The 2026 Los Angeles Chargers schedule sends Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert through one of the toughest slates in the league, with eight games against 2025 playoff teams and zero international travel.
Below you will find every game date, kickoff time in Eastern Time, TV channel and streaming option, plus a free printable PDF for your fridge or your phone.
The Chargers open at home against Arizona on September 13 and close the year at Denver for the second straight season. Nine of their 17 games are played at SoFi Stadium, including the Week 8 meeting with the Rams, where Los Angeles is technically the visiting team.
Free Printable Los Angeles Chargers Schedule PDF
The printable Los Angeles Chargers schedule puts the full season on one page. Every row lists the opponent, date, start time in ET and TV channel, with space beside each game to write the final score and track wins and losses through Week 18.
Save it to your phone or print a copy for your game day setup. No signup and no email required.
Download the Printable Chargers Schedule (PDF)
2026 Chargers Preseason Schedule
All three exhibitions fall on Thursday nights and air locally on CBS2 in Los Angeles. The Chargers face each preseason opponent again during the regular season, so the August tune ups double as early scouting.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, Aug 13 | @ Texans | 8:00 PM | CBS2 LA |
| 2 | Thu, Aug 20 | vs 49ers | 10:00 PM | CBS2 LA |
| 3 | Thu, Aug 27 | vs Rams | 10:00 PM | CBS2 LA |
2026 Los Angeles Chargers Schedule: Full Regular Season
Here is the complete week by week slate with kickoff times in Eastern Time. Los Angeles plays eight home games and nine on the road. Weeks 17 and 18 are deliberately unscheduled by the NFL, and late season Sunday windows are flex eligible, so those rows can still move.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | vs Cardinals | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | vs Raiders | 4:05 PM | CBS |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 27 | @ Bills | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | @ Seahawks | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | vs Broncos | 4:05 PM | CBS |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | @ Chiefs | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | BYE WEEK | None | None |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | @ Rams (SoFi) | 4:05 PM | FOX |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | vs Texans | 4:05 PM | CBS |
| 10 | Mon, Nov 16 | @ Ravens | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | vs Jets | 4:05 PM | FOX |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | vs Patriots | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | @ Buccaneers | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | @ Raiders | 4:05 PM | CBS |
| 15 | Thu, Dec 17 | vs 49ers | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 16 | Sun, Dec 27 | @ Dolphins | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 17 | Jan 2 to 4* | vs Chiefs | TBD | TBD |
| 18 | Jan 9 or 10* | @ Broncos | TBD | TBD |
Key Matchups, Bye Week and Storylines
Week 4 is the early measuring stick. The Chargers travel to Seattle to face the defending Super Bowl LX champions, a trip that also puts Harbaugh across from Mike Macdonald, his defensive coordinator at Michigan in 2021. That road test sits inside a four game run that includes three 2025 playoff teams, Buffalo, Seattle and Denver, plus a division trip to Kansas City. The bye follows in Week 7 on the weekend of October 25.
November carries the emotional weight. The Battle of Los Angeles lands in Week 8, when the Rams host the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Harbaugh’s first meeting with Sean McVay as head coaches. Week 10 sends Los Angeles to Baltimore on Monday night against Jesse Minter, the Chargers defensive coordinator for the past two seasons and now the Ravens head coach. Week 12 brings the New England Patriots to SoFi on Sunday Night Football, a rematch of the wild card game that ended the 2025 season 16 to 3.
The December stretch closes with a Thursday night visit from the San Francisco 49ers, the first regular season meeting between the teams at SoFi Stadium, then a road finish at Miami and two AFC West games that could decide the division. Los Angeles splits with the Chiefs, Broncos and Raiders across six division games, with the Kansas City rematch in Week 17 and the finale at Denver in Week 18.
Strength of schedule is the headline number. Chargers opponents combined for a .522 winning percentage in 2025, tied for the ninth toughest in the NFL and fifth highest in the AFC, with the eight playoff team games split evenly between home and road. The upside is travel: with no international game this year, the team’s mileage drops from a league high 37,086 miles to 24,816.
The roster around Herbert looks different. Mike McDaniel arrives as offensive coordinator after four seasons as the Miami head coach, and Chris O’Leary takes over the defense. Khalil Mack agreed to a one year, 18 million dollar extension in March, safety Derwin James Jr. signed a three year, 75.6 million dollar deal that made him the highest paid safety in the NFL, and edge rusher Akheem Mesidor arrived as the first round pick at No.
22 to replace Odafe Oweh, who left for Washington in free agency. Left tackle Rashawn Slater is back after missing all of 2025 with a torn patellar tendon, and Ladd McConkey and Omarion Hampton anchor the skill positions.
How to Watch the 2026 Los Angeles Chargers Schedule on TV and Streaming
CBS carries eight games, the bulk of the Sunday slate. FOX picks up four cross flexed games, NBC has the Sunday night home date with New England, and ESPN handles the Monday night trip to Baltimore.
The Week 15 Thursday night game against San Francisco streams on Prime Video and also airs free over the air in the Los Angeles and San Francisco markets, which is standard for Thursday Night Football.
| PLATFORM | GAMES COVERED |
|---|---|
| Paramount+ | The CBS games carried in your market, on either the Essential or Premium tier |
| Fox One | The four FOX Sunday games |
| Peacock | Sunday Night Football in Week 12 |
| Prime Video | Thursday Night Football in Week 15, also on Twitch |
| ESPN Unlimited | Monday Night Football in Week 10, in the ESPN app or through Disney+ |
| NFL+ | Local and primetime games on phone and tablet only |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | Out of market Sunday games, exclusive to YouTube and YouTube TV |
| YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo | CBS, FOX, NBC and ESPN together. On YouTube TV this requires the Sports plan, not the cheaper Entertainment plan |
The cheapest way to watch is still an HD antenna, which pulls in local CBS, FOX and NBC broadcasts at no cost across Southern California. CBS2 carries all three preseason games in the Los Angeles market, and the Thursday night game against San Francisco is free over the air locally even though it is a Prime Video broadcast.
Note that Paramount+ and Peacock no longer offer direct free trials, though both come bundled with some Walmart+ and DirecTV plans.
Where to Buy Chargers Tickets
Single game and season tickets are sold through the official Chargers ticket office at Chargers.com. Ticketmaster is the league’s official ticketing partner and runs the NFL Ticket Exchange, and SeatGeek is also an NFL licensed platform carrying both primary and resale inventory.
StubHub and Vivid Seats list resale seats too, but they are not official NFL partners. Prices climb closer to kickoff, so the Sunday night game against New England and the Thursday night game against San Francisco are the two worth booking early.
FAQ: Los Angeles Chargers 2026 Season
When do the Chargers play their first game in 2026?
The Chargers open the regular season at home against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 4:25 PM ET on CBS. The preseason opener is Thursday, August 13 at the Houston Texans.
When is the Chargers bye week in 2026?
The Chargers have their bye in Week 7, on the weekend of October 25, 2026. It follows a four game stretch that includes three 2025 playoff teams: at Buffalo, at Seattle and home against Denver, plus a division road trip to Kansas City.
What channel are Chargers games on in 2026?
CBS carries eight games, the bulk of the season. FOX has four Sunday games, NBC has the Week 12 Sunday night game against New England, ESPN has the Week 10 Monday night game at Baltimore, and Prime Video streams the Week 15 Thursday night game against San Francisco. Weeks 17 and 18 have no channel assigned yet. All three preseason games air on CBS2 in Los Angeles.
How many primetime games do the Chargers have in 2026?
Three are scheduled: Monday Night Football at Baltimore on November 16, Sunday Night Football against New England on November 29, and Thursday Night Football against San Francisco on December 17. Two of the three are at SoFi Stadium. Weeks 17 and 18 are still unassigned and could add another.
Why do Weeks 17 and 18 show no date or time?
The NFL holds back four Week 17 games as designated matchups, and Chiefs at Chargers is one of them, so it could be played Saturday, Sunday or Monday between January 2 and January 4, 2027. Week 18 dates and channels are set only after Week 17 finishes, and some Week 18 games are played on Saturday, January 9 rather than Sunday, January 10.
Who is the Chargers head coach and quarterback in 2026?
Jim Harbaugh returns for his third season as head coach with Joe Hortiz as general manager. Justin Herbert is the starting quarterback. Mike McDaniel, the former Miami Dolphins head coach, is the new offensive coordinator, and Chris O’Leary is the new defensive coordinator after Jesse Minter left to become the Baltimore Ravens head coach.
Where do the Chargers play home games?
The Chargers play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which they share with the Los Angeles Rams. They have eight home games in 2026, and they also appear at SoFi in Week 8 as the visiting team against the Rams, so nine of their 17 games are played in the building.
Do the Chargers play an international game in 2026?
No. The Chargers have no international game this season, a change from 2025 when they opened against Kansas City at Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 5. Their travel drops from a league high 37,086 miles to 24,816 as a result.
How did the Chargers finish the 2025 season?
Los Angeles went 11-6, finished second in the AFC West behind Denver and entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. The season ended with a 16 to 3 wild card loss at the New England Patriots, who went on to reach Super Bowl LX.
When do the Chargers play their AFC West rivals?
The Chargers host the Raiders in Week 2 and visit them in Week 14, host the Broncos in Week 5 and visit them in Week 18, and visit the Chiefs in Week 6 before hosting Kansas City in Week 17.
Have the Chargers ever won a Super Bowl?
No. The franchise has one Super Bowl appearance, a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX after the 1994 season. The Chargers did win the AFL championship in 1963, beating the Boston Patriots.
Is the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium this season?
Yes. Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which means the Chargers could play a home stadium Super Bowl if they reach it.
Can I watch Chargers games for free?
Yes. An HD antenna picks up local CBS, FOX and NBC broadcasts at no cost, CBS2 carries the three preseason games in the Los Angeles market, and the Week 15 Thursday night game airs free over the air locally even though it streams on Prime Video. Paramount+ and Peacock no longer offer direct free trials.
From the Seattle road test in October to the Sunday night rematch with New England and a division deciding finish at Denver, the 2026 Los Angeles Chargers schedule gives fans a season worth planning around.
Bookmark this page, download the free printable Chargers schedule, and check back as the NFL sets the Week 17 and Week 18 windows.