For NFL fans, the arrival of May usually signals one thing: the schedule release is just around the corner. But this year, the excitement is tempered by a bit of uncertainty. While the league is eyeing a window between May 12 and 14 for the 2026 schedule drop, nothing is official just yet.

In a recent interview before the draft, Mike North, the NFL's vice president of broadcast planning, revealed that ongoing broadcast negotiations could push the announcement to the third week of May. "Most fans know full well that the schedule comes out in mid-May now," North said on the "It's Always Game Day in Buffalo" podcast. "Is there any magic to May 12, 13, 14? No. Is there any real downside to [May] 19, 20 or 21? No."

This isn't the first time the league has adjusted its timeline. The schedule used to drop in April, but the pandemic shifted it to May in 2020, and it's stayed there ever since. Typically, it lands on the second Wednesday or Thursday of the month. However, the latest release on record came on May 15, 2024, so a slight delay wouldn't be unprecedented. North added, "I don't think it's coming out in June, but that second week in May has been our target."

Last year, fans got nearly three weeks' notice when the release date was announced during the first night of the draft. This year, however, the league only teased the schedule during the draft without locking in a specific date. That leaves fans and teams alike in a holding pattern, eagerly awaiting the matchups that will define the upcoming season.

For now, mark your calendars for mid-May, but keep an eye out for updates. Whether it's the second or third week, one thing's for sure: the 2026 NFL schedule is coming soon, and when it does, it'll be time to start planning your game-day gear and travel.