If you are searching for the Cincinnati Bengals Football Schedule 2026, you have landed in exactly the right place. Whether you want to plan your Sundays around Paycor Stadium kickoffs, track road trips across the AFC North, or simply print a clean copy to stick on your fridge, this guide covers everything you need. The 2026 Bengals schedule is loaded with big matchups, a historic international game, primetime showdowns, and a brutal late-season stretch that could decide playoff seeding.
Cincinnati Bengals 2026 Schedule: Complete Game-by-Game Breakdown
| Date | VS / AT | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 13 (Thu) — Preseason | vs Detroit Lions | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Aug. 22 (Sat) — Preseason | vs Chicago Bears | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Aug. 28 (Fri) — Preseason | at Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA |
| Sep. 13 (Sun) | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Sep. 20 (Sun) | at Houston Texans | NRG Stadium, Houston, TX |
| Sep. 27 (Sun) | at Pittsburgh Steelers | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Oct. 4 (Sun) | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Oct. 11 (Sun) | at Miami Dolphins | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL |
| Oct. 18 (Sun) — BYE WEEK | BYE | — |
| Oct. 25 (Sun) | at Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD |
| Nov. 1 (Sun) | vs Tennessee Titans | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Nov. 8 (Sun) — NFL International Game | at Atlanta Falcons | Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain |
| Nov. 15 (Sun) — Sunday Night Football | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Nov. 23 (Mon) — Monday Night Football | at Washington Commanders | Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD |
| Nov. 29 (Sun) | vs New Orleans Saints | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Dec. 6 (Sun) | at Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH |
| Dec. 13 (Sun) | vs Kansas City Chiefs | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Dec. 20 (Sun) | at Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC |
| Dec. 27 (Sun) | at Indianapolis Colts | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN |
| Dec. 31 (Thu) — Thursday Night Football | vs Baltimore Ravens | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Jan. 10 (Sun) | vs Cleveland Browns | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
Preseason (August)
The Bengals kick off their 2026 preseason at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on August 13 (Thursday) against the Detroit Lions. It is a home opener for the starters to get their first live reps before the real games begin. One week later, on August 22 (Saturday), Cincinnati hosts the Chicago Bears for their second preseason tune-up, again at Paycor Stadium. The preseason wraps up on the road on August 28 (Friday) at the Philadelphia Eagles in Lincoln Financial Field — a good stress test against an NFC East team before the regular season arrives.
Three preseason games. No wasted time. The Bengals get two home looks and one road test before September.
Regular Season Begins: September
The 2026 Bengals regular season opens on September 13 (Sunday) with a home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium. It is a strong NFC matchup to open the year at home and gives Cincinnati a chance to set the tone in front of their own crowd early.
From there, the Bengals hit the road for two straight weeks. September 20 (Sunday) brings a trip to NRG Stadium in Houston to face the Texans, followed by the first AFC North test of the year on September 27 (Sunday) at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh to face the rival Steelers. That early Pittsburgh road game is one fans will mark immediately — division games on the road never get easier, and starting the rivalry slate away from home adds pressure to the opening stretch.
Back at Paycor Stadium on October 4 (Sunday), Cincinnati hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars before hitting the road again on October 11 (Sunday) at the Miami Dolphins in Hard Rock Stadium. Five weeks in, and the Bengals will have already played home, away, NFC, and AFC opponents. The schedule wastes no time testing depth and adaptability.
Bye Week and Mid-Season Run
October 18 (Sunday) is the BYE WEEK — Week 6 off for rest and recovery right in the middle of a demanding first half of the year. The timing is well-placed. Cincinnati gets a break before a stretch of games that require maximum focus.
After the bye, October 25 (Sunday) brings a road trip to Baltimore to face the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium — arguably one of the toughest away environments in the AFC. Then on November 1 (Sunday), Cincinnati returns home to host the Tennessee Titans at Paycor Stadium for a game they will want to win before an extraordinary week that follows.
The Madrid Game: A Bengals Moment for the History Books
November 8 (Sunday) is unlike any date on the Cincinnati Bengals schedule in recent memory. The Bengals play the Atlanta Falcons at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain as part of the NFL International Series. This is the Bengals’ first international game in seven years, and it is listed prominently on the official schedule page. For any fan thinking about the full 2026 Bengals experience — this is the single most unique game on the board.
Primetime Games and the November-December Grind
After returning from Madrid, the Bengals host Pittsburgh for a Sunday Night Football showdown on November 15 (Sunday) at Paycor Stadium. That game has rivalry written all over it — two AFC North heavyweights in a national prime time window just one week after an international trip.
On November 23 (Monday), Cincinnati heads to Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland to face the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football. Two straight primetime games. Two straight highly-watched matchups that will shape how the football world views this Bengals team.
November 29 (Sunday) brings the New Orleans Saints to Paycor Stadium before the schedule turns into an almost relentless closing stretch:
- December 6 (Sunday): at Cleveland Browns — Cleveland Browns Stadium
- December 13 (Sunday): vs Kansas City Chiefs — Paycor Stadium
- December 20 (Sunday): at Carolina Panthers — Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
- December 27 (Sunday): at Indianapolis Colts — Lucas Oil Stadium
- December 31 (Thursday): vs Baltimore Ravens — Paycor Stadium (Thursday Night Football)
- January 10 (Sunday): vs Cleveland Browns — Paycor Stadium (Week 18)
The Kansas City Chiefs home game on December 13 is one of the biggest regular-season matchups on the full slate. And closing the year with Baltimore on Thursday Night Football on New Year’s Eve at home? That is the kind of scheduling moment that creates memories.
Why the 2026 Bengals Schedule Is One to Watch All Season
This schedule has genuine balance and genuine teeth. The Bengals play all three AFC North opponents — Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Cleveland twice each, and mixed division opponents throughout — which means the conference standings will be settled the hard way. There is no soft section hiding in the middle of this calendar.
The international game in Madrid adds a travel and preparation challenge that most teams do not face. The back-to-back primetime games in November test mental stamina after a long overseas trip. The late-season stretch includes Kansas City, Baltimore, and a Week 18 home closer against Cleveland that may carry serious playoff implications.
For fans planning watch parties, road trip weekends, or stadium visits, every single one of these dates is worth bookmarking now. The schedule has the structure of a team expected to compete deep into January.
How to Get the Cincinnati Bengals 2026 Printable PDF Schedule
For the most accurate and up-to-date printable PDF version of the Cincinnati Bengals 2026 football schedule, go directly to the official team page: Printable PDF Schedule
That page includes:
- A Printable Schedule option for a clean, ready-to-print version
- An Add to Calendar feature to sync every game to your phone or desktop calendar
- An Open in the App link for easy mobile access
- Game-by-game details, including time, location, and broadcast info
Always use the official page rather than third-party screenshots or outdated copies. Some late-season games — including details around Week 17 and Week 18 — are still listed as TBD on the official page, so checking back ensures you are working from the most current printable PDF available.
See also: Cleveland Browns Schedule 2026: Printable PDF
Conclusion
The Cincinnati Bengals Football Schedule 2026 gives fans a season packed with storylines from the first preseason snap in August through a potential playoff-deciding Week 18 finish in January. There is a home opener, back-to-back primetime games, an international showcase in Madrid, and three AFC North opponents spread across a schedule that leaves little room for error.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Bengals 2026 regular season start?
Cincinnati opens the 2026 regular season on Sunday, September 13, at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Do the Bengals have a bye week in 2026?
Yes. The Bengals have a Week 6 bye.
Is there an international game on the Bengals 2026 schedule?
Yes. The Bengals play the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, Spain on November 8, 2026, at Bernabéu Stadium as part of the NFL International Series. It is the Bengals’ first international game in seven years and one of the most-discussed dates on the entire 2026 NFL calendar.