The 2026 NFL season will kick off with the Denver Broncos facing the Kansas City Chiefs on September 14, marking the start of ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Football’ schedule.
The exact location for this highly anticipated matchup remains undetermined, as the NFL continues to finalize details ahead of the complete schedule release on Thursday evening.
International Games Highlight
In a significant development, the Cincinnati Bengals will take on the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid on November 8. This game is part of an NFL record nine international games scheduled for 2026, which will take place across four continents, seven countries, and eight stadiums. The match will occur at the iconic Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid C.F.
This will mark the NFL’s second consecutive season hosting a game at Bernabéu Stadium, following Miami’s victory over Washington in Madrid last year.
Player Availability Concerns
Questions remain regarding the availability of two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes for the Chiefs’ season opener. Mahomes aims to return for Week 1 after suffering a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee during a game against the Chargers on December 14, which ended the Chiefs’ playoff hopes.
Meanwhile, Denver’s quarterback Bo Nix is expected to be ready for training camp after recovering from a broken bone in his right ankle, an injury sustained during the AFC playoffs. The Broncos concluded last season by losing the AFC Championship game to the New England Patriots.
Upcoming Matchups and Announcements
Further matchups will be unveiled leading up to the NFL’s full schedule release on Thursday night. The announcement of the trio of games coincided with NBC, Fox, and Prime Video’s upfront presentations to advertisers.
The Buffalo Bills will host the Detroit Lions in their first regular-season game at their new stadium on September 17, which will also kick off Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ schedule.
Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys will feature in two significant matchups: they will visit the New York Giants for NBC’s first ‘Sunday Night Football’ game of the season on September 13 and will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving Day, November 26.