The NFL has concluded the 2026 NFL Draft following a successful event in Pittsburgh. Teams have now shifted their focus to preparing for minicamps and training camp.
Before those camps begin, however, the league still needs to release the full 2026 NFL schedule. The NFL typically announces this date during the first round of the draft.
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This year, the league has only stated that it will release the schedule sometime in May. Earlier speculation pointed to May 13, but that date now appears unlikely. So when will the schedule be released?
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According to a recent report, the NFL may delay the release until at least the week of May 18. While that timeline could change at any moment, something has already pushed the expected May 13 date back.
The delay reportedly stems from an ongoing bidding war between Netflix, YouTube, and FOX for a five-game package. The specifics of those games will likely play a major role in both the bids and the final schedule.
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The league has already set the regular season kickoff for Wednesday, September 9. The defending champion Seattle Seahawks will open their 2026 campaign, though their opponent remains unknown.
The NFL made this scheduling adjustment to accommodate the Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers game in Australia, which will air on September 10. That matchup will mark the league’s first game in Australia, hosted at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
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While the dates for Week 1 are set and a few games are known, the remaining 272 games still need to be finalized. Teams already know their opponents—a list the league finalized immediately after the 2025 regular season.
At one point, speculation suggested the NFL might expand to an 18-game schedule in 2026, but the NFLPA has made it clear that will not happen.
Now the big question remains: Will the NFL stick to the projected week of May 18, or will it surprise fans and media by releasing the schedule sooner?
