The 2026 Kansas City Chiefs schedule starts on Monday night, September 14, when Denver visits GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City went 6 to 11 last year and finished third in the AFC West, its first season out of the playoffs since 2014.
Preseason is done, Patrick Mahomes is on track to start Week 1, and the full 18 week slate below lists every date, kickoff time in ET and TV channel.
Every game, kickoff time in Eastern Time, TV channel and a free printable PDF are below.
Free Printable Kansas City Chiefs Schedule PDF
One page, all 18 weeks. Each row carries the opponent, date, kickoff time in ET and TV network, with space to write in scores and follow the AFC West race.
- Track wins, losses and division games week by week
- Pin it up at home, at work or in the classroom
- Plan tailgates and watch parties in advance
Download Chiefs Printable (PDF)
2026 Kansas City Chiefs Schedule: Full Regular Season (ET)
Kansas City plays eight home games and nine on the road. Weeks 17 and 18 have no fixed date yet: Week 17 lands on January 2 or 3, 2027 and Week 18 on January 9 or 10, 2027. The NFL can also flex late season Sunday games into primetime.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon, Sep 14 | vs Denver Broncos | 8:15 PM | ESPN/ABC |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | vs Indianapolis Colts | 8:20 PM | NBC, Peacock |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 27 | at Miami Dolphins | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | at Las Vegas Raiders | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 5 | Bye Week | No game | None | None |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | vs Los Angeles Chargers | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | at Seattle Seahawks | 8:20 PM | NBC, Peacock |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | at Denver Broncos | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | vs New York Jets | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | at Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | vs Arizona Cardinals | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 12 | Thu, Nov 26 | at Buffalo Bills (Thanksgiving) | 8:20 PM | NBC, Peacock |
| 13 | Thu, Dec 3 | at Los Angeles Rams | 8:15 PM | Prime Video, KSHB 41 |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | at Cincinnati Bengals | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 15 | Mon, Dec 21 | vs New England Patriots | 8:15 PM | ESPN/ABC |
| 16 | Sun, Dec 27 | vs San Francisco 49ers | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 17 | Jan 2 or 3, 2027 | at Los Angeles Chargers | TBD | TBD |
| 18 | Jan 9 or 10, 2027 | vs Las Vegas Raiders | TBD | TBD |
You may also check:
Key Matchups, Bye Week and Season Storylines
The opener is the measuring stick. Denver won the AFC West at 14 and 3 while Kansas City won six games, so the Monday night meeting on September 14 shows how much of that gap has closed. It is the only Monday night game in Week 1. The rematch in Denver comes in Week 8.
Patrick Mahomes drives the rest. He tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee against the Chargers on December 14, 2025 and had surgery two days later. He practiced through training camp without missing a day, sat out all three preseason games, and is on track to start against Denver once doctors clear him for game contact. Justin Fields, acquired from the Jets in March, takes over if that clearance does not come.
The supporting cast changed too. Eric Bieniemy is back as offensive coordinator in place of Matt Nagy, Steve Spagnuolo still runs the defense for Andy Reid, and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, signed to a three year deal in March, headlines a rebuilt backfield. Travis Kelce re-signed for a 14th season in Kansas City and lines up alongside Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.
The shape of the calendar matters. The bye falls early in Week 5, which leaves 13 straight game weeks from mid October to the finish. Kansas City then plays two Thursdays in a row: Thanksgiving night at Buffalo on November 26, the first Thanksgiving game the Bills have ever hosted, and the Rams on December 3. Six games sit in primetime windows and there is no international trip.
All eight home dates are at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Tickets are sold through the official Chiefs ticket office, with resale on Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats.
How to Watch the Kansas City Chiefs Schedule on TV and Streaming
CBS carries eight Sunday afternoon games because Kansas City is an AFC team. NBC has both Sunday night games plus Thanksgiving, ESPN and ABC have the two Monday night dates, and Prime Video has the Thursday game at the Rams. The one oddity is Week 14 at Cincinnati, an AFC matchup cross flexed to FOX.
| PLATFORM | GAMES COVERED |
|---|---|
| CBS and Paramount+ | Eight Sunday afternoon games |
| NBC and Peacock | Sunday night in Weeks 2 and 7, plus Thanksgiving night |
| ESPN, ABC and the ESPN app | Monday Night Football in Weeks 1 and 15 |
| Prime Video | Thursday Night Football at the Rams in Week 13 |
| FOX | Week 14 at Cincinnati |
| KSHB 41 | Preseason games and the Week 13 local simulcast |
| NFL+ | Local and primetime games on mobile |
| YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo | CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC and ESPN live |
Much of the season is free over the air. CBS, NBC, FOX and ABC all broadcast locally, so an HD antenna picks up every game except the Thursday night trip to the Rams. KSHB 41 is the club’s local broadcast partner through the 2030 season and carries the preseason across the Kansas City market.
2026 Chiefs Preseason Results
Kansas City finished the exhibition slate without a win, going 0 and 2 with one tie. Mahomes did not take a preseason snap, so the results say more about roster depth than about the starting lineup.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | RESULT | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, Aug 15 | vs Los Angeles Rams | Lost 12 to 20 | KSHB 41 |
| 2 | Sat, Aug 22 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Lost 15 to 16 | KSHB 41 |
| 3 | Fri, Aug 28 | vs Seattle Seahawks | Tied 9 to 9 | KSHB 41 |
FAQs About the 2026 Kansas City Chiefs Season
When is the Chiefs first game of the 2026 season?
Kansas City hosts the Denver Broncos on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 8:15 PM ET on ESPN and ABC. It is the only Monday Night Football game in Week 1.
Will Patrick Mahomes play in Week 1?
He is on track to start. Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee in Week 15 of 2025 and had surgery on December 16, then practiced through training camp without missing a day. The last step is medical clearance for game contact, which Andy Reid has kept day by day. If it does not come, Justin Fields starts against Denver.
When is the Chiefs bye week in 2026?
Week 5, between the October 4 road game at Las Vegas and the October 18 home game against the Chargers. That leaves 13 straight game weeks to close the season.
Do the Chiefs play on Thanksgiving in 2026?
Yes. Kansas City visits Buffalo in the Thanksgiving night game on Thursday, November 26 at 8:20 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. It is the first Thanksgiving game the Bills have ever hosted.
Do the Chiefs have a Christmas game in 2026?
No. December 25 falls on a Friday and carries three games: Packers at Bears and Bills at Broncos on Netflix, then Rams at Seahawks on FOX. Kansas City plays two days later, at home against San Francisco on Sunday, December 27.
What channel are Chiefs games on in 2026?
Eight games air on CBS, two Sunday night games and Thanksgiving on NBC, two Monday night games on ESPN and ABC, Week 14 at Cincinnati on FOX and the Week 13 Thursday game on Prime Video. Preseason airs locally on KSHB 41.
How did the Chiefs do in the 2026 preseason?
They went 0 and 2 with one tie: 12 to 20 against the Rams, 15 to 16 at Tampa Bay and 9 to 9 against Seattle. Mahomes sat out all three games.
Where do the Chiefs play home games and how do I buy tickets?
All eight home games are at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Official tickets come from Chiefs.com, with resale on Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats.
From the Monday night opener against Denver to the Thanksgiving trip to Buffalo, the 2026 Kansas City Chiefs schedule gives this roster a clear path back into the AFC West race.
Download the free printable, bookmark this page, and check back when the NFL sets kickoff times for Weeks 17 and 18.