The 2026 Carolina Panthers Schedule starts earlier than any other team’s and finishes where it began. Carolina opens the preseason in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 6, then opens and closes the regular season at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers arrive as reigning NFC South champions after an 8 and 9 season that ended in a home wild card loss to the Rams. Dave Canales is in year three, Brad Idzik now calls the offence, and Bryce Young is playing on a picked up fifth year option.
Every game below carries the date, kickoff time in Eastern Time and the TV channel, plus the Week 5 bye, three primetime slots and a free printable PDF you can pin to the fridge.
Free Printable Carolina Panthers Schedule PDF
One page, letter size, built to print in black and white or colour. It lists all 21 games, the dates, kickoff times in ET, TV channels and a blank result column so you can fill in scores as the season runs.
Download the Printable Carolina Panthers Schedule PDF
Want the rest of the league on one sheet? Grab the 2026 NFL full schedule or the 2026 NFL preseason TV schedule.
2026 Panthers Preseason Schedule and Hall of Fame Game
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOF | Thu, Aug 6 | @ Cardinals | 8:00 PM | NBC |
| 1 | Sat, Aug 15 | @ Bills | 1:00 PM | Panthers TV Network |
| 2 | Fri, Aug 21 | @ Jaguars | 7:30 PM | Panthers TV Network |
| 3 | Fri, Aug 28 | vs Texans | 7:00 PM | Panthers TV Network |
The Hall of Fame Game is Carolina’s reward for having Luke Kuechly in the Class of 2026. It is played at neutral site Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, with Arizona as the designated home team. Kuechly is enshrined at noon two days later, on Saturday, August 8, alongside Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig. Fitzgerald is why Arizona drew the other half of the fixture.
It is Carolina’s first Hall of Fame Game since 1995, their expansion season, when they beat fellow newcomer Jacksonville 20 to 14. Practically it means a fourth exhibition and an extra week of camp before cuts. Joint practices run August 19 at Jacksonville and August 26 against Houston in Charlotte, each two days before the matching game.
The three regular exhibitions air across the 16 station Panthers Television Network, with WSOC channel 9 as the Charlotte outlet under a partnership that runs through 2030. They also stream free inside the region on panthers.com and the Panthers app.
The Jacksonville game on August 21 additionally appears on published lists of ESPN’s out of market App matchups, so viewers outside the Carolinas should check there. No Panthers game is on NFL Network’s 19 game preseason slate.
2026 Carolina Panthers Schedule: Full Regular Season
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | vs Bears | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | @ Falcons | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 27 | @ Browns | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | vs Lions | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 5 | Oct 11 | BYE WEEK | No game | No game |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | @ Eagles | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | vs Buccaneers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 8 | Thu, Oct 29 | @ Packers | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | vs Broncos | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | @ Saints | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | vs Ravens | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 12 | Mon, Nov 30 | @ Buccaneers | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | @ Vikings | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | vs Saints | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | vs Bengals | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 16 | Dec 26 or 27 | @ Steelers | TBD | TBD |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | vs Seahawks | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 18 | Jan 9 or 10 | vs Falcons | TBD | TBD |
Nine home games, eight on the road, no international trip. The network split is FOX 8, CBS 4, NBC 1, Prime Video 1, ESPN 1 and two still unassigned.
Weeks 16 and 18 stay open because the league slots them late. Twelve of the 16 Week 16 games already have dates, and the Pittsburgh trip is one of four left in the pool for two Saturday, December 26 windows on NFL Network.
Whichever two are not chosen play Sunday, December 27, and the league confirms it no later than just after Week 14. The Week 18 finale against Atlanta is set only once Week 17 is played, which puts it on Saturday, January 9 or Sunday, January 10.
Key Matchups, Bye Week and Primetime Games
Three primetime games, all in a nine week stretch
Carolina’s national showcase runs from early October to the end of November. Sunday Night Football against the Lions in Week 4 is the first primetime home game, Thursday Night Football at the Packers in Week 8 follows a short turnaround from the Buccaneers game four days earlier, and Monday Night Football at Tampa Bay in Week 12 closes the set. That last one is an ESPN exclusive with no ABC simulcast.
Three is the count as currently assigned, not a ceiling. A Saturday night slot in Week 16 or a late window in Week 18 would add a fourth.
Week 5 bye, the earliest in the league
Byes do not start until Week 5 in 2026, and only Carolina and Kansas City take that first one, on the weekend of October 11. An early bye is a mixed blessing: it arrives before the injuries pile up, but it leaves 13 straight game weeks from Week 6 through Week 18. The one breather inside that run is the ten day gap after the Thursday night trip to Green Bay.
Defending the NFC South
Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta all finished 8 and 9 in 2025. The Panthers took the division on a 3 and 1 head to head record, their first NFC South title since 2015 and their first playoff trip since 2017. It also made them the only franchise to have won a division title with a losing record twice, after the 7 and 8 and 1 team of 2014. As the fourth seed they hosted a wild card game and lost 34 to 31 to the Rams.
The six divisional games are spread evenly: Atlanta in Weeks 2 and 18, Tampa Bay in Weeks 7 and 12, New Orleans in Weeks 10 and 14. The season finale against Atlanta at Bank of America Stadium is the fixture most likely to decide the title again.
The toughest tests and the reunions
Six of Carolina’s opponents made the 2025 playoffs: the Bears, Broncos, Seahawks, Packers, Eagles and Steelers. Eight games in total come against teams that finished 2025 with a winning record, which puts Carolina’s strength of schedule 10th toughest in the league at a .521 combined opponent win percentage.
Two personal storylines stand out. Week 16 at Pittsburgh is Rico Dowdle’s first meeting with the team he ran for 1,076 yards for last season, before signing with the Steelers in March. And Week 17 brings the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks to Charlotte, fresh off a 29 to 13 win over New England in Super Bowl LX. It doubles as a Dave Canales rematch with the organisation where he spent 13 seasons.
What changed this offseason
The biggest change is not on the roster. Canales handed play calling to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik in February after two seasons in which the offence finished 23rd then 27th in scoring, freeing himself up for game management, special teams and officiating. Idzik has never called plays in a regular season game. Ejiro Evero stays as defensive coordinator, Tracy Smith runs special teams, and Darrell Bevell joins from Miami as associate head coach.
Bryce Young enters year four with his fifth year option exercised on April 29, putting him under contract through 2027. He set career highs in 2025 with 3,011 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and an 87.8 passer rating in 16 games, and he leads the league in game winning drives since entering it in 2023. Tetairoa McMillan, the 2025 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year with 70 catches for 1,014 yards, remains his main target. Kenny Pickett arrives from Las Vegas to compete with Andy Dalton for the backup job.
Free agency brought pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and running back AJ Dillon from Philadelphia, linebacker Devin Lloyd from Jacksonville, receiver John Metchie III from the Jets and left tackle Rasheed Walker from Green Bay. Walker matters most: Ikem Ekwonu tore a patellar tendon in the wild card game, so Walker opens the season protecting Young’s blind side. Metchie played alongside Young at Alabama in 2020 and 2021.
The draft produced seven picks, opening with Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling at number 19, then Lee Hunter, Chris Brazzell II, Will Lee III, Sam Hecht, Zakee Wheatley and Jackson Kuwatch. Dowdle, Austin Corbett and Cade Mays left. Compare the roster churn across the league on the printable list of NFL teams.
How to Watch the Carolina Panthers Schedule on TV and Streaming
Every row below says what the platform actually delivers for a Panthers fan rather than listing channels in the abstract.
| PLATFORM | WHAT IT COVERS FOR PANTHERS FANS | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Panthers TV Network | The three regular preseason games | WSOC channel 9 in Charlotte, 16 stations in all |
| FOX | Eight games, including three of the six NFC South fixtures | Free over the air in the Carolinas |
| CBS | Four games: Weeks 6, 9, 13 and 14 | Free over the air in the Carolinas |
| NBC and Peacock | Week 4 Sunday night against Detroit, plus the Hall of Fame Game | Peacock carries the same feed |
| Prime Video | Week 8 Thursday night at Green Bay | Included with Amazon Prime |
| ESPN | Week 12 Monday night at Tampa Bay | ESPN exclusive, no ABC simulcast |
| Paramount+ | The four CBS games only | Cheapest route to the CBS slate |
| YouTube TV | FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network | Needs a sports inclusive tier for ESPN and NFL Network |
| Hulu + Live TV | FOX, CBS, NBC and ESPN | Covers all three primetime games |
| Fubo | FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network | NBC returned to Fubo in June 2026 |
| NFL+ | Live local and primetime games on phone or tablet only | $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | Out of market Sunday afternoon games | From $240 a season for new YouTube TV members |
If you live inside the Carolinas broadcast footprint, an antenna gets you 13 of the 17 games at no cost: every FOX and CBS game plus the Sunday night game. Outside the region, Sunday Ticket is the only legitimate way to see out of market Sunday afternoon kickoffs, and it runs $378 for returning YouTube TV members or $240 through YouTube Primetime Channels, with NFL RedZone another $42.
On radio, every game airs on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network with flagship WRFX 99.7 The Fox in Charlotte. Anish Shroff handles play by play, Panthers legends provide analysis, and Jim Szoke hosts the Panthers Stadium Show pregame.
One scheduling caveat worth knowing: Sunday afternoon games can be moved into or out of primetime under the league’s flexible scheduling rules, Monday night games can be flexed from Week 12 with 12 days notice, and Week 18 is finalised only after Week 17 is played.
Tickets, Training Camp and Fan Fest
Season tickets and single game seats come from panthers.com and Ticketmaster, the club’s official channels, with NFL Ticket Exchange on Ticketmaster and the PSL marketplace handling official resale. StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats are third party secondary markets rather than team partners. Prices swing hard by opponent, and the Seahawks and Falcons games that close the year carry the most demand.
Bank of America Stadium is in the middle of a $1.3 billion phased renovation running through 2030. All nine 2026 home games are there at full capacity; the standing room conversion that shifts some PSL seats does not begin until 2027, and the club has already outlined relocation options for the holders affected.
Veterans reported to training camp on July 22 this year, a week earlier than usual because of the Hall of Fame Game, and practices are held in Charlotte rather than at Wofford College, where the team trained until 2023.
Fan Fest lands on Friday, July 31: gates at 5:00 PM, practice at 7:30 PM, tickets $5 with all proceeds to Carolina Panthers Charities, and a fireworks and laser show at the end. The first 10,000 fans through the gate get roster flip cards.
2026 Panthers Schedule FAQ
When does the 2026 Carolina Panthers schedule start?
Carolina starts before everyone else. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game against Arizona is Thursday, August 6 at 8:00 PM ET on NBC in Canton. The regular season opener is Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 PM ET against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on FOX.
Why are the Panthers playing in the 2026 Hall of Fame Game?
Because linebacker Luke Kuechly is in the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. He is enshrined at noon on Saturday, August 8 in Canton alongside Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig, and Fitzgerald is why Arizona drew the other half of the game. It is Carolina’s first Hall of Fame Game since 1995.
When is the Panthers bye week in 2026?
Week 5, the weekend of October 11. Byes do not start until Week 5 this season and only Carolina and Kansas City take that first one, which leaves the Panthers playing 13 consecutive game weeks from Week 6 through Week 18.
How many primetime games do the Panthers have in 2026?
Three as currently assigned. Sunday Night Football at home against Detroit in Week 4 on NBC, Thursday Night Football at Green Bay in Week 8 on Prime Video, and Monday Night Football at Tampa Bay in Week 12 on ESPN. The Monday game is an ESPN exclusive with no ABC simulcast. A Saturday night slot in Week 16 or a late Week 18 window could add a fourth.
Who is the Panthers head coach in 2026?
Dave Canales, in his third season. The change for 2026 is that offensive coordinator Brad Idzik now calls the plays instead of Canales, announced at the Combine in February. Idzik has never called plays in a regular season game. Ejiro Evero remains defensive coordinator and Tracy Smith runs special teams.
Who is the Panthers starting quarterback in 2026?
Bryce Young, in his fourth season. Carolina exercised his fifth year option on April 29, 2026, putting him under contract through the 2027 season. He set career highs in 2025 with 3,011 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and an 87.8 passer rating in 16 games. Kenny Pickett signed from Las Vegas to compete with Andy Dalton for the backup job.
How did the Panthers finish the 2025 season?
They went 8 and 9 and still won the NFC South, their first division title since 2015, on a 3 and 1 head to head record in a three way tie with Tampa Bay and Atlanta at the same record. That made Carolina the only franchise to win a division title with a losing record twice, after 2014. As the fourth seed they hosted a wild card game and lost 34 to 31 to the Rams.
Where do the Panthers play their home games in 2026?
Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The stadium is undergoing a $1.3 billion phased renovation through 2030, but all nine 2026 home games are played there at full capacity. The standing room conversion that affects some seats starts in 2027.
What TV channels show Panthers games in 2026?
FOX carries eight games, CBS four, NBC one, Prime Video one and ESPN one, with Weeks 16 and 18 still unassigned. The three regular preseason games air on the 16 station Panthers Television Network, with WSOC channel 9 as the Charlotte outlet, and NBC has the Hall of Fame Game.
How can I stream Panthers games without cable?
YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo all carry the broadcast networks and ESPN, though YouTube TV needs a sports inclusive tier for ESPN and NFL Network. Paramount+ covers the four CBS games, Peacock simulcasts the Week 4 Sunday night game, and Prime Video has the Week 8 Thursday night game. NFL+ streams live local and primetime games on phone and tablet for $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year.
Can I watch Panthers games for free?
Yes, if you live inside the broadcast region. An antenna gets 13 of the 17 games at no cost, every FOX and CBS game plus the Sunday night game, and preseason games stream free in market on panthers.com and the Panthers app. Free trials on YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Paramount+ are the other route.
Why are Weeks 16 and 18 marked TBD?
The NFL slots those windows late so it can pick the most attractive matchups. Carolina at Pittsburgh is one of four Week 16 games still competing for two Saturday, December 26 windows on NFL Network; the two not chosen play Sunday, December 27, confirmed no later than just after Week 14. The Week 18 home game against Atlanta is scheduled only after Week 17 is played, so it lands Saturday, January 9 or Sunday, January 10.
The 2026 Carolina Panthers Schedule gives a division champion an unusual shape: an August 6 start in Canton, the earliest bye in the league, then 13 straight game weeks that end with Atlanta at home in Week 18.
Download the printable PDF, mark the Week 5 bye and the three primetime nights, and check back once the league fills in Weeks 16 and 18.