The 2026 Chicago Bears schedule is locked in and the season opens Sunday, September 13 at Carolina. Head coach Ben Johnson brings the team back to Soldier Field after an 11 and 6 year, an NFC North title and the first Chicago playoff win since 2010.
This slate brings five primetime games plus Thanksgiving and Christmas in the same season for the first time in franchise history.
Below is every game date, kickoff time in Eastern Time, TV channel and streaming option, plus a free printable PDF for the fridge or your phone.
Free Printable Chicago Bears Schedule PDF
The printable Chicago Bears schedule puts the full season on one page. Each matchup lists the opponent, date, start time in ET and TV channel, with space to write in scores and track the record through Week 18.
Download the Printable Bears Schedule PDF
2026 Chicago Bears Schedule: Full Regular Season
Here is the complete week by week slate with kickoff times in Eastern Time. Late season Sunday games can move under NFL flexible scheduling, so check back for updates.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | @ Panthers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | vs Vikings | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 3 | Mon, Sep 28 | vs Eagles | 8:15 PM | ESPN/ABC |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | vs Jets | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | @ Packers | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | @ Falcons | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 7 | Thu, Oct 22 | vs Patriots | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 8 | Mon, Nov 2 | @ Seahawks | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | vs Buccaneers | 8:20 PM | NBC, Peacock |
| 10 | Bye Week | No game | None | None |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | vs Saints | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 12 | Thu, Nov 26 | @ Lions (Thanksgiving) | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | vs Jaguars | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | @ Dolphins | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 15 | Sat, Dec 19 | @ Bills | 8:20 PM | CBS |
| 16 | Fri, Dec 25 | vs Packers (Christmas) | 1:00 PM | Netflix |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | vs Lions | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 18 | TBD | @ Vikings | TBD | TBD |
Week 18 falls on the weekend of January 9 and 10, 2027. The league sets that date and kickoff window late in the season so it can protect games with playoff meaning.
Also check:
- 2026 Green Bay Packers schedule
- 2026 Detroit Lions schedule
- 2026 Minnesota Vikings schedule
- Full 2026 NFL schedule
Where the Bears Stand After the 2026 Preseason
Chicago finished the exhibition slate 2 and 1, beating Cleveland at Soldier Field, losing in Cincinnati, then closing with a win in Nashville behind a near perfect night from Tyson Bagent.
| DATE | OPPONENT | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug 15 | vs Browns | W 34 to 10 |
| Sat, Aug 22 | @ Bengals | L 9 to 27 |
| Sat, Aug 29 | @ Titans | W 24 to 15 |
Caleb Williams starts his third season under center, with Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum behind him. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III lead the receivers, D’Andre Swift heads the backfield, and Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett and Jaylon Johnson anchor the defense.
Cornerback Kyler Gordon starts the year on the PUP list and must sit at least the first four games, with linebacker Noah Sewell and defensive tackle Shemar Turner alongside him. Chicago also traded defensive tackle Gervon Dexter to Atlanta on August 30 for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth round pick.
Key Matchups, Holiday Games and the Bye Week
Chicago plays on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday in the same season for the first time. The holiday dates carry the most weight. Thanksgiving sends the Bears to Ford Field on November 26, their fifth Thanksgiving appearance in nine seasons, and Christmas Day brings Green Bay to Soldier Field on Netflix, only the third Christmas Day game in team history, the first since 2011 and the first the Bears will host, because both earlier ones were on the road.
Five primetime games fill out the national slate: Philadelphia in Week 3, New England in Week 7, Seattle in Week 8, Tampa Bay in Week 9 and a Saturday night trip to Buffalo in Week 15. Weeks 7, 8 and 9 run in prime time back to back to back, a first for the club in the modern era.
The bye lands in Week 10, right before the stretch that decides the NFC North. Division play is spread out, with Minnesota in Week 2 and again in the Week 18 finale, Green Bay in Week 5 and on Christmas, and Detroit on Thanksgiving and again in the January 3 home finale.
How to Watch the Chicago Bears Schedule on TV and Streaming
Most Bears games stay on free broadcast television. FOX carries the bulk of the NFC slate, CBS picks up the AFC road games plus Thanksgiving, NBC has Sunday Night Football and ESPN with ABC handles both Monday nights. Two games are streaming exclusives.
| PLATFORM | GAMES COVERED |
|---|---|
| FOX | Eight Sunday games, including both Lions and Vikings home dates |
| CBS, Paramount+ | Thanksgiving at Detroit, plus Miami and Buffalo |
| NBC, Peacock | Sunday Night Football vs Buccaneers |
| ESPN, ABC | Monday Night Football vs Eagles and at Seahawks |
| Prime Video | Thursday Night Football vs Patriots |
| Netflix | Christmas Day vs Packers |
| NFL+ | Local and primetime games on mobile |
| YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo | FOX, CBS, NBC and ESPN live |
Kickoff windows from Week 12 onward can shift under flexible scheduling, so confirm the channel and start time in game week before you plan a watch party.
FAQ: Chicago Bears 2026 Season
When do the Bears play their first game in 2026?
Chicago opens the regular season on Sunday, September 13 at the Carolina Panthers, kicking off at 1:00 PM ET on FOX. The Soldier Field opener follows on Sunday, September 20 against the Minnesota Vikings.
When is the Bears bye week in 2026?
Chicago is off in Week 10, the weekend of November 15. The team returns on November 22 at home against the New Orleans Saints.
Do the Bears play on Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2026?
Yes. Chicago visits Detroit on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26 at 1:00 PM ET on CBS, then hosts Green Bay on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25 at 1:00 PM ET on Netflix. It is the first time the franchise has played on both holidays in the same regular season.
What channel are Bears games on in 2026?
Most games air on FOX or CBS. ESPN and ABC carry the two Monday night games, NBC has the Sunday night game, Prime Video has Thursday Night Football and Netflix streams the Christmas game.
How many primetime games do the Bears have in 2026?
Five: Monday night vs the Eagles, Thursday night vs the Patriots, Monday night at the Seahawks, Sunday night vs the Buccaneers and Saturday night at the Bills. The Thanksgiving and Christmas games are standalone national windows on top of that.
Who is the Bears head coach and quarterback in 2026?
Ben Johnson is in his second season as head coach after going 11 and 6 in 2025. Caleb Williams enters his third year as the starting quarterback, with Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum behind him.
Where do the Bears play their home games in 2026?
All nine home games are at Soldier Field in Chicago. The club is still working toward a new venue, with sites in Hammond, Indiana and Arlington Heights, Illinois both in play, so Soldier Field stays home for now.
Can I watch Bears games for free?
Yes. An HD antenna picks up local FOX, CBS and NBC broadcasts at no cost, and services such as Peacock, Paramount+ and Fubo offer free trial periods you can time around a big matchup.
From the Carolina opener to Thanksgiving in Detroit and a Christmas Day rivalry game on Netflix, the 2026 Chicago Bears schedule offers more marquee dates than any season in team history.
Bookmark this page, download the free printable PDF, and check back as the NFL confirms flexible scheduling moves and the Week 18 kickoff.