'Sunday Night Football' 2026 NFL schedule: Full slate beginning with Cowboys vs. Giants in Week 1
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- NFL releases the full 2026 regular‑season schedule, designating 18 Sunday Night Football games across the fall.
- Dallas Cowboys open the night with a Week 1 NFC East clash against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
- Dallas Cowboys will appear three times on Sunday Night Football, tying the Kansas City Chiefs for the most primetime slots in the league.
- Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers meet in Mexico City for the Week 11 Sunday Night Football game, bringing the primetime window abroad.
Why it matters: Teams like the Cowboys and Chiefs secure three primetime appearances, increasing national exposure and advertising opportunities, while the league taps a new international market with the Mexico City game.
