When is the NFL schedule release 2026? Why the announcement could be delayed

The NFL schedule release has become one of the league’s biggest offseason events. But the league still hasn't hasn’t officially announced when the full 2026 regular-season schedule will be revealed. League executives said the release could arrive later than usual this year as the NFL continues working through media-rights negotiations and an unfinished broadcast package.

The NFL traditionally unveils the complete 18-week, 272-game regular-season schedule in the second week of May. That remains possible this year, but the third week of May is also a possibility. Here’s what we know about the 2026 NFL schedule release.

Has the NFL announced the 2026 schedule release date? No. The NFL has not officially announced the date for the 2026 schedule release.

In recent years, the league revealed the schedule during the second week of May, typically on a Wednesday or Thursday night. Last season, the NFL used the 2025 draft stage to announce the release date about three weeks in advance. NFL vice president of broadcast planning Mike North on said that the league is still targeting mid-May but acknowledged the release could slide back by a week.