Updated

The 2026 NFL regular season kicked off on the night of Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with a rematch of Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, as listed in national broadcast and streaming guides for the day. The opener headlined a sports calendar that also included US Open tennis quarterfinals, Vuelta a España Stage 17 from Dos Hermanas to Sevilla, and FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup quarterfinals. The kickoff game traditionally serves as the league's showcase event, drawing one of the largest television audiences of the American sports year. Coverage in the run-up focused on Week 1 injury questions, including reports that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had been ruled out for his team's opener. The start of the season also launched a schedule that, for the first time, included a regular-season game in Australia later in the opening week.