The 2026 Detroit Lions schedule opens at Ford Field against New Orleans on Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 PM ET on FOX. Preseason is finished, the 53 man roster is set, and every kickoff time below is locked through Week 17.
Detroit gets an early bye in Week 6, plays New England in Munich in Week 10, and hosts Chicago on Thanksgiving for the 21st time. Every game carries a date, kickoff time in ET, TV channel and streaming option, plus a free printable PDF for the fridge.
Free Printable Detroit Lions Schedule PDF
The printable Detroit Lions schedule fits the full season on one letter size page: preseason, all 18 weeks, dates, kickoff times in ET, TV channels, the bye week and a blank column for scores. Print it or save the PDF to your phone.
Download the Printable Detroit Lions Schedule (PDF)
Want every team on one sheet? Grab the 2026 NFL schedule printable.
Full 2026 Detroit Lions Regular Season Schedule
All 17 games with kickoff times in ET. Detroit hosts eight games at Ford Field, plays eight true road games, and is the designated home team for one neutral site game in Munich.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | vs Saints | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 2 | Thu, Sep 17 | @ Bills | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 27 | vs Jets | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | @ Panthers | 8:20 PM | NBC, Peacock |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | @ Cardinals | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | BYE WEEK | No game | No game |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | vs Packers | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | vs Vikings | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | @ Dolphins | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | vs Patriots* | 9:30 AM | FOX |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | vs Buccaneers | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 12 | Thu, Nov 26 | vs Bears | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | @ Falcons | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | vs Titans | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | @ Vikings | 8:20 PM | NBC, Peacock |
| 16 | Mon, Dec 28 | vs Giants | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | @ Bears | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 18 | TBD** | @ Packers | TBD | TBD |
*Week 10 is played at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, with Detroit as the designated home team. **Week 18 lands on January 9 or 10, 2027. The NFL sets that date, kickoff time and network in late December.
Detroit’s 2026 opponents went a combined .467 last season, the sixth easiest slate in the league, but seven of the 17 games come against 2025 playoff teams.
Detroit Lions 2026 Bye Week
The Lions bye falls in Week 6, the weekend of Sunday, October 18. Only Carolina and Kansas City rest earlier, in Week 5. Detroit shares the Week 6 bye with Cincinnati, Miami and Minnesota. It arrives just before the NFC North slate opens with Green Bay and Minnesota in back to back home games. A second natural break follows Thanksgiving, giving Detroit 10 days before the trip to Atlanta.
Key Matchups on the 2026 Detroit Lions Schedule
- Week 2 at Bills, Thursday, September 17: A short week on the road for the first regular season game ever played at Buffalo’s new Highmark Stadium. Detroit is the opponent for the building’s debut, on Prime Video.
- Week 7 vs Packers, Sunday, October 25: The 194th meeting between the franchises. The Week 18 rematch at Lambeau makes it 195, the most games Detroit has ever played against one opponent.
- Week 10 vs Patriots in Munich, Sunday, November 15: Detroit’s first game in Germany and its first international trip since Wembley in 2015. Kickoff is 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM local, on FOX. The round trip covers 8,636 miles, the longest travel week of the season.
- Week 12 vs Bears on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26: The 21st Thanksgiving meeting between the rivals and the fourth in a row, on CBS at 1:00 PM ET. Chicago leads the holiday series 11-9, and Detroit is 38-46-2 on Thanksgiving all time after hosting every year since 1945.
- Week 16 vs Giants, Monday, December 28: The only Monday night game of the year and the last home date, because Weeks 17 and 18 are both division road games at Chicago and Green Bay.
Lions Roster Status Heading Into Week 1
Detroit closed the preseason 2-1: a 16-14 loss at Cincinnati on August 13, a 17-13 win over Washington on August 22, and a 25-16 win at Indianapolis on August 29. The club went 9-8 last season and missed the playoffs, so Dan Campbell enters year six under pressure to win the NFC North back.
Jared Goff and Josh Dobbs hold the quarterback room. Drew Petzing arrives from Arizona as offensive coordinator with a run heavy, matchup based scheme, while Kelvin Sheppard stays as defensive coordinator and shifts Detroit to a nickel base with five defensive backs.
The offensive line has a new look. Penei Sewell moved to left tackle after Taylor Decker was released, and first round pick Blake Miller won the right tackle job over Larry Borom. Juice Scruggs starts at center because Cade Mays went on injured reserve with a wrist injury that carries an eight to 10 week recovery.
Three projected starters miss the opener. Safeties Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) begin the year on the physically unable to perform list, and running back Isiah Pacheco is on injured reserve with an MCL sprain. All three sit out the first four games and are eligible to return in Week 5 at Arizona on October 11. Veteran Chuck Clark leads a thin safety group until then, and Jahmyr Gibbs headlines a five man backfield.
How to Watch the Detroit Lions Schedule on TV and Streaming
FOX carries nine games and CBS three, with NBC on two Sunday nights, so an antenna in the Detroit market picks up 14 games at no cost. Only two games sit behind a paid service: the Week 2 Thursday nighter on Prime Video and the Week 16 Monday nighter on ESPN, plus Week 18 once the league assigns it.
Detroit also draws six standalone national windows with no other NFL game opposite: the four primetime dates plus Munich and Thanksgiving.
| PLATFORM | WHAT IT COVERS FOR LIONS FANS | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Antenna (FOX, CBS, NBC) | 14 games including Thanksgiving and Munich | Free |
| Prime Video | Week 2 Thursday night at Buffalo | Included with Prime |
| Peacock | Week 4 and Week 15 Sunday night games | Subscription |
| Paramount+ | The three CBS games, including Thanksgiving | Subscription |
| ESPN app | Week 16 Monday night vs the Giants | Subscription |
| NFL+ | Local and primetime games on phone or tablet | Subscription |
| YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream | FOX, CBS, NBC and ESPN in one package | Subscription, trials vary |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | Lions Sunday afternoon games outside Michigan | Subscription |
Radio stays with 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM), which extended its Lions deal in February 2026 and carries every preseason, regular season and postseason game with Dan Miller on play by play. Detroit has no Christmas Day game in 2026, so there is no Netflix broadcast for the Lions this season.
Where to Buy Detroit Lions Tickets
Ford Field seats are sold through DetroitLions.com and Ticketmaster, the league’s official ticketing partner. StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats handle resale, and prices often soften closer to kickoff.
Thanksgiving against Chicago and the Week 7 visit from Green Bay are the priciest home dates. Munich tickets run through Ticketmaster Germany with all in pricing, a limit of six per account, and discounted seats for fans under 16.
2026 Detroit Lions Schedule FAQ
When does the 2026 Detroit Lions season start?
Detroit opens at home against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET on FOX. It is the first of eight regular season games at Ford Field.
What week is the Detroit Lions bye week in 2026?
The bye falls in Week 6, the weekend of Sunday, October 18, 2026. Only Carolina and Kansas City rest earlier, in Week 5. Detroit returns to back to back home games against Green Bay and Minnesota.
Who do the Lions play on Thanksgiving in 2026?
Detroit hosts the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET on CBS, opening the holiday tripleheader. It is the 21st Thanksgiving meeting between the clubs and Chicago leads that series 11-9.
Where is the Lions game in Munich and what time does it start?
Detroit faces the New England Patriots at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany on Sunday, November 15, 2026. Kickoff is 9:30 AM ET, which is 3:30 PM local time, on FOX. Detroit is the designated home team, so the game counts as a home date but is not played at Ford Field.
Which Lions players are out to start the 2026 season?
Safeties Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) open the year on the physically unable to perform list, and running back Isiah Pacheco is on injured reserve with an MCL sprain. All three miss the first four games and are eligible to return in Week 5 at Arizona on October 11. Center Cade Mays is also on injured reserve with a wrist injury.
What channel are Detroit Lions games on in 2026?
FOX carries nine Detroit Lions games, CBS three and NBC two, with one game each on Prime Video and ESPN. The Week 18 finale at Green Bay has no assigned network until the NFL sets the final weekend in late December.
How can I watch the Lions without cable in 2026?
An antenna picks up 14 Detroit Lions games free on FOX, CBS and NBC in the Detroit market. Prime Video has the Week 2 game, Peacock has both Sunday night games, Paramount+ has the three CBS games including Thanksgiving, and the ESPN app has the Week 16 Monday night game. NFL+ streams local and primetime games on phone or tablet.
When is the Lions Week 18 game against Green Bay?
Detroit closes the season at Lambeau Field on either Saturday, January 9 or Sunday, January 10, 2027. The NFL confirms the exact date, kickoff time and network in late December.
The 2026 Detroit Lions schedule gives Dan Campbell an early bye, the sixth easiest slate in the league and a home heavy November, with the finish likely decided by road trips to Chicago and Green Bay in the last two weeks.
Download the printable PDF above, circle the Week 6 bye and Thanksgiving, and plan your Sundays.