The 2026 National Football League campaign kicks off with a marquee showdown that pits the reigning champions, the Seattle Seahawks, against the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch scheduled for Wednesday night. This high‑profile clash opens the season and sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting year of football across the United States and for fans watching abroad. In addition to the headline game that will air in the early hours of Thursday morning, Sky Sports has laid out an extensive slate of seven additional live fixtures for Week One, and it has also revealed the schedule for the live Week Two matchups.
The first exclusive primetime offering on Sky Sports NFL comes on Sunday at 6 p.m. when the Buffalo Bills travel to face the Houston Texans. That game marks the league’s inaugural Sunday night kickoff and will be followed later in the evening by the divisional rivalry between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles, slated for a 9:25 p.m. start on the same channel.
Three further contests will be available on Sky Sports +, all taking place on Sunday evening. The NFC East rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants will serve as the network’s Sunday night feature, while the Denver Broncos head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in a Monday‑night showdown.
The schedule continues with a host of additional games spread across the week, each broadcast on one of Sky’s dedicated NFL platforms. Here is the full lineup of live broadcasts for the opening week: - New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks – 1:20 a.m. Thursday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans – 6:00 p.m. Sunday (live on Sky Sports NFL) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday (live on Sky Sports +) - Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles – 9:25 p.m. Sunday (live on Sky Sports NFL) - Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings – 9:25 p.m. Sunday (live on Sky Sports +) - Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders – 9:25 p.m.
Sunday (live on Sky Sports + via streaming) - Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants – 1:20 a.m. Monday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs – 1:15 a.m.
Tuesday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills – 1:15 a.m. Friday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears – 6:00 p.m. Friday (live on Sky Sports NFL) - Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots – 6:00 p.m.
Friday (live on Sky Sports Football) - Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos – 9:05 p.m. Friday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys – 9:25 p.m. Friday (live on Sky Sports Football) - Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals – 9:25 p.m. Friday (live on Sky Sports + via streaming) - Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs – 1:20 a.m.
Monday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - New York Giants @ Los Angeles Rams – 1:15 a.m. Tuesday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) Sky Sports reaffirms its position as the premier broadcaster of American football in the United Kingdom and Ireland, delivering more than half of the league’s games live throughout the season. The coverage package includes the traditional Sunday evening double‑headers, prime‑time Thursday and Sunday night games, NFL Redzone, the International Series fixtures, Thanksgiving Day classics, the playoff series, and ultimately Super Bowl LXI. Fans can expect to see the best matchups each week, with Sky retaining the first‑pick exclusive slot for the 6 p.m.
Sunday game on Sky Sports NFL and the coveted 9 p.m. Sunday slot. In addition, a second 6 p.m.
game and up to two additional 9 p.m. contests will be broadcast simultaneously across Sky’s suite of channels, providing viewers with a wealth of viewing options. For the 2026 season, Sky Sports is expanding its on‑the‑ground production capabilities in the United States.
The network will increase its presence at stadiums, offering richer storytelling, more in‑depth reporting, and a closer connection to the action for UK audiences. The regular Sunday presenting team will be led by Neil Reynolds, Phoebe Schecter, and Jason Bell, while former NFL star Ndamukong Suh and broadcaster Bridget Condon will front Sky’s live US‑based coverage.
The dedicated Sky Sports NFL channel will continue to serve as the 24‑hour hub for all things NFL in the UK and Ireland, from the regular season through to the climactic Super Bowl LXI, which is scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, 14 February 2027. Viewers are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most reliable video player experience. Whether you subscribe to Sky Sports directly or prefer to stream contract‑free via NOW, you can catch every minute of the 2026 NFL season, including the playoffs and the championship game, live on Sky’s platforms.