When is the NFL schedule release? Mark your calendars for mid-May
The new league year isn't even a month old, and key moments on the 2026 NFL calendar are already coming into focus.
The 2026 NFL Draft is the most imminent marquee event, but the NFL schedule release won't be long after.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on April 8 that the league's 2026 schedule release will happen "sometime between Tuesday May 12 and Thursday May 14."
Last year's schedule release took place on Wednesday, May 14. In 2024, the NFL announced its full regular season schedule on May 15, which was also a Wednesday. Each of the last two schedule releases came out at 8 p.m. ET.
So far, there has only been one game in the 2026 schedule that has been fully revealed: the Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers game in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 11 as part of Week 1. The NFL has also announced the designated home teams for eight other international games, but "visiting" opponents, dates and times have yet to be announced.
NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE: USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast
NFL MOCK DRAFT ROUNDUP: Experts predict first round weeks before draft
When is the NFL schedule release?- Date: Between Tuesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 14
ESPN reported on April 8 that the NFL's 2026 schedule will be revealed during the second full week of May. More specifically, Schefter wrote on social media that the schedule release "could be coming sometime between Tuesday May 12 and Thursday May 14."
Recent iterations of previous schedule release dates have taken place in a similar time range, and usually on a Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
The NFL has not officially announced a date for this year's schedule release yet. Last year's date announcement came during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, just before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Chicago Bears' selection of tight end Colston Loveland at No. 10 overall.
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday, April 23.
How many international games are on the NFL schedule?There are nine international games on the 2026 NFL schedule, an uptick from the seven international games on the calendar last year.
This year's nine games will take place across seven different countries: Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom. That's also an increase from last year, which featured five different countries represented on the NFL's international schedule.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL 2026 schedule release date targeted soon after draft