The 2026 Kansas City Chiefs schedule is a bounce back season on paper. After a 6 to 11 finish and the franchise’s first missed playoff berth since 2014, Andy Reid opens at home on Monday Night Football against the AFC West champion Broncos, plays the Thanksgiving night game in Buffalo, and closes the calendar year with New England and San Francisco at Arrowhead.
Below you will find every date, kickoff time in Eastern Time, TV channel and streaming option, plus a free printable PDF.
Free Printable Kansas City Chiefs Schedule PDF
The printable Chiefs schedule puts the full season on one page. Every matchup shows the opponent, date, kickoff time in ET and TV network, with room to write in scores and track the AFC West race through Week 18.
- Follow games week by week
- Mark wins, losses and key matchups
- Pin it up at home, at work or in the classroom
- Plan tailgates and watch parties in advance
Download Chiefs Printable (PDF)
2026 Chiefs Preseason Schedule
Kansas City hosts the Rams to open the preseason, travels to Tampa Bay, then finishes with a Friday night look at Seattle. All three exhibition games air locally on KSHB 41, the club’s Kansas City broadcast partner through the 2030 season.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, Aug 15 | vs Los Angeles Rams | 4:00 PM | KSHB 41 |
| 2 | Sat, Aug 22 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7:30 PM | KSHB 41 |
| 3 | Fri, Aug 28 | vs Seattle Seahawks | 8:00 PM | KSHB 41 |
2026 Kansas City Chiefs Schedule: Full Regular Season (ET)
Here is the complete week by week slate with kickoff times in Eastern Time. Weeks 17 and 18 stay flexible until the NFL confirms the final windows, and late season Sunday games can move under flexible scheduling.
| 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 | TBD | at Los Angeles Chargers | TBD | TBD |
| 18 | TBD | vs Las Vegas Raiders | TBD | TBD |
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Key Matchups, Bye Week and Season Storylines
The season opens with a statement game. Denver won the AFC West at 14 and 3 last year while Kansas City finished last, so the Monday night opener on September 14 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is the first measure of how far the gap has closed. The rematch in Denver follows in Week 8.
Patrick Mahomes is the storyline that drives the rest. He tore the ACL in his left knee against the Chargers on December 14, 2025 and was cleared to fully participate in training camp on July 24, 2026. Andy Reid has kept his Week 1 status day by day rather than committing, and Justin Fields, acquired from the Jets in March, is the insurance behind him.
Travis Kelce is back for a 14th season, Eric Bieniemy has returned as offensive coordinator, and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III headlines the new backfield.
Two dates stand out in the second half. Kansas City plays the Thanksgiving night game at Buffalo on November 26, the first Thanksgiving game the Bills have ever hosted, then turns around on a short week to face the Rams on December 3.
Christmas is quiet this year, but Week 15 brings the reigning AFC champion Patriots to Arrowhead on Monday night. The bye lands early in Week 5, which means an unbroken 13 game run from mid October to the finish.
The Chiefs have no international game in 2026. Six games sit in primetime windows, and the six AFC West meetings against Denver, Las Vegas and the Chargers still decide the division. Home tickets are sold through the official Chiefs ticket office, with resale on Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats.
How to Watch the 2026 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 the Thanksgiving night kickoff, ESPN and ABC handle 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 as its America’s Game of the Week.
| PLATFORM | GAMES COVERED |
|---|---|
| CBS and Paramount+ | Eight Sunday afternoon games |
| NBC and Peacock | Sunday Night Football and Thanksgiving night |
| ESPN, ABC and the ESPN app | Monday Night Football in Weeks 1 and 15 |
| Prime Video | Thursday Night Football at the Rams |
| FOX | Week 14 at Cincinnati |
| KSHB 41 | All 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 |
You can also watch a lot of this season free. CBS, NBC, FOX and ABC are all over the air, so an HD antenna picks up every game on the schedule except the Thursday night trip to the Rams.
KSHB 41 airs the preseason across the Kansas City market, and most streaming services offer a free trial you can time around a big matchup.
FAQs About the 2026 Kansas City Chiefs Season
When is the Chiefs first game of the 2026 season?
Kansas City opens at home against 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 that week, because the NFL dropped Week 1 doubleheaders for 2026.
Is Patrick Mahomes ready for the 2026 season?
Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee in Week 15 of 2025 and was cleared to fully participate in training camp on July 24, 2026. Andy Reid has called his Week 1 availability a day by day decision, with Justin Fields as the backup quarterback.
Is Travis Kelce still on the Chiefs roster?
Yes. Kelce announced in March 2026 that he is returning for his 14th NFL season. He led the team in receptions with 76 and receiving yards with 851 in 2025, and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with 5.
When is the Chiefs bye week in 2026?
The bye falls in Week 5, between the October 4 road game at Las Vegas and the October 18 home game against the Chargers. That leaves an unbroken 13 game run to the end of the season.
Do the Chiefs play on Thanksgiving in 2026?
Yes. Kansas City visits the Buffalo Bills in the Thanksgiving night game on Thursday, November 26 at 8:20 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. It is the first Thanksgiving game Buffalo has ever hosted. The other two Thanksgiving games are Bears at Lions on CBS and Eagles at Cowboys on FOX.
Do the Chiefs have a Christmas game in 2026?
No. December 25, 2026 falls on a Friday and the Chiefs are not on the Christmas slate. Their Week 16 game is at home against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, December 27.
Are the Chiefs playing an international game in 2026?
No. Kansas City is not part of the nine game international slate this season. Every road game is in the United States.
How many primetime games do the Chiefs have in 2026?
Six confirmed primetime games: Monday night in Weeks 1 and 15, Sunday night in Weeks 2 and 7, the Thanksgiving night game in Week 12 and the Thursday night game on Prime Video in Week 13. Weeks 17 and 18 are still to be scheduled.
What channel are Chiefs games on in 2026?
Eight games air on CBS, with NBC for Sunday night and Thanksgiving, ESPN and ABC for the two Monday night games, FOX for Week 14 at Cincinnati and Prime Video for the Thursday game at the Rams. Preseason games air locally on KSHB 41.
Who coaches the Chiefs in 2026?
Andy Reid returns for his 14th season as head coach and is now the longest tenured head coach in the NFL. Eric Bieniemy is back as offensive coordinator and Steve Spagnuolo remains the defensive coordinator.
How did the Chiefs finish the 2025 season?
Kansas City finished 6 and 11, last in the AFC West, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Denver won the division at 14 and 3.
Where do the Chiefs play home games in 2026?
At GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The venue was branded Kansas City Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but it returns to its regular name for the NFL season.
Where can I buy Chiefs tickets?
Official tickets are sold through Chiefs.com, with resale inventory 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 every chance to answer for last season.
Bookmark this page, download the free printable Chiefs schedule, and check back as the league sets kickoff times for Weeks 17 and 18.