NFL 2026 Schedule: What UK Fans Need to Know
The full 2026 NFL schedule dropped on 14 May, and there's plenty to get excited about if you're watching from the UK. Three London games, a Wednesday night opener, and a handful of matches worth setting an alarm for. Here's everything that matters.
The Season Opener: Wednesday Night, Very Late
For the first time since 2012, the NFL season kicks off on a Wednesday night. The Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots on Wednesday 9 September, with kick-off at 8:20pm ET — that's 01:20 BST on Thursday morning for UK fans.
It's a Super Bowl rematch. Seattle beat New England 29–13 in Super Bowl LX back in February, and the Patriots get first crack at revenge on opening night. Worth staying up for? Absolutely — if you can handle the Thursday morning consequences.
The London Games: Three Consecutive Sundays in October
This is the big one. Three games. Three consecutive Sundays. All in London.
| Date | Match | Venue | Kick-off (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 4 Oct | Colts vs Commanders | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | 14:30 |
| Sun 11 Oct | Eagles vs Jaguars | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | 14:30 |
| Sun 18 Oct | Jaguars vs Texans | Wembley Stadium | TBC |
The standout game is Eagles vs Jaguars on 11 October. Philadelphia are genuine Super Bowl contenders and one of the most exciting rosters in the league. Trevor Lawrence against a hungry Eagles defence at Tottenham — that's a special afternoon.
The Jaguars play back-to-back London games on consecutive Sundays — the first time in NFL history a team has done that as the home side. London is genuinely their second home at this point, and the atmosphere at both grounds will be electric.
Tickets for the Tottenham games are on sale now. An American Express presale runs until 2 June — grab tickets at NFL.com.
Early Games: The UK Fan's Best Friend
The London games kick off at 14:30 BST — the earliest you'll ever see NFL action in the UK. Standard early window games on a regular Sunday kick off at 18:00 BST, which is perfectly watchable without any lifestyle sacrifice.
If you're new to watching NFL in the UK, start with the early window. Games that kick off at 21:25 or later on a Sunday night are a commitment — brilliant if you're invested, brutal on Monday morning if you're not.
Games Worth Staying Up For
A few matchups from the schedule worth the late finish:
Seahawks vs Patriots — Week 1 opener. Super Bowl LX rematch on a Wednesday night. The buzz around this one will be enormous and it sets the tone for the entire season.
Ravens vs Cowboys — Week 3, Rio de Janeiro. One of the most marketable matchups in the NFL, playing in South America for the very first time. A genuinely historic occasion.
49ers vs Rams — Week 1, Melbourne. Kicks off at 8:35pm ET on Thursday — that's 01:35 BST Friday morning. Matthew Stafford, Brock Purdy, and a stadium 10,000 miles from home. Only for the truly dedicated.
How to Watch NFL in the UK in 2026
- Free: Channel 5 shows one game per week throughout the season — no subscription needed
- Sky Sports NFL: Full Sunday coverage including RedZone
- DAZN / NFL Game Pass: Live and on-demand access to every single game — the best option if you want to watch everything or catch up at a sensible hour
- NFL Network: International games and primetime coverage
If you want to watch every game live, DAZN NFL Game Pass is the only way to do it in the UK.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 season has everything. A blockbuster Wednesday opener, three London games across three consecutive weekends, and an 18-week schedule running all the way through to January.
If you're going to one London game, make it Eagles vs Jaguars on 11 October. If you can only watch one game from the sofa to start the season, set an alarm for Wednesday 9 September — even if you regret it Thursday morning.
Season starts 9 September 2026. London Games: 4, 11 and 18 October 2026.