The 2026 NFL preseason begins with the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals meeting in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. After the Canton opener, all 32 teams will take part in three full preseason weeks before final roster decisions are made.
Most NFL teams will play three preseason games. Carolina and Arizona will each play four because they were selected for the Hall of Fame Game.
All kickoff times below are listed in Eastern Time.
2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game
| Date | Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, August 6 | Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals | 8:00 p.m. ET |
The Hall of Fame Game will be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. It serves as the traditional opening event of the NFL preseason.
NFL Preseason Week 1 Schedule
Thursday, August 13
| Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers | 9:00 p.m. ET |
Friday, August 14
| Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons | 7:00 p.m. ET |
Saturday, August 15
| Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| Los Angeles Rams at Kansas City Chiefs | 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 |
Week 1 gives teams their first extended opportunity to evaluate rookies, backup quarterbacks and players competing for roster spots. Established starters may play limited snaps or sit out completely.
NFL Preseason Week 2 Schedule
Thursday, August 20
| Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers | 10:00 p.m. ET |
Friday, August 21
| Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|
| 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
| Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| New York Giants at Miami Dolphins | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals | 10:00 p.m. ET |
Sunday, August 23
| Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans | 8:00 p.m. ET |
The second preseason week often provides the clearest look at a team’s projected regular-season lineup. Some coaches may give starters more playing time, while others will continue prioritizing roster evaluation.
NFL Preseason Week 3 Schedule
Thursday, August 27
| Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers | 10:00 p.m. ET |
Friday, August 28
| Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Washington Commanders at Baltimore Ravens | 6:00 p.m. ET |
| Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| New York Giants at New York Jets | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos | 9:00 p.m. ET |
Saturday, August 29
| Matchup | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| Chicago Bears at Tennessee Titans | 6:00 p.m. ET |
The final preseason week is especially important for players competing for backup positions, special-teams roles and practice-squad opportunities. Teams will use these games to complete their evaluations before making final roster cuts.
What to Watch During the 2026 NFL Preseason
Preseason results do not count toward the regular-season standings, but individual performances can have a major effect on roster decisions. Rookie quarterbacks, new coaches, reserve offensive linemen and young defensive players will be among the main storylines throughout August.
The preseason also gives teams an opportunity to test new offensive and defensive systems under game conditions. Coaches can evaluate communication, substitutions, special-teams execution and overall roster depth before the regular season begins.
The 2026 NFL preseason concludes on Saturday, August 29. Teams will then finalize their regular-season rosters and turn their attention toward Week 1.
Nevaeh Ruben has led editorial strategy and sourcing standards at bullardcharger.com . He oversees all sports tournament guides, analysis and data verification across every major sport. Every figure on this site is published to the standards he established.