2026 NFL Preseason Schedule: Complete Dates, TV Channels, How to Watch, Streaming

Football is almost back. The NFL preseason gives fans their first live look at rosters before the games start to count, and it gives teams a chance to evaluate depth charts ahead of the regular season. Here is everything to know about the 2026 NFL preseason schedule, including dates, times and TV channels (all times Eastern).

The 2026 NFL preseason opens with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 8 p.m. ET. The Carolina Panthers face the Arizona Cardinals at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, with the broadcast airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Because of their trip to Canton, the Panthers and Cardinals will each play four preseason games this summer instead of the usual three.

Thursday, Aug. 6

Preseason Week 1 runs Thursday, Aug. 13 through Saturday, Aug. 15, with all 32 teams in action. Week 1 has no games on a national broadcast network, although NFL Network will carry six games nationally on cable.

Preseason Week 2 runs Thursday, Aug. 20 through Sunday, Aug. 23, and includes two nationally televised games:

The rest of the Week 2 slate airs on local affiliates and NFL Network, with additional games streaming for out-of-market fans.

Preseason Week 3 runs Thursday, Aug. 27 through Saturday, Aug. 29 and closes out the preseason before rosters are trimmed. National windows include:

As in previous years, most teams play three preseason games total (four for the Panthers and Cardinals). Playing time for starters varies by team, with some clubs resting key players and others using the finale as a final tune-up.

Here is the complete 2026 NFL preseason schedule. Games not selected for a national television window will air on local team affiliates. NFL+ offers live national and