When Does NFL Preseason Start 2026? Hall of Fame Game, Full Schedule

If you have been watching training camp news and waiting for actual live game action, your wait is almost over. The 2026 NFL preseason starts August 6 with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio — and from there, three full weeks of preseason football roll through the end of August before the regular season opens on September 9.

Here is everything you need to know: confirmed dates, the full week-by-week preseason schedule, nationally televised games, what preseason actually means for rosters, and when you need to tune in.

The Hall of Fame Game: August 6, 2026

The first live NFL game action of 2026 happens on Thursday, August 6, when the Carolina Panthers face the Arizona Cardinals at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Kickoff is at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

This game is technically separate from the three-week preseason schedule — it is Week 0, played two weeks before anyone else. The Panthers and Cardinals each earned this slot, which means they play four preseason games total instead of the standard three. That gives both coaching staffs extra time to evaluate their rosters before the final 90-to-53 player cutdown.

The Hall of Fame Game also coincides with the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies held that same week in Canton. For football fans, it is as close to a holiday as July gives you.

Full 2026 NFL Preseason Schedule

The three-week preseason runs August 13 through August 29, with all 32 teams playing three exhibition games.

Preseason Week 1 — August 13 to 15

Thursday, August 13

• Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals — 7:00 p.m. ET
• Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers — 7:00 p.m. ET
• Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots — 7:30 p.m. ET
• L.A. Chargers at Houston Texans — 8:00 p.m. ET
• Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders — 8:00 p.m. ET
• Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers — 9:00 p.m. ET

Friday, August 14

• Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons — 7:00 p.m. ET
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets — 7:00 p.m. ET
• Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders — 7:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 15

• Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills — 1:00 p.m. ET
• Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears — 1:00 p.m. ET
• Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants — 1:00 p.m. ET
• L.A. Rams at Kansas City Chiefs — 4:00 p.m. ET
• Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints — 4:00 p.m. ET
• Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens — 7:00 p.m. ET
• Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks — 8:00 p.m. ET

Preseason Week 2 — August 20 to 23

Thursday, August 20

• Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans — 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• San Francisco 49ers at L.A. Chargers — 10:00 p.m. ET

Friday, August 21

• New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers — 7:00 p.m. ET
• Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars — 7:30 p.m. ET
• Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos — 9:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23 Remaining Week 2 matchups including Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans on August 23 on FOX.

Preseason Week 3 — August 27 to 29

The final preseason week runs August 27 to 29, concluding the exhibition schedule. Key nationally televised games include:

• New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns (August 27, Prime Video)
• Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles (August 28, CBS)

See also: How to Watch NFL Games for Free in 2026 (Legal Methods)

5 Nationally Televised Preseason Games to Watch

Five preseason games carry national broadcast coverage in 2026 beyond the Hall of Fame Game:

1. Hall of Fame Game — Panthers vs. Cardinals, August 6, NBC/Peacock
2. Las Vegas at Houston — August 20, ESPN
3. Seattle at Tennessee — August 23, FOX
4. New England at Cleveland — August 27, Prime Video
5. Cincinnati at Philadelphia — August 28, CBS

Every other preseason game airs on local and regional television stations in each team’s home market.

What Coaches Are Actually Looking For

Here is the thing about the preseason that casual fans sometimes miss: the starters do not play much. For most Week 1 preseason games, the starting quarterback and first-team offense might play one or two series — sometimes none at all if a coach wants to protect them from injury.

The preseason is primarily about three groups of players:

Rookies earning starting jobs. The 2026 draft class hits the field here for real. Quarterbacks like Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, get their first snaps of live professional football. How they move in the pocket, read defenses, and respond to NFL speed tells a coaching staff more than any practice ever can.

Veterans fighting for roster spots. Roughly 37 players get cut from every roster between now and August 30. Those players — practice squad candidates, late-round picks, undrafted free agents — are playing for their professional lives in preseason games. These are often the most competitive players on the field.

Scheme installation. New head coaches use the preseason to install their systems. Ten NFL teams are entering 2026 with new head coaches, including Buffalo (Joe Brady), Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Miami, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Las Vegas, and the Giants. The preseason is when those installations get live reps.

See also: 2026-2027 NFL Schedule

The Roster Cutdown Deadline: August 30

Every team enters training camp with 90 players. Every team must reduce that roster to 53 players by 6:00 p.m. ET on August 30 — one day after the final preseason game.

This year’s cutdown falls slightly earlier than some fans are used to because the 2026 regular season opens on a Wednesday (September 9) rather than the traditional Thursday night. Teams have less runway between the last preseason snap and the first regular season snap, which puts extra urgency on roster decisions.

After the cutdown, teams can sign up to 16 players to their practice squad — an expanded roster that allows players to practice with the team and be called up to the active roster during the regular season if needed.

When Does the Real Season Start?

The 2026 NFL regular season opens on Wednesday, September 9, when the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field in a Super Bowl LX rematch. Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

From there, the season runs 18 weeks, with the playoffs beginning in January 2027 and Super Bowl LXI scheduled for February 2027.

How to Watch Preseason Games

Most preseason games air on local television stations — your team’s regional broadcast. For nationally televised games, here is where to find them:

• NBC/Peacock — Hall of Fame Game (August 6)
• ESPN/ESPN App — Las Vegas at Houston (August 20)
• FOX/Fox Sports App — Seattle at Tennessee (August 23)
• Amazon Prime Video — New England at Cleveland (August 27)
• CBS/Paramount+ — Cincinnati at Philadelphia (August 28)

For out-of-market games not airing on national television, NFL+ ($7.99/month) streams local market preseason games on mobile and tablet devices. It does not carry every game, but it covers the majority of non-national broadcasts.