The NFL will release its full 2026 schedule on Thursday, May 14. Fans will learn the exact dates of games after previously knowing only the opponents and locations.
Rejoice, football fans, because the most exciting date of the NFL offseason has finally been revealed. The NFL will reportedly hold its 2026 schedule release next Thursday, May 14, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
While the exact date of the league’s schedule announcement was unknown prior to that report, the event was expected to take place in mid-May. That’s typically when the league has unveiled previous schedules. Last year’s schedule release occurred May 14. In 2024, the NFL schedule release came May 15.
Though a number of contests — mostly international games — have already been announced, NFL teams have yet to fully announce their 2026 schedules. Fans already know which opponents their favorite teams will play next season, and whether those games will occur at home or on the road, but they don’t know exactly when the games will occur. The 2026 NFL schedule release will answer those questions.
It will also provide teams with a chance to be creative and whimsy when making their announcement. A number of teams have developed a reputation for cooking up humorous and entertaining schedule-release videos each year, with the Los Angeles Chargers typically leading the way.
The Chargers were among the teams that won schedule-release day last season. The team also received recognition for its efforts in 2024, 2023 and 2022. They’ve crushed it, basically.
In addition to being creative, the Chargers normally win the day by being willing to reference some of the biggest scandals in the sport. In 2024, they made reference to questionable comments made by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a graduation ceremony. This year, it’s possible the Chargers take aim at coach Mike Vrabel and with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini. The Chargers and Patriots will play in 2026, so it seems likely will include some Vrabel-Russini reference in its schedule-release video.
The NFL will announce the 2026 schedule on Thursday, May 14.
The schedule release will provide the exact dates and times for games, in addition to confirming opponents and locations.
The Los Angeles Chargers are particularly known for their humorous and entertaining schedule release videos.
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The Chargers aren’t the only team that has impressed and delighted fans with their schedule-release videos, but they’ll be among the must-watches in 2026. As for whether any other team can dethrone the Chargers, well, that will just have to wait until schedule-release day.
This story will be updated.