When is 2026 National Football schedule release?
While NFL fans already know their favorite team's opponents for the 2026 season, the upcoming schedule release will firm up dates and times.
As the National Football League offseason rolls on, the next major event for fans to look forward to is the schedule release. While the exact date and time for this year's schedule release are not yet known, it is anticipated that it will be either Wednesday, May 13, or Thursday, May 14. Last year, the schedule was released on May 14, in 2024, it was May 15 and in 2023, it was May 11.
One of the most exciting parts of each year's schedule release is the creative spin that each team on the event. Last year, the Cincinnati Bengals made a documentary-style video with behind-the-scenes clips reminiscent of a post-credit scene in a movie. Who are the Cincinnati Bengals 2026 opponents?
The first piece of the Bengals' 2026 schedule puzzle is that they will play the Baltimore Ravens , Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers at home and on the road, just as they have done since the formation of the AFC North in 2002. This year, each team from the AFC North will play each team from the AFC South and NFC South. The Bengals will have home games against the Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC), Tennessee Titans (AFC), New Orleans Saints (NFC) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC).
They will play the Houston Texans (AFC), Indianapolis Colts (AFC), Atlanta Falcons (NFC) and Carolina Panthers (NFC) on the road. Since the Bengals finished in third place in the AFC North in 2025, they will play three teams that also finished in third place in their division. Cincinnati will host the Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West) and travel to play the Miami Dolphins (AFC East) and Washington Commanders (NFC East).