One of the most exciting days on the NFL calendar is almost here, and for Cowboys fans, the wait is nearly over. The league has officially announced that the full 2026 season schedule will be released on Thursday, May 14, at 8:00 p.m. ET. You'll be able to catch all the action live on NFL Network, ESPN2, and NFL+—a tradition that has turned schedule release night into a must-watch television event.

While we've known for months who the Cowboys will face and where those games will take place, the all-important "when" has remained a mystery. Now, we're just days away from filling in the blanks for all 17 games of the upcoming campaign. And there's already one date circled on the calendar: the Cowboys will travel to Rio de Janeiro for a Week 3 showdown against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Sept. 27. It will mark the first NFL game ever played in that city, adding a historic layer to an already intriguing matchup.

Of course, Cowboys fans can expect a few familiar traditions. The team will almost certainly host its beloved Thanksgiving Day game in the late-afternoon slot, and a handful of nationally televised primetime showcases are likely sprinkled throughout the fall. But until Thursday, the full picture remains under wraps.

Leading up to the big reveal, expect a few details to trickle out. The league will unveil the full slate of international matchups on Wednesday morning, and key games are likely to be announced by various networks ahead of Thursday's grand unveiling. It's all part of the buildup that makes schedule release week feel like the unofficial start of football season.

For the Cowboys, the road ahead looks challenging. According to win-projection totals from Sharp Football Analysis, Dallas already has the fourth-toughest strength of schedule in the NFL for 2026. The specifics of their travel schedule—whether they face back-to-back road games or have to navigate long hauls—could make that path even steeper. But for now, all eyes are on Thursday night, when Cowboys Nation will finally know exactly what lies ahead.