The wait is finally over, and it’s officially game week as the 2026 NFL season gets underway. The Chicago Bears are looking to build on their success following the 2025 season, where they won the NFC North and earned a playoff win in the first year under head coach Ben Johnson.
The Bears will battle the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium, which will mark the first official battle between former No. 1 picks Caleb Williams and Bryce Young. It will also be a competition between two reigning division champions looking to start the year off strong.
After opening the season at home for four straight years, the Bears will kick things off on the road. Chicago has won just three of the last 10 season openers, which isn't too encouraging. But
with Johnson leading the charge, the hope is he can flip the script and get the Bears off to a winning start.
Here’s a look at every opening week game for the Bears since 2016:
How the Bears fared in every season opener since 2016
- 2025: Bears vs. Vikings (LOSS, 27-24)
- 2024: Bears vs. Titans (WIN, 24-17)
- 2023: Bears vs. Packers (LOSS, 38-20)
- 2022: Bears vs. 49ers (WIN, 19-10)
- 2021: Bears at Rams (LOSS, 34-14)
- 2020: Bears at Lions (WIN, 27,-23)
- 2019: Bears vs. Packers (LOSS, 10-3)
- 2018: Bears at Packers (LOSS, 24-23)
- 2017: Bears vs. Falcons (LOSS, 23-17)
- 2016: Bears at Texans (LOSS, 23-14)
How to watch Bears vs. Panthers
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026
- Time: 12 p.m. CT
- Location: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)
- TV: FOX
- Stream: FuboTV (try it for free)
- Radio: ESPN 1000 (Chicago)
Watch the Bears vs. Panthers game FREE on Fubo
Bears regular-season schedule 2026
Below is Chicago's regular-season schedule.
- Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20, vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 3: Monday, Sept. 28, vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
- Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4, vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11, at Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18, at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 22, vs. New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime
- Week 8: Monday, Nov. 1, at Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
- Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
- Week 10: BYE WEEK
- Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22, vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 26, at Detroit Lions, 12:30 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13, at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 15: Saturday, Dec. 19, at Buffalo Bills, 8:20 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 16: Friday, Dec. 25, vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. ET, Netflix
- Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, vs. Detroit Lions, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 18: Sunday, Jan. 10, at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET, TBD
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: How Chicago Bears fared in season openers since 2016
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