NFL 2026 schedule set for Wednesday opener to accommodate Melbourne international
The Seattle Seahawks will host the New England Patriots on 9 September, a scheduling decision designed to allow the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers to play the first regular-season game in Australia the following day.
The National Football League has officially released its full 2026 regular-season schedule, confirming a 272-game calendar that begins with a unique Wednesday night fixture. The season opener will see the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field on 9 September 2026, marking a rematch of Super Bowl LX. This marks the first time since 2016 that the regular-season opener features a repeat of the previous year’s Super Bowl matchup.
The decision to start the season on a Wednesday was made to accommodate the league’s expanding international footprint. The Los Angeles Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers in the first regular-season NFL game in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, 10 September. This contest is part of a record nine international games scheduled for the 2026 season, which were announced by the league on Wednesday.
Historical data suggests a strong track record for defending champions in the season opener. Since 2004, 21 defending champions have played in the opening game, posting a 16-5 record. The Seahawks will be looking to extend this trend against the Patriots, who they defeated to win Super Bowl LX seven months prior. This will be the 12th Super Bowl rematch in the following season and the fourth consecutive year to feature one, with defending champions holding an 8-3 record in these specific matchups.
The 2026 schedule includes several notable player movements and marquee fixtures. Seahawks Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, who joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent, will return to Seattle for a Sunday Night Football matchup on 25 October. Additionally, Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in the recent NFL draft, could make his debut in Week 1 against Miami on 13 September.
The regular season is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, 10 January 2027. The campaign will culminate with Super Bowl LXI, set for 14 February at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Other significant early-season games include the first Sunday Night Football matchup between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys on 13 September, and the first Monday Night Football game between the Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs on 14 September.
