NFL confirms Giants versus Cowboys as 2026 Sunday Night Football opener
Kickoff is set for 13 September at MetLife Stadium, with broadcasts scheduled across NBC, Peacock, and NFL+.
The National Football League has officially confirmed that the New York Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys for the opening Sunday Night Football game of the 2026 season. This high-profile fixture represents the league's commitment to launching the new campaign with a traditional domestic matchup before the full schedule is unveiled later in the month.
The match is scheduled to take place on 13 September at 8:20 p.m. EDT at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Broadcast rights for this specific opener have been assigned to NBC, Peacock, and NFL+, ensuring coverage across linear television and digital platforms for the initial kick-off of the 2026-27 campaign.
While the primary focus remains on the domestic opener, the announcement also highlights the league's continued expansion of its international footprint. The 2026 season will see games played in Melbourne, Australia, and Rio de Janeiro, alongside the traditional US venues. The full schedule for the 2026-27 campaign is expected to be released on Thursday at 8 p.m. via NFL Network, ESPN2, the ESPN app, and NFL+.
Additional international fixtures have already been confirmed, including a matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and an opponent in Seattle on 9 September. The Los Angeles Rams are set to play the San Francisco 49ers on 10 September in Melbourne, Australia, with that game airing on NBC and Netflix. Furthermore, the Dallas Cowboys have a specific international date locked in, facing the Baltimore Ravens on 27 September in Rio de Janeiro, which will be broadcast on CBS.
Historical context adds weight to the upcoming Giants versus Cowboys contest. The Cowboys currently lead the all-time series 78-48-2, a record dating back to 1960. Despite this long-standing statistical advantage, the Giants recently snapped a nine-game losing streak to their division rivals in their final 2025-26 season matchup, providing a fresh narrative for the new campaign.
