NFL Releases 2026 Schedule, First Game in Australia
SkimNews Take
The NFL's cinematic schedule reveals and global game expansions demonstrate a strategic pivot from sports league to global entertainment property, leveraging media spectacle to broaden its audience beyond traditional football fans.
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- NFL released the complete 2026 regular‑season schedule, marking a major offseason milestone and confirming 17 games per team.
- Seattle Seahawks will open the season on Sept. 9 with a Super Bowl rematch against defending champion New England Patriots.
- Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will play the league’s first regular‑season game in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 10, part of a record nine international games across seven countries.
- Pittsburgh Steelers will travel to Paris for the NFL’s inaugural game at Stade de France in Week 7, facing the New Orleans Saints.
- Green Bay Packers will be the league’s first Thanksgiving Eve team, visiting the Rams, while the Dallas Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving Day.
Why it matters: Fans lock in dates early, while the NFL taps new markets with games in Australia and Paris, boosting international revenue and travel demand; Thanksgiving matchups keep traditional U.S. viewership high.
