If you share a home with someone whose year revolves around football, you likely know that the 2026 NFL season is coming up quickly, kicking off just one week from today. And the college football season already kicked off on Saturday, Aug 29.
But this year, the NFL season will begin on a Wednesday night instead of a Thursday night. This will mark the first time the NFL Kickoff Game falls on a Wednesday since 2012.
Here’s when the 2026 NFL season starts, a list of dates for each Florida team’s first game and why the first NFL game will be on a Wednesday this year.
When does the 2026 football season start?
The first day of college football is usually the Saturday before Labor Day. It often falls in
August but can fall in September. This year, the 2026 college football season kicked off on Saturday, Aug. 29, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.
The NFL Kickoff Game, which is the first game of the regular season, usually falls on the Thursday following Labor Day, which is in September. This year, the first regular season NFL game falls on the Wednesday after Labor Day.
When does the 2026 NFL season start? NFL Kickoff Game on a Wednesday this year
This year will mark the first time since 2012 that the NFL Kickoff Game will be held on a Wednesday night instead of a Thursday night. In 2012, the first game of the regular season was moved up a day to avoid airing at the same time as former president Barrack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The 2026 NFL regular season starts on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the home of reigning Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
The New England Patriots will hit the road to play the Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.
Why is NFL Opening Night on a Wednesday?
The first game of the regular season was pushed up to Wednesday, Sept. 9, due to a scheduling conflict with another game.
The first-ever regular-season NFL game to be played in Australia will be held on Friday, Sept. 11, and due to the time zone difference, it will air in the U.S. on Thursday, Sept. 10.
"The NFL's first-ever regular season game in Australia will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday 11 September 2026, with the Los Angeles Rams taking on the San Francisco 49ers," the NFL's website says.
In the U.S., the kickoff for that game will be at 8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 10. In Australia, where the game is being played, kickoff will be at 10:35 a.m. AEST on Friday, Sept. 11.
How long does football season last?
The regular NFL season lasts 18 weeks and concludes in January, followed by playoff games which lead to the Super Bowl in February.
The regular college football season is a little shorter, lasting 14 weeks and concluding with championship games in December.
First Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Bucs games of 2026
All three of Florida's NFL teams will have their first games on the first Sunday of the regular season, with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers both kicking off at 1 p.m. ET.
Here are the first regular-season games of 2026 for Florida’s NFL teams:
- Miami Dolphins v. Las Vegas Raiders:
- Sunday, Sept. 13 | at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada | airing on FOX | kickoff at 4:25 pm. ET
- Jacksonville Jaguars v. Cleveland Browns:
- Sunday, Sept. 13 | at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida | airing on CBS | kickoff at 1 p.m. ET
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers v. Cincinnati Bengals:
- Sunday, Sept. 13 | at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio | airing on FOX | kickoff at 1 p.m. ET
First Gators, Seminoles football games of 2026
The first Florida State Seminoles game of the 2026 season was held at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday, Aug. 29. FSU beat New Mexico State with a final score of 34-17.
The first Florida Gators game of the 2026 season will be this Saturday, Sept. 5, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, and air on the SEC Network. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. ET. The Gators will face Florida Atlantic.
To see the full Week 1 schedule for the NCAA 2026 football season, including other Florida teams like UCF and USF, visit ESPN's web page with the week-by-week game schedule.
Lianna Norman is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, lotteries, rocket launches, Florida wildlife, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: When does the NFL season start? First game is on a Wednesday this year
