Mark your calendars, football fans—the NFL has officially set the date for the 2026 regular-season schedule release. After weeks of whispers that the annual unveiling might slip beyond its usual mid-May window, the league confirmed on Friday that the full 18-week, 272-game slate will be revealed on Thursday, May 14.

The primetime broadcast event will also include preseason matchups, giving us our first real look at the road ahead. This year's announcement comes with a twist: the league had sparked some suspense by hinting that the release could push into the third week of May, as NFL vice president of broadcast planning Mike North noted the need to finalize media packages and international-game logistics. But now, the countdown is officially on.

Before the big reveal, we'll get a sneak peek at the nine international games, which will be announced on Wednesday, May 13. That's a shift from the previous two years, when the full schedule dropped on Wednesdays, after the league favored Thursdays from 2020 to 2023. Expect the schedule release show to kick off around 8 p.m., though the league hasn't locked in a specific time just yet.

As tradition holds, the NFL will keep most details under wraps until the main event, but select games—like opening night, holiday matchups, and streaming exclusives—are likely to trickle out in the days before. And, of course, leaks will start surfacing hours ahead of the official show. For now, a few key pieces are already in place: the Seattle Seahawks will host the Kickoff Game on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and the Los Angeles Rams are set to face the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, adding some international flair to the season.

With home and away opponents already determined since the end of the 2025 regular season, this is the perfect time to start planning your game-day wardrobe. Whether you're gearing up for a trip to Melbourne or just counting down to kickoff, stay tuned for all the schedule details—and get ready to rep your team in style.