NFL schedule release 2026: Thanksgiving showcase leaks, and Black Friday is next

NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games in 2026

Keeping with traditions old and new, the NFL will set three games on Thanksgiving Day itself, an afternoon doubleheader and then a primetime game on that Thursday night. The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys will be the home teams for the first two games, in a tradition that dates back to both 1934 (when the Lions hosted their first Thanksgiving Day game) and 1966 (when the Cowboys joined the holiday slate). Then the league will slot in a third game that night, and while the first two games always feature the Lions and the Cowboys, the NFL has rotated teams through the primetime game. Another new tradition is the branding of the Thanksgiving Day games. Starting in 2001 the league branded the games as the Thanksgiving Classic, but in 2022 that was changed to honor legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden, as the NFL began referring to the games as part of the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration. The first Thanksgiving Day game confirmed by the league is the one hosted by Dallas. The Cowboys will welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to AT&T Stadium that Thursday afternoon:

NFL Black Friday games in 2026

Starting in 2023, the league began scheduling a Black Friday game as part of the NFL’s contract with Amazon Prime Video. The first Black Friday Game featured the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets, while the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders squared off in 2024. Last season saw the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles on the road. This year, the league is considering the possibility of having a Black Friday doubleheader.