NFL Kickoff Date Revealed: Bengals’ Full Schedule Inside
The 2026 NFL Season: Your Super Simple Guide to the Bengals and Beyond!
Published: August 23, 2026
Football Is Back!
Hey there, football fans! The most wonderful time of the year has finally arrived — the NFL is back! Whether you’re a die-hard Cincinnati Bengals fan or just love watching football on Sundays, this guide has everything you need to know about the 2026 season in plain, simple language.
When Does the Preseason Start?
Think of the preseason like practice games before the real season starts. Teams play these to get ready, try out new players, and shake off the rust.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hall of Fame Game (Official Kickoff) | August 6 | Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals |
| Most Teams Start | August 13 | Including the Cincinnati Bengals |
| Preseason Ends | August 29 | Last tune-ups before the real deal |
IMPORTANT POINT: The Hall of Fame Game is a special tradition — it’s the very first NFL game of the year, played in Canton, Ohio, where the Pro Football Hall of Fame is located!
Cincinnati Bengals Preseason Schedule
The Bengals played three preseason games in 2026. Here’s what happened:
1. Week 1: Bengals vs. Detroit Lions
- Date: August 13
- Location: Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati — home game!)
- Result: Bengals WIN 16–14!
2. Week 2: Bengals vs. Chicago Bears
- Date: August 22
- Location: Paycor Stadium (another home game!)
3. Week 3: Bengals @ Philadelphia Eagles
- Date: August 28
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia — away game)
Note: Preseason scores don’t count toward the regular season record. They’re just for practice!
When Does the REAL Season Start?
The regular season is when games actually count — wins, losses, playoffs, and the Super Bowl all start here.
NFL Regular Season Kickoff
- Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
- Game: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots
- Time: 8:20 PM ET
- Special Note: This is a Super Bowl 60 rematch! (The Patriots won that one.)
When Do the Bengals Start Their Real Season?
Mark your calendars, Bengals fans!
Week 1: Bengals vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Date: Saturday, September 13, 2026
- Time: 1:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX
- Location: Paycor Stadium (Home sweet home!)
- Key Matchup: Joe Burrow vs. Baker Mayfield (former #1 overall picks!)
Cincinnati Bengals 2026 Regular Season Schedule
Here’s the full 17-game schedule (plus a bye week). All times are Eastern Time.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Location | Time | TV/Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept 13 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Home | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 2 | Sept 20 | Houston Texans | Away | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 3 | Sept 27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Away | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 4 | Oct 4 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Home | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 5 | Oct 11 | Miami Dolphins | Away | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 6 | — | BYE WEEK | — | — | — |
| 7 | Oct 25 | Baltimore Ravens | Away | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 8 | Nov 1 | Tennessee Titans | Home | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 9 | Nov 8 | Atlanta Falcons | Madrid, Spain! | 9:30 AM | NFL Network |
| 10 | Nov 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Home | 8:20 PM | Sunday Night Football (NBC) |
| 11 | Nov 23 | Washington Commanders | Away | 8:15 PM | Monday Night Football (ESPN) |
| 12 | Nov 29 | New Orleans Saints | Home | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 13 | Dec 6 | Cleveland Browns | Away | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 14 | Dec 13 | Kansas City Chiefs | Home | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 15 | Dec 20 | Carolina Panthers | Away | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 16 | Dec 26/27 | Indianapolis Colts | Away | TBD | TBD |
| 17 | Dec 31 | Baltimore Ravens | Home | 8:15 PM | Thursday Night Football (Amazon Prime) |
| 18 | Jan 9/10 | Cleveland Browns | Home | TBD | TBD |
PRIMETIME ALERT: The Bengals have THREE primetime games (Weeks 10, 11, 17) — that means the whole country is watching!
INTERNATIONAL GAME: Week 9 in Madrid, Spain! The Bengals are the "visiting" team, but it’s a neutral-site game. Kickoff is 9:30 AM ET — early bird gets the worm!
HOME START & FINISH: Bengals start at home (Week 1 vs Bucs) and end at home (Week 18 vs Browns). Love that!
Super Bowl 2027 (Super Bowl 61)
The big game is already on the calendar!
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | February 14, 2027 (Valentine’s Day! ) |
| Location | SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (Los Angeles area) |
| Last Time at SoFi | Super Bowl 56 (Feb 13, 2022): Rams beat Bengals 23–20 |
Bengals Flashback: The last time the Super Bowl was at SoFi Stadium, the Bengals lost to the Rams. Let’s hope for a rematch with a different ending in 2027!
Summary: Everything You Need to Know
- Preseason started August 6 (Hall of Fame Game), Bengals started August 13.
- Regular season kicks off September 9 (Seahawks vs. Patriots).
- Bengals’ first real game: September 13 at 1 PM ET vs. Buccaneers on FOX.
- Full 17-game schedule includes:
- 3 primetime games
- 1 international game in Madrid, Spain
- Bye week in Week 6
- Starts and ends at home
- Super Bowl 61: Feb 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium (LA).
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Q: What’s the difference between preseason and regular season?
A: Preseason games are like scrimmages — they don’t count in the standings. Regular season games count for real — they determine who makes the playoffs!
Q: Why does the Bengals’ Madrid game start at 9:30 AM ET?
A: Madrid is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time. So 9:30 AM ET = 3:30 PM in Madrid — perfect for European fans!
Q: What does "TBD" mean for Weeks 16 and 18?
A: "To Be Determined." The NFL decides exact times and TV channels later in the season based on playoff implications. Flex scheduling!
Q: How many primetime games do the Bengals have?
A: Three! Week 10 (Sunday Night), Week 11 (Monday Night), Week 17 (Thursday Night). That’s a lot of national exposure!
Q: Did the Bengals make the Super Bowl in 2022?
A: Yes! They played the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Super Bowl 56 and lost 23–20. SoFi is where Super Bowl 61 will be played in 2027.
Final Thought
The 2026 NFL season is shaping up to be exciting — especially for Bengals fans! With a manageable schedule, three primetime showcases, a trip to Spain, and a chance for redemption at SoFi Stadium in 2027, there’s plenty to cheer for.
Who Dey!
Go Bengals!