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2026 NFL Preseason Opens with Panthers-Cardinals Hall Game

6/4/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The 2026 NFL preseason opens in the United States with the Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Weeks 1-3 (Aug. 13-27) include Detroit at Cincinnati, Las Vegas at Houston and Pittsburgh at Buffalo, aired on NBC, CBS, FOX, ESPN or Prime Video.
All remaining preseason contests will be shown on NFL Network or local stations, with kickoff times listed in Eastern Time.
The regular season opens on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, as Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots.

History

Historical Context

The 1970 NFL-AFL merger united ten AFL clubs with three NFL teams (Colts, Browns, Steelers), creating a 26-team league split into the AFC and NFC and assigning CBS to the NFC and NBC to the AFC for games. Thus the 2026 Hall of Fame Game starring the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals will air on NBC, extending the league’s televised kickoff tradition.

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Story summary

The 2026 NFL preseason opens in the United States with the Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Weeks 1-3 (Aug. 13-27) include Detroit at Cincinnati, Las Vegas at Houston and Pittsburgh at Buffalo, aired on NBC, CBS, FOX, ESPN or Prime Video.
All remaining preseason contests will be shown on NFL Network or local stations, with kickoff times listed in Eastern Time.
The regular season opens on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, as Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots.

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