The NFL schedule release is one of the most anticipated moments of the offseason, and for Green Bay Packers fans, the wait for the 2026 slate is testing their patience. While we don't have an exact date yet, here's everything we know—and don't know—about the Packers' upcoming season.
The league typically drops its full schedule in mid-May, with last year's release landing on May 14. However, ongoing media-rights negotiations could push things back by a week or so. NFL vice president of broadcast planning Mike North recently hinted on the "It's Always Game Day in Buffalo" podcast that while mid-May remains the target, a later release isn't out of the question. "Is there any magic to May 12, 13, 14? No. Is there any real downside to May 19, 20, or 21? No," North said. "I don't think it's coming out in June, but that second week in May has been our target the last few years. I don't know that it's impossible to think about that third week in May."
The holdup? A five-game media package still being sorted out separately from the NFL's primary TV deals, with YouTube, Netflix, and Fox all in the mix. Until those games have a home, the schedule can't be finalized. Add in a record nine international games, and it's easy to see why the league is taking its time.
If history is any guide, the release will likely fall on a Wednesday—the NFL's preferred day for the past two years after a four-year run of Thursdays. If not May 13, then May 20 looks like the next logical date.
What we do know? The Packers' opponents are set. Green Bay will host the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, and Houston Texans at Lambeau Field. On the road, they'll face the Bears, Lions, Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Los Angeles Rams.
Of course, the two showdowns with the Bears are already circled on every fan's calendar—especially after Chicago stunned the Packers in the postseason last year. But until the official schedule drops, we're left waiting, watching, and getting our gear ready for another unforgettable season of Packers football.