New England Patriots
The Patriots will begin a daunting 2026 season with a rematch of Super Bowl LX against the Seahawks in Seattle on Wednesday, September 9.
Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel will open a new season against the Seahawks on Sept. 9. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
The New England Patriots’ 2026 schedule is finally here.
New England released its full 2026 slate on Thursday evening, with Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye, and the rest of the Patriots set for a daunting road back to the playoffs after an unexpected Super Bowl run the previous season.
As is tradition across the NFL, the Patriots unveiled their new schedule with a video — featuring several players, including Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, and others — announcing the dates and games while riding roller coasters and other rides at Six Flags New England.
Please keep your hands, arms & legs inside the vehicle at all times 🎢
2026 New England Patriots Schedule Release pic.twitter.com/gX8v5OpGFW
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 14, 2026
The Patriots will face eight teams who punched their ticket to the playoffs in 2025, with New England also heading overseas once again for a matchup against the Detroit Lions in Munich, Germany on Sunday, November 15.
New England will officially kick off a new season as the first NFL game on the 2026 docket, with the Patriots heading to Seattle’s Lumen Field to battle the Seahawks in an anticipated rematch of Super Bowl LX on Wednesday, Sept, 9, on NBC.
They will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in their home opener at Gillette Stadium in Week 2.
Here’s a look at New England’s full 2026 schedule:
Week 1: Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. (Wednesday, Sept. 9 — NBC)
Week 2: Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. (Sunday, Sept. 20 — CBS)
Week 3: Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. (Sunday, Sept. 27 — CBS)
Week 4: Patriots at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. (Sunday, Oct. 4 — CBS)
Week 5: Patriots vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 1 p.m. (Sunday, Oct. 11 — CBS)
Week 6: Patriots vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m. (Sunday, Oct. 18 — CBS)
Week 7: Patriots at Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m. (Thursday, Oct. 22 – Thursday Night Football — Prime Video)
Week 8: Patriots at Miami Dolphins, 4:25 p.m. (Sunday, Nov. 1 — CBS)
Week 9: Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m. (Sunday, Nov. 8 — FOX)
Week 10: Patriots at Detroit Lions, 9:30 a.m. (Sunday, Nov. 15 – Munich, Germany — FOX)
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Patriots at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:20 p.m. (Sunday, Nov. 29 – Sunday Night Football — NBC)
Week 13: Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m. (Sunday, Dec. 6 — CBS)
Week 14: Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings, 8:15 p.m. (Thursday, Dec. 10 – Thursday Night Football — Prime Video)
Week 15: Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:15 p.m. (Monday, Dec. 21 – Monday Night Football — ESPN)
Week 16: Patriots at New York Jets, 1 p.m. (Sunday, Dec. 27 — CBS)
Week 17: Patriots vs. Denver Broncos, TBD
Week 18: Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins, TBD
The Patriots also announced their three-game preseason schedule, which will begin on Thursday, August 13 with a home game against the Colts.
As expected, the Patriots are set for several primetime matchups this season fresh off their Super Bowl run in 2025 — including six nationally televised games.
Beyond the season opener against Seattle, New England will have two appearances on Thursday Night Football against the Bears and Vikings, a Sunday Night Football showdown against the Chargers in Los Angeles, a Monday Night Football bout in Kansas City, and the aforementioned international game against the Lions.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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