When does the 2026 NFL season start? What to know about schedule release

TL;DR

The 2026 NFL season is set to start in September 2026, following the conclusion of Super Bowl 60. Fans can expect the schedule release to provide more details as the season approaches.

Key points

2026 NFL season starts in September 2026
Super Bowl 60 concluded recently
Seven-month break between meaningful games
Free agency and draft fill offseason void

NFLSeattle Seahawks

When does the 2026 NFL season start? What to know about schedule release

Nothing lasts forever, except the NFL offseason.

It has only been a few months since Super Bowl 60 concluded and it seems like a lifetime ago that the Seattle Seahawks were hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Football-starved fans are left with a seven-month break between meaningful games, even though free agency and the draft are supposed to fill that void.

All hope isn't lost though.

The 2026 NFL Draft is here, and it will be followed by a new schedule release in May before the summer kicks into high gear.

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Then it's the home stretch, when training camps begin and preseason action kicks off again. Week 1 will be here before you know it, so enjoy those free weekend schedules while you can. And don't forget to carve out more than a few weeknights, as the 2026 regular season schedule brings more than a few quirks.

Here's what to know about when the regular season starts and when you can expect the schedule to be released in 2026.

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