the TV channels ESPN, NFL Network and the ESPN App.
The full schedule release for allĀ 32 NFL teamsĀ will take place on Thursday.
2001, Pick 18: Jeff Backus, offensive tackle, Michigan.
What time is the Detroit Lions 2026 schedule release?
The Detroit Lions' 2026 schedule will be released tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
What notable games are included in the Lions' 2026 schedule?
The schedule includes a Week 2 primetime matchup, a game in Germany, and a Thanksgiving divisional game.
Where can I watch the Lions' 2026 schedule release?
The schedule release can be watched on ESPN, NFL Network, and the ESPN App.
When will the entire NFL 2026 schedule be released?
The entire NFL 2026 schedule will be released tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
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We are tracking every veritable Lions schedule leak and rumor below. Come back to freep.com for all our instant analysis once we have the schedule and game-by-game predictions.
Lions 2026 Thanksgiving game vs Bears
The Lions are set to host former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears in the 2026Ā Thanksgiving Day NFL gameĀ Nov. 26 in Detroit, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The Bears won the NFC North last season in Johnson's first year as head coach, but went 0-2 against the Lions, including aĀ 52-21 shellacking in Week 2 at Ford Field.
The Lions have lost eight of their past nine Thanksgiving games, with their one win coming in 2024 against Chicago. The Lions are 6-6 on Thanksgiving against the Bears, more than twice as many wins as they have over the next closest team (theĀ Green Bay Packers) on the holiday. The Lions' six losses to the Bears is second-most to the Packers (seven).
The Patriots, the only non-division team with a winning record in 2025 on the Lionsā home schedule in 2026, have international marketing rights in Germany like the Lions.
From the Free Press' Dave Birkett:"A last-place finish in the NFC North last season hasnāt done anything to diminish theĀ Detroit LionsĀ as a primetime draw. The Lions will play the Buffalo Bills in a Week 2 Thursday night game to open Buffaloās new stadium, Highmark Stadium, on Sept. 17. The game was announced by Prime Video, which airs "Thursday Night Football" all season,Ā via social media. The Lions played five primetime games last season, seven more in the 4:25 p.m. national window ā including on Christmas Day ā plus their regular Thanksgiving game."
LionsĀ 2026 opponents
*Team made the 2025-26 NFL playoffs;Ā 2025 record in parenthesis.
