NFL schedule leaks offer clues for Week 1 of 2026 season

TL;DR

The 2026 NFL season will kick off on September 10 with the Seattle Seahawks hosting an opponent, while the San Francisco 49ers will play the Los Angeles Rams in Australia on September 11. The first Sunday Night Football game features the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

Key points

2026 NFL season begins on September 10
Seattle Seahawks host the kickoff game
First NFL game in Australia on September 11
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants on Sunday Night Football

Mentioned in this story

Dak PrescottJaxson DartJohn HarbaughMelbourne Cricket Ground

Seattle SeahawksSan Francisco 49ersLos Angeles RamsDallas Cowboys

Jan 4, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) throws a pass as Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (90) defends during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The 2026 NFL season has begun. Unofficially, that is. On Thursday May 14 the league will unveil the entire schedule for the 2026 regular season. However, as we have seen in year’s past the NFL will slowly release details regarding specific games on the schedule. And days before the full release, Week 1 is starting to come into picture. Here is what we know, so far, about the first week of the 2026 NFL regular season.

NFL Kickoff Game 2026

The new season will begin with the defending Super Bowl champions hoisting a banner. But it will look a little different than previous installments. The Seattle Seahawks will welcome their first opponent of the season to Lumen Field, but that game will not be on a Thursday night as is standard. Instead, the Seahawks will begin the 2026 season on Wednesday, September 10. The reason? We’ll get to that in a moment. As for who the Seahawks will welcome to Lumen Field, that has not been announced yet. But we do have some .

Q&A

What is the kickoff game for the 2026 NFL season?

The kickoff game for the 2026 NFL season will feature the Seattle Seahawks hosting an opponent on September 10.

Which teams are playing the first NFL game in Australia?

The first NFL game in Australia will be between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11.

When is the first Sunday Night Football game of the 2026 season?

The first Sunday Night Football game of the 2026 season will be between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.