When does the NFL season start? First game is on a Wednesday this year

The 2026 NFL season begins Wednesday, Sept. 9, with the league’s Kickoff Game falling on a Wednesday night for the first time since 2012. That date follows the college football season start on Saturday, Aug. 29, in Dublin, Ireland. The regular season will run for 18 weeks and culminate in January playoffs, leading to the Super Bowl in February. The opening game Sept. 9 features the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks at home, where the New England Patriots visit for an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff. The NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia is set for Sept. 11 in Melbourne.