The NFL has not yet announced the release date for the 2026 schedule, potentially delaying it to late May due to media-rights negotiations. NFL officials suggest the release could slide back a week from the usual mid-May timeframe.
Key points
NFL has not announced the 2026 schedule release date
Potential delay to late May due to media-rights negotiations
Target release timeframe is mid-May
2025 schedule was released on May 14
Mike North discussed the timeline on a podcast
Mentioned in this story
NFL
Green Bay Packers
We still don't know when the NFL is going to release its full schedule for the 2026 season, even though the 2025 schedule was released May 14 of last year. We could be in for a slightly later release than usual this year as the league sorts through media-rights negotiations.
Here's what we know and have yet to learn about the Green Bay Packers schedule in 2026:
Why donāt we know when the NFL schedule will be released yet?
NFL vice president of broadcast planning Mike North said on the "It's Always Game Day in Buffalo" podcast that the league still is targeting mid-May but the release could slide back by a week.
"Is there any magic to May 12, 13, 14? No. Is there any real downside to May 19, 20, or 21? No,"Ā North said. "I donāt think itās coming out in June, but that second week in May has been our target the last few years, but I donāt know that itās impossible to think about that third week in May.ā
One big factor: A five-game media package that still is being negotiated separately from the NFLās primary television agreements, with YouTube and Netflix as possible suitors (as well as Fox). Until those games have an official home, the league can't finalize the schedule. The league also is preparing for record nine international games.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is sacked by Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is sacked by Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons.
Whatās the most likely date for an NFL schedule release?
The NFL has released the schedule on a Wednesday in each of the past two years after using Thursdays for four straight years before that. If it's not May 13, then May 20 seems like the next logical spot.
Which teams are on the ā schedule this year?
Q&A
When will the NFL release the 2026 schedule?
The NFL is targeting mid-May for the 2026 schedule release, but it may be delayed to the third week of May.
Why is the 2026 NFL schedule release delayed?
The delay is due to ongoing media-rights negotiations that the league is currently sorting through.
What date was the 2025 NFL schedule released?
The 2025 NFL schedule was released on May 14 of the previous year.
Who provided information about the NFL schedule release?
NFL vice president of broadcast planning Mike North discussed the schedule release timeline on the 'It's Always Game Day in Buffalo' podcast.
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Which games on the Packersā schedule are the most intriguing?
It goes without saying the two battles with the Bears will be must-watch TV after Chicago defeated the Packers in the postseason last year following two tense regular-season tilts. But a visit to reigning AFC-champion New England should be exciting as well, not to mention the Bills at home.
The most fascinating home battle, however, might be the Miami Dolphins, when the Packers welcome in former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley (now Miami head coach) and the Packers' backup quarterback the past two years, Malik Willis, who signed a huge offseason pact to lead Miami.
Will Micah Parsons again face his old team, the Cowboys, this year?
Yes, the Packers will host the Cowboys, one year after finishing tied with Dallas in Micah Parsons' first game against his old team. The NFC North teams play their comparable place-finishers from 2025 in the NFC West, AFC South and NFC East this year. The Packers and Cowboys both finished second in their division, so they'll meet.
Who will Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers face in 2026? Their opponents were revealed last month at the end of the 2025 regular season. The times and dates for the 2026 schedule will be announced in early May.
Some observations: They'll face six teams that made the playoffs in 2025, including at the AFC champion New England Patriots. The Packers match up with all the AFC East and NFC South teams in 2026. Green Bay will also face three teams with new head coaches, including former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who is with the Miami Dolphins.
And Green Bay's defense better be ready as it will meet the top six offenses from 2025.
Green Bay has nine home games and eight road games.
Scroll this gallery for all the teams on the Packers' 2026 schedule, starting with the home games and the non-divisional games.
Buffalo Bills: Quarterback Josh Allen will make his first appearance at Lambeau Field since his rookie season in 2018. The Bills had the fourth-ranked offense in 2025. They are one of 10 teams this offseason that has a new head coach.
2025 record: 12-5
Miami Dolphins: Former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will return to Lambeau Field in his first year as the Dolphins head coach.
2025 record: 7-10
Dallas Cowboys: Quarterback Dak Prescott will bring an explosive Cowboys offense (second ranked in 2025) to Lambeau Field for the first time since the 2022 season. The two teams played to a 40-40 tie during the 2025 season in Dallas.
2025 record: 7-9-1
Carolina Panthers: For the second straight season, the Panthers will come to Lambeau Field. The Packers will look to avenge that 16-13 loss to Carolina.
2025 record: 8-9
Atlanta Falcons: New coach Kevin Stefanski will bring his Falcons to Lambeau Field.
2025 record: 8-9
Houston Texans: Azeez al-Shaair and last season's No. 1-ranked defense will look to rattle Jordan Love and the Packers offense when they make their second appearance to Lambeau Field in three years.
2025 record: 12-5
New England Patriots: The Packers will head to New England to face Drake Maye and the reigning AFC champion Patriots. Green Bay last played the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough in 2018. The Patriots had the third-ranked offense in 2025. 2025 record: 14-3
New Orleans Saints: The Packers will face quarterback Tyler Shough and the Saints on the road. Its the first time the Packers will play inside the Caesars Superdome since the 2020 season.
2025 record: 6-11
Los Angeles Rams: The Packers travel to the site of Super Bowl 61 for a matchup against Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and the Rams, who had the NFL's top-ranked offense. It will be the fifth time in six years the Packers and Rams will play in the regular season.
2025 record: 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Packers head to Florida for a matchup against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers.
2025 record: 8-9
New York Jets: The Packers will face Garrett Wilson (5) and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for the first time since the 2018 season.
2025 record: 3-14
Chicago Bears (2): This rivalry is alive. After the teams split the regular-season series with heartstopping finishes and then a wild-card playoff game that featured a massive comeback by the Bears, what will the 2026 season bring us between these two longtime rivals?
Last season, the two teams had to wait until December for their first game. And then they ended up playing each other three times from Dec. 7 to Jan. 10.
2025 record: 11-6
Detroit Lions (2): The Packers will look for another 2-0 season against the Lions. The Packers opened last season with a win over the Lions at Lambeau Field and then beat them on Thanksgiving at Ford Field for a second time in three years.
2025 record: 9-8
Minnesota Vikings (2): The Packers will again have to contend with Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson for two games. The teams split the 2025 series.
Vikings record: 9-8
1 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Who will Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers face in 2026? Their opponents were revealed last month at the end of the 2025 regular season. The times and dates for the 2026 schedule will be announced in early May.
Some observations: They'll face six teams that made the playoffs in 2025, including at the AFC champion New England Patriots. The Packers match up with all the AFC East and NFC South teams in 2026. Green Bay will also face three teams with new head coaches, including former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who is with the Miami Dolphins.
And Green Bay's defense better be ready as it will meet the top six offenses from 2025.
Green Bay has nine home games and eight road games.
Scroll this gallery for all the teams on the Packers' 2026 schedule, starting with the home games and the non-divisional games.
1 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Who will Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers face in 2026? Their opponents were revealed last month at the end of the 2025 regular season. The times and dates for the 2026 schedule will be announced in early May.
Some observations: They'll face six teams that made the playoffs in 2025, including at the AFC champion New England Patriots. The Packers match up with all the AFC East and NFC South teams in 2026. Green Bay will also face three teams with new head coaches, including former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who is with the Miami Dolphins.
And Green Bay's defense better be ready as it will meet the top six offenses from 2025.
Green Bay has nine home games and eight road games.
Scroll this gallery for all the teams on the Packers' 2026 schedule, starting with the home games and the non-divisional games.
2 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Buffalo Bills: Quarterback Josh Allen will make his first appearance at Lambeau Field since his rookie season in 2018. The Bills had the fourth-ranked offense in 2025. They are one of 10 teams this offseason that has a new head coach.
2025 record: 12-5
3 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Miami Dolphins: Former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will return to Lambeau Field in his first year as the Dolphins head coach.
2025 record: 7-10
4 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Dallas Cowboys: Quarterback Dak Prescott will bring an explosive Cowboys offense (second ranked in 2025) to Lambeau Field for the first time since the 2022 season. The two teams played to a 40-40 tie during the 2025 season in Dallas.
2025 record: 7-9-1
5 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Carolina Panthers: For the second straight season, the Panthers will come to Lambeau Field. The Packers will look to avenge that 16-13 loss to Carolina.
2025 record: 8-9
6 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Atlanta Falcons: New coach Kevin Stefanski will bring his Falcons to Lambeau Field.
2025 record: 8-9
7 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Houston Texans: Azeez al-Shaair and last season's No. 1-ranked defense will look to rattle Jordan Love and the Packers offense when they make their second appearance to Lambeau Field in three years.
2025 record: 12-5
8 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
New England Patriots: The Packers will head to New England to face Drake Maye and the reigning AFC champion Patriots. Green Bay last played the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough in 2018. The Patriots had the third-ranked offense in 2025. 2025 record: 14-3
9 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
New Orleans Saints: The Packers will face quarterback Tyler Shough and the Saints on the road. Its the first time the Packers will play inside the Caesars Superdome since the 2020 season.
2025 record: 6-11
10 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Los Angeles Rams: The Packers travel to the site of Super Bowl 61 for a matchup against Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and the Rams, who had the NFL's top-ranked offense. It will be the fifth time in six years the Packers and Rams will play in the regular season.
2025 record: 12-5
11 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Packers head to Florida for a matchup against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers.
2025 record: 8-9
12 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
New York Jets: The Packers will face Garrett Wilson (5) and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for the first time since the 2018 season.
2025 record: 3-14
13 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Chicago Bears (2): This rivalry is alive. After the teams split the regular-season series with heartstopping finishes and then a wild-card playoff game that featured a massive comeback by the Bears, what will the 2026 season bring us between these two longtime rivals?
Last season, the two teams had to wait until December for their first game. And then they ended up playing each other three times from Dec. 7 to Jan. 10.
2025 record: 11-6
14 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Detroit Lions (2): The Packers will look for another 2-0 season against the Lions. The Packers opened last season with a win over the Lions at Lambeau Field and then beat them on Thanksgiving at Ford Field for a second time in three years.
2025 record: 9-8
15 / 15
Green Bay Packers' 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches
Minnesota Vikings (2): The Packers will again have to contend with Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson for two games. The teams split the 2025 series.
Vikings record: 9-8
Will the Packers face Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers again in 2026?
We don't know for sure where Aaron Rodgers will land, but returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers seems like the obvious fit assuming he plays again. That's the same spot where former Packers coach Mike McCarthy is now head coach.
But after beating the Steelers and Rodgers last year, Green Bay doesn't face Pittsburgh in 2026. Rumblings about Rodgers surprising everyone and going with the Arizona Cardinals wouldn't change anything; Green Bay doesn't play Arizona, either.
The Packers have beaten McCarthy twice since he left the Packers, once in overtime during the 2022 season when McCarthy was coaching the Cowboys and again in the 2023 playoffs.
Will the Packers be playing an international game in 2026?
It seems highly unlikely, with only one possibility in Paris as the road team against the New Orleans Saints.
The NFC will serve as host teams for international games this year (by virtue of having the "extra" home game on the docket ā nine at home, eight on the road), but Packers president Ed Policy confirmed the Packers will play all nine scheduled home games at Lambeau Field in 2026.
The other games on the docket include the Rams against the 49ers in Australia (Sept. 10), the Cowboys and Ravens in Brazil (Sept. 27), the Commanders in London, the Lions in Germany, the Falcons in Spain, the 49ers in Mexico City and the Jaguars in London twice. Policy ruled out that the Packers would be the Lions' opponent, and none of the remaining openings have Green Bay on the schedule this year.
How tough is the Packers schedule in 2026?
With the required caveat that we know nothing about these teams, and franchises routinely go from juggernaut to also-ran (or vice versa) in one-year's time ...
Sharp Football Analysts, which takes into account what teams have done in the offseason, view Green Bay's strength of schedule as much more favorable, possibly among the league's lower half.
Last year, the Packers tied for the fifth-toughest schedule by previous-year winning percentage, and it was fourth-toughest the year before that and toughest in the NFC.
When will the Packers have a bye in 2026?
We won't know until the release of the schedule. Last year, it was Week 5 and it was Week 10 in 2024. Byes were spread out last year between Weeks 5-14, with the highest volume in Week 8 (six teams) and no byes on Thanksgiving week (Week 13).
How many prime-time games will the Packers have in 2026?
We won't know that until the release of the schedule, either, but we do know the Packers routinely draw as many prime-time games as any team in the league.
Last year, that included a standard Thursday night game, two Sunday night games (including one against Aaron Rodgers), one Monday night game, and a Saturday night game late in the season at Chicago. That doesn't even count the team's spotlighted Thanksgiving game during the day.
Who are the other top quarterbacks the Packers will see in 2026?
Outside of the obvious divisional matchups against Caleb Williams of the Bears, Jared Goff from the Lions and whatever ends up happening for Minnesota, the Packers will see Buffalo star Josh Allen, Dallas' Dak Prescott and Houston's C.J. Stroud at home, in addition to Willis. Perhaps Bryce Young of Carolina will continue to ascend.
On the road, Green Bay will tangle with ageless wonder and reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford of the Rams, MVP runner-up Drake Maye of the defending AFC champion Patriots and Baker Mayfield of the Buccaneers.
ā Ryan Miller of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle contributed to this story.
