The New England Patriots already know their 2026 opponents, and have done so since the end of the regular season in January. What they do not know yet, however, is when they will play all of them.
With the NFL Draft in the rear view mirror and the calendar having turned to May, that mystery will soon come to an end. On Thursday, May 14, the league will announce its 2026 regular season schedule.
The schedule release itself is traditionally preceded by plenty of leaks, rumors and prior announcements. In order to stay on top of things and up to date with credible information, we have set up our Pats Pulpit Schedule Release Tracker.
Please make sure to keep this page bookmarked and regularly check back in.
Patriots 2026 opponents
Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants
Road: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks
Patriots rumored 2026 schedule
- Week 1: at Seahawks (Wed, Sept. 9, 8:20 p.m. ET)
- Week 2: TBD
- Week 3: TBD
- Week 4: TBD
- Week 5: TBD
- Week 6: TBD
- Week 7: at Bears (Thu, Oct. 22, 8:15 p.m. ET)
- Week 8: TBD
- Week 9: TBD
- Week 10: at Lions (Sun, Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. ET, Munich)
- Week 11: TBD
- Week 12: TBD
- Week 13: TBD
- Week 14: TBD
- Week 15: TBD
- Week 16: TBD
- Week 17: TBD
- Week 18: TBD
Patriots 2026 schedule tracker
5/12: The Patriots will visit the Bears on Thursday Night Football in Week 7. | Source
5/12: The Patriots will play the Seahawks in the 2026 season opener. | Source
5/12: The Patriots are headed to Germany for a clash with the Lions on Sunday, Nov. 15. | Source
5/11: There is speculation about the Patriots opening the season in Seattle after all. | Source
5/11: The Patriots remain as one of five potential opponents for the Seahawks in the season opener, but NFL insider Mike Garafolo considers that an unlikely matchup for Week 1. | Source
5/8: The expectation is that each network will announce select games leading up to the schedule release. | Source
Monday, May 11
NBC/Peacock: 10:30 a.m. ET
FOX: 4 p.m. ET
Amazon: 6:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, May 12
Disney: 4 p.m. ET
Wednesday, May 13
NFL Network: 9 a.m. ET (International Games)
Netflix: 2 p.m. ET
YouTube 5:30 p.m. ET
5/8: The NFL will release its schedule on Thursday, May 14, at 8 p.m. ET. | Source
5/7: The league is rumored to be planning its schedule release on either Wednesday, May 13, or Thursday, May 14. | Source
3/30: The Patriots will hold joint practices with the Eagles this summer, suggesting that they will play a preseason game that very well might be dubbed the “A.J. Brown Bowl.” | Source
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