The 2026 Miami Dolphins schedule opens a brand new era at Hard Rock Stadium. Jeff Hafley takes over as head coach, Malik Willis steps in at quarterback, and the season begins with back to back road trips out west. This guide lists every game date, kickoff time in Eastern Time, and TV channel, plus a free printable Dolphins schedule you can hang on the fridge or save to your phone.
Here is the short version. Miami plays 8 home games and 9 road games, takes an early bye in Week 6, and has no assigned prime time games this year. Every kickoff from Week 1 through Week 17 falls on a Sunday afternoon on CBS or FOX, with only the Week 18 finale still to be set. That makes this one of the easiest slates in the league to follow.
Free Printable Miami Dolphins Schedule PDF
The printable Dolphins schedule puts the full season on a single letter size page. Each row shows the opponent, date, start time in ET, and TV channel, with room to write in the final score and track the record week by week.
Download Printable Dolphins Schedule (PDF)
Miami Dolphins Schedule 2026: Preseason Games
Miami plays three preseason games under Hafley, one on the road and two at Hard Rock Stadium. All three air locally on CBS Miami, and the August 22 game against the Giants is also carried nationally on NFL Network. NFL+ streams preseason games for out of market viewers.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, Aug 14 | @ Commanders | 7:00 PM | CBS Miami |
| 2 | Sat, Aug 22 | vs Giants | 4:00 PM | CBS Miami / NFL Network |
| 3 | Fri, Aug 28 | vs Falcons | 7:00 PM | CBS Miami |
These three games decide the back end of the roster and give Quinn Ewers, Cam Miller, and the 2026 draft class real snaps before cuts. For the full league wide slate, see our 2026 NFL preseason schedule.
Miami Dolphins Schedule 2026: Full Regular Season
Below is the complete week by week slate with kickoff times in Eastern Time. Weeks 5 through 17 fall under NFL flexible scheduling, so a few start times and networks can still move.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | @ Raiders | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | @ 49ers | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 27 | vs Chiefs | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | @ Vikings | 4:05 PM | FOX |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | vs Bengals | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | BYE WEEK | No game | None |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | @ Jets | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | vs Patriots | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | vs Lions | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | @ Colts | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | @ Bills | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | vs Jets | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | @ Broncos | 4:05 PM | FOX |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | vs Bears | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | @ Packers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 16 | Sun, Dec 27 | vs Chargers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | vs Bills | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 18 | Jan 9 or 10 | @ Patriots | TBD | TBD |
Nine of the 17 games come against teams that reached the 2025 postseason, and the closing six weeks are all playoff teams from a year ago. Miami also finishes against New England for the second straight season. Every result feeds the NFL playoff bracket in January.
Bye Week and Home Games at Hard Rock Stadium
The bye lands early this year, in Week 6 on Sunday, October 18. That gives a first year coaching staff a reset point after five games and before the run of AFC East matchups begins.
The trade off is a long second half. Miami plays 12 straight weeks from the Week 7 trip to the Jets through the Week 18 finale at New England with no break.
Miami hosts 8 games at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens: the Chiefs, Bengals, Patriots, Lions, Jets, Bears, Chargers, and Bills. The Kansas City visit in Week 3 is the marquee home date, and the Week 17 Bills game on January 3 could carry playoff weight for both teams.
Why the Dolphins Have No Prime Time Games in 2026
Miami did not receive a single assigned night game this season. No Sunday Night Football, no Monday Night Football, no Thursday Night Football, and no international game. It is the first time the franchise has been shut out of the prime time slate since 2008.
The reason is straightforward. The Dolphins went 7 and 10 in 2025, missed the playoffs for a second year in a row, changed head coaches, and changed starting quarterbacks. Networks build night windows around proven ratings draws, and a rebuilding roster does not qualify.
There is still a path into prime time. Under NFL flexible scheduling, games in Weeks 5 through 17 can be moved into the Sunday night window with advance notice, and Monday night and Thursday night games can also be flexed within league rules. If Miami is winning in November, a late season date against Buffalo or New England is the most likely candidate to get moved.
New Head Coach and Quarterback for 2026
Mike McDaniel was let go on January 8, 2026 after four seasons. Jon-Eric Sullivan was hired as general manager on January 9 from Green Bay, where he was vice president of player personnel. Sullivan then hired Jeff Hafley, the Packers defensive coordinator, as the 12th head coach in Dolphins history on January 19.
Tua Tagovailoa was released in March and signed a one year deal with Atlanta, ending a run in Miami that began in 2020. Malik Willis followed Hafley and Sullivan from Green Bay on a three year contract and opens camp as the starter. Across two seasons with the Packers, Willis completed 78.7 percent of his passes in 11 appearances, averaging 10.9 yards per attempt with six touchdowns and no interceptions. Second year passer Quinn Ewers backs him up, with 2025 sixth round pick Cam Miller and undrafted rookie Mark Gronowski also in the room.
How to Watch and Stream the Dolphins Schedule in 2026
Coverage is simple this year. CBS carries 7 Dolphins games and FOX carries 9. Weeks 1 through 17 have no Peacock, Netflix, or Prime Video exclusives, so a basic antenna or any live TV service with local channels covers almost the entire season. Week 18 is the one open question, since the league schedules three Saturday games that week and one of them streams on Netflix.
| PLATFORM | DOLPHINS GAMES COVERED |
|---|---|
| HD antenna | Free over the air CBS and FOX broadcasts in your market |
| Paramount+ with Showtime | All 7 CBS games. The cheaper Essential tier does not include your live local CBS feed |
| FOX One | All 9 FOX games, including both road openers |
| YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV | Live CBS and FOX plus NFL Network |
| NFL+ | Live local and national games on phone or tablet. Preseason is out of market only |
| NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube | Dolphins games when you live outside the Miami market |
NFL+ costs $6.99 per month or $49.99 per year, and NFL+ Premium is $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year with NFL RedZone, full game replays and All 22 coaches film. FOX One runs $19.99 per month. Most live TV services also run trial or discounted intro offers, so it is worth timing a signup around the Week 3 Chiefs game.
One change worth knowing: ESPN closed a deal with the league in February 2026 that gives it operational control of NFL Network and the linear distribution rights to NFL RedZone, with the NFL taking a 10 percent equity stake in ESPN. The channels keep their names, RedZone stays on NFL+ digitally, and carriage on the major live TV services is unchanged.
FAQs About the 2026 Miami Dolphins Season
When does the Miami Dolphins 2026 season start?
Miami opens the regular season on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at the Las Vegas Raiders. Kickoff is 4:25 PM ET on FOX. The preseason begins earlier, on Friday, August 14 at the Washington Commanders.
Who is the Miami Dolphins head coach in 2026?
Jeff Hafley. He was named the 12th head coach in franchise history on January 19, 2026 after two seasons as defensive coordinator in Green Bay. He replaced Mike McDaniel, who was fired on January 8, 2026.
Who is the Dolphins starting quarterback in 2026?
Malik Willis opens the season as the starter. He signed a three year deal with Miami after two seasons in Green Bay. Quinn Ewers is the backup, with Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski also on the roster. Tua Tagovailoa was released in March and signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
When is the Dolphins bye week in 2026?
The Dolphins are off in Week 6, on Sunday, October 18, 2026. After the bye they play 12 straight weeks with no break, from the Week 7 trip to the Jets through the Week 18 finale at New England.
Do the Dolphins have any prime time games in 2026?
No. Miami was not assigned a single Sunday, Monday, or Thursday night game. Games in Weeks 5 through 17 can still be flexed into a night window if the team is in playoff contention.
Do the Dolphins play an international game in 2026?
No. Every game is in the United States. Miami beat the Washington Commanders 16 to 13 in overtime in Madrid, Spain during the 2025 season, but there is no international trip on the 2026 schedule.
What TV channel are Dolphins games on in 2026?
CBS carries 7 games and FOX carries 9, with the Week 18 game at New England still to be assigned. All three preseason games air locally on CBS Miami, and the August 22 game against the Giants is also on NFL Network nationally.
How can I watch Dolphins games without cable?
An HD antenna picks up the local CBS and FOX broadcasts for free. To stream, use Paramount+ with Showtime for the CBS games, FOX One for the FOX games, or a live TV service such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or DirecTV. Note that the cheaper Paramount+ Essential tier does not include your live local CBS channel. NFL+ carries live local and national games on phone and tablet, and NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube covers out of market viewing.
Where do the Dolphins play their home games?
At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Miami hosts 8 regular season games there in 2026, plus two preseason games.
How hard is the Dolphins 2026 schedule?
Nine of the 17 games are against teams that made the 2025 playoffs, and five of those are on the road. The final six weeks are the toughest stretch, with Denver, Chicago, Green Bay, the Chargers, Buffalo, and New England all coming off playoff seasons.
The 2026 Miami Dolphins schedule is a rebuild in plain sight. A new coach, a new quarterback, an early bye, and zero night games mean the pressure is on Miami to earn attention rather than be handed it. The upside is a clean, predictable slate: 16 Sunday afternoon games on CBS or FOX that you can plan around, plus a Week 18 finale still waiting on a date.
Download the free printable Dolphins schedule above, bookmark this page, and check back as the league confirms flexible scheduling for the closing weeks. For more printables, browse the full 2026 NFL schedule and our printable list of NFL teams.