The NFL is expanding its Thanksgiving schedule in 2026 to include five games, adding Thanksgiving Eve to the lineup. This follows the addition of Black Friday games in 2023.
Key points
NFL expands Thanksgiving schedule to five games in 2026
Thanksgiving Eve game added to the lineup
Detroit Lions hosted the first Thanksgiving game in 1934
Dallas Cowboys joined as hosts in 1966
Black Friday games were added in 2023
Detroit LionsDallas Cowboys
caleb-williams-bears-3.jpg
Getty Images
First, it was only the Detroit Lions hosting a Thanksgiving game, starting all the way back in 1934. The Dallas Cowboys joined as hosts in 1966, and in 2006, the NFL added a third game to the fourth Thursday in November. In 2023, the NFL added Black Friday to its slate, and this year, it is adding Thanksgiving Eve to the fun as well.
Here are the five Thanksgiving 2026 games, with the early skinny on each matchup.
The Packers will head to warmer weather for a holiday-week showdown with another team expected to be in the playoff picture. Both the Packers and the Rams made the 2025 playoffs, with the Packers losing to the Bears in the Wild Card Round and the Rams falling to the eventual Super Bowl-champion in the NFC Championship Game.
Q&A
What are the Thanksgiving games scheduled for the NFL in 2026?
The NFL will feature five games during Thanksgiving week in 2026, including a game on Thanksgiving Eve.
When did the NFL start hosting Thanksgiving games?
The NFL began hosting Thanksgiving games in 1934 with the Detroit Lions, followed by the Dallas Cowboys in 1966.
What new additions were made to the NFL schedule in 2023?
In 2023, the NFL added Black Friday games to its schedule, expanding the holiday slate.
How has the NFL Thanksgiving schedule evolved over the years?
The Thanksgiving schedule has evolved from a single game in 1934 to multiple games, including the recent addition of Thanksgiving Eve and Black Friday games.
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Jordan Love delivered arguably his best season in 2025, tossing 23 touchdowns and just six interceptions, his career low as a starter. It'll be quite the quarterback matchup between Love and 2025 MVP Matthew Stafford, who led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns en route to the league's top individual award. NFL 2025 receptions leader Puka Nacua figures to be a focal point of Los Angeles' high-powered attack once again.
Packers star EDGE Micah Parsons should be back by the time this game rolls around. He tore his ACL in December and may miss some time to begin the season.
The Lions host an NFC North rival this Thanksgiving, with the Bears coming to town. Chicago is coming off a breakthrough 11-6 season that included its first division crown since 2018 and its first playoff win since 2010. Meanwhile, the Lions streak of division titles came to an end at two, and at 9-8, Detroit missed the playoffs entirely.
Under first-year coach Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams put forward a strong second season and showed a flair for the dramatic with six fourth-quarter comebacks. One of the NFL's best running games, led by 1,000-yard rusher D'Andre Swift, certainly helped. The Bears also led the NFL with 33 turnovers forced,
Despite their seasons going in very different directions, Detroit swept Chicago and has won seven of the last eight meetings in this storied rivalry. Jahmyr Gibbs produced over 1,800 yards from scrimmage for the second straight year and made the Pro Bowl for the third time in three seasons, while Amon-Ra St. Brown produced more than 1,400 yards receiving.
Detroit has lost eight of its last nine Thanksgiving games, though the lone win in that span came against the Bears in 2024.
It's another divisional rivalry for the second part of the Thanksgiving triple-header as the Eagles visit the Cowboys. Dallas has won four straight Thanksgiving games but lost its last game against Philadelphia on Turkey Day, back in 2014.
The Cowboys boasted one of the NFL's best offenses in 2025, with Dak Prescott throwing for 30 touchdowns and over 4,500 yards, both George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb exceeding 1,000 receiving yards, and Javonte Williams going for over 1,200 yards on the ground. Still, Dallas finished just 7-9-1 due to a porous defense. The Cowboys dedicated much of their offseason to improving that aspect, bringing in Christian Parker (most recently the Eagles' secondary coach) as defensive coordinator and drafting former Ohio State star Caleb Downs 11th overall.
The Eagles became the first team in more than 20 years to repeat as NFC East champions, but the offense was inconsistent all year, and Philadelphia lost in the Wild Card Round. Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith and a stellar offensive line return, but it looks like A.J. Brown won't join them. Instead, first-round rookie Makai Lemon will have big shoes to fill immediately. With Jalen Carter and Jonathan Greenard up front and Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the secondary, Philadelphia figures to have another strong defense.
One of the NFL's best *non-*divisional rivalries serves as the Thanksgiving nightcap as the Chiefs visit the Bills, who will open a new stadium this year.
Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen represent the premier quarterback showdown of this generation; Allen is a stellar 5-1 against Mahomes in the regular season, but Mahomes owns a perfect 4-0 record against Allen in the playoffs.
Both teams are coming off 2025 seasons that ended in difficult fashion. Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in December, and Kansas City went a woeful 6-11, the franchise's worst record since 2009. The Chiefs signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to revitalize the running game and added several defenders, including No. 6 pick Mansoor Delane, in the draft.
The Bills lost to the Broncos in overtime in the Divisional Round, yet another painful playoff exit. Buffalo moved on from Sean McDermott, handed the coaching reins to offensive coordinator Joe Brady and traded for DJ Moore to add some downfield juice to the passing attack.
After the shopping rush is over on Black Friday, settle in for a showdown between two 2025 AFC playoff teams with the Broncos visiting the Steelers.
Denver, which went 14-3 to capture its first AFC West title since 2015, had the look of a potential Super Bowl winner until Bo Nix broke his ankle late in the Divisional Round over the Bills. Denver lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship. The team very much looks like a title contender again, though, with a ferocious defense led by Patrick Surtain II, Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen and an offense that welcomes Jaylen Waddle to the mix.
The Steelers are still waiting on a decision from Aaron Rodgers, but they also made several changes this offseason, including hiring Rodgers' former coach, Mike McCarthy. Pittsburgh added Jamel Dean, Rico Dowdle and Jaquan Brisker in free agency and traded for Michael Pittman Jr. as it looks to repeat as AFC North champion.
