The 2026 Detroit Lions schedule opens at Ford Field against New Orleans on Sunday, September 13 and closes with a January trip to Green Bay. Detroit gets an unusually early bye in Week 6, hosts New England in Munich in Week 10, and plays Chicago on Thanksgiving for the 21st time.
Every game below carries a kickoff time in ET, the TV channel and a streaming option, plus a free printable PDF you can put on the fridge.
Dan Campbell enters his sixth season with a new offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, and a rebuilt offensive line. Detroit went 9-8 in 2025 and finished last in the NFC North, so the draw matters this year: Lions opponents went a combined .467 last season, the sixth easiest slate in the league.
Free Printable Detroit Lions Schedule PDF
The printable Detroit Lions schedule fits the full season on one letter size page: three preseason games, all 18 regular season 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 so you always know when Detroit plays next.
Download the Printable Detroit Lions Schedule (PDF)
Want every team on one sheet? Grab the 2026 NFL schedule printable.
2026 Detroit Lions Preseason Schedule
Detroit skipped joint practices this summer, so Dan Campbell expects deeper rotations and heavier snap counts for rookies across all three exhibitions. All three games air locally on the Lions TV Network, and the August 29 trip to Indianapolis is also carried nationally on NFL Network.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, Aug 13 | @ Bengals | 7:00 PM | Lions TV Network |
| 2 | Sat, Aug 22 | vs Commanders | 12:00 PM | Lions TV Network |
| 3 | Sat, Aug 29 | @ Colts | 1:00 PM | Lions TV Network, NFL Network |
Training camp runs at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park from August 2, when Back Together Weekend opens the summer. Five practices are free and open to the public on August 3, 4, 6, 10 and 19.
Full 2026 Detroit Lions Regular Season Schedule
All 17 games with kickoff times in ET. Detroit plays eight games at Ford Field, eight true road games, and hosts 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 and kickoff time in late December.
Network split: FOX carries nine games, CBS three, NBC two, with one each on Prime Video and ESPN. Week 18 is unassigned until the league finalizes the final weekend.
Key Matchups on the 2026 Lions Schedule
- Week 10 vs Patriots in Munich, Sunday, November 15: Detroit’s first game in Germany and its first international appearance since 2015. Kickoff is 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM local, on FOX. The round trip is 8,636 air miles, easily the longest of the year.
- Week 12 vs Bears on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26: The 21st Thanksgiving meeting between these two, on CBS at 1:00 PM ET, opening the holiday tripleheader. Chicago leads the holiday series 11-9. Detroit has played on Thanksgiving since 1934 and every year since 1945, and sits 38-46-2 all time on the day.
- Week 7 vs Packers, Sunday, October 25: The 194th meeting between the franchises, more than Detroit has played any other opponent. The rematch in Week 18 makes it 195.
- Week 2 at Bills, Thursday, September 17: A short week on the road, and the first regular season game ever played at Buffalo’s new Highmark Stadium. Detroit is the opponent for the building’s debut.
- Week 16 vs Giants, Monday, December 28: Detroit’s only Monday night game of the season and the final home date of the year, since Weeks 17 and 18 are both on the road.
- Weeks 17 and 18 at Chicago and Green Bay: Back to back division road games to close the year, exactly the stretch that decided Detroit’s 2025 season.
Detroit Lions 2026 Bye Week
The Lions bye falls in Week 6, the weekend of Sunday, October 18. Only Carolina and Kansas City bye earlier, in Week 5. It arrives right before the NFC North slate opens with Green Bay and Minnesota in back to back home games. Detroit then gets a second natural break after the Thanksgiving game in Week 12, with 10 days before traveling to Atlanta.
What Changed in Detroit This Offseason
Drew Petzing arrives from Arizona as offensive coordinator, replacing John Morton, and brings a matchup based scheme built on the run game and heavy tight end usage. Kelvin Sheppard stays on defense and is moving toward lighter, nickel heavy packages.
The offensive line has three new starters: Penei Sewell shifts to left tackle, Cade Mays takes over at center, and first round pick Blake Miller competes with Larry Borom at right tackle after Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow were released.
David Montgomery was traded to Houston and Isaiah Pacheco signed to share the backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs. Jack Campbell signed a four year extension worth $81 million, and Jahmyr Gibbs is the biggest extension candidate still unresolved heading into camp. Safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch opened camp on the physically unable to perform list.
How to Watch the 2026 Detroit Lions Schedule on TV and Streaming
Most of the season is free over the air. FOX and CBS between them carry 12 of the 17 games, and NBC adds two more, so a good antenna in the Detroit market covers 14 games at no cost.
Only three games sit behind a paid service: the Week 2 Thursday nighter on Prime Video, the Week 16 Monday nighter on ESPN, and whatever Week 18 becomes.
Detroit also draws six standalone windows with no other NFL game playing 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 |
| Lions TV Network | All three preseason games | Free |
Radio stays with 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM), which extended its deal with the club in February 2026 and carries every preseason, regular season and postseason game with Dan Miller on play by play. Note that Detroit has no Christmas Day game in 2026, so there is no Netflix broadcast this season.
Where to Buy Detroit Lions Tickets
Season tickets and single game seats for Ford Field are sold through DetroitLions.com and Ticketmaster, the league’s official ticketing partner. StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats handle secondary sales and often soften on price closer to kickoff.
Expect Thanksgiving against Chicago and the Week 7 visit from Green Bay to be the priciest dates. The Munich game is ticketed separately through the NFL’s German Ticketmaster site, where general sale opened on July 10, 2026, with all in pricing that includes fees.
2026 Detroit Lions Schedule FAQ
When does the 2026 Detroit Lions season start?
The Detroit Lions open the 2026 regular season at home against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET on FOX. Their preseason begins earlier, on Thursday, August 13, at Cincinnati.
What week is the Detroit Lions bye week in 2026?
The Detroit Lions have their bye in Week 6, the weekend of Sunday, October 18, 2026. Only Carolina and Kansas City bye earlier. Detroit returns to back to back home games against Green Bay and Minnesota.
Who do the Lions play on Thanksgiving in 2026?
The Detroit Lions host 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 two clubs and Chicago leads that series 11-9.
Where is the Lions Munich game in 2026 and what time does it start?
The Detroit Lions host 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, and it is the club’s first international game since playing Kansas City at Wembley in 2015.
How many primetime games do the Lions have in 2026?
The Detroit Lions have four primetime games in 2026: Thursday night at Buffalo in Week 2, Sunday night at Carolina in Week 4, Sunday night at Minnesota in Week 15, and Monday night against the New York Giants in Week 16. Counting Munich and Thanksgiving, they get six standalone national windows.
What channel are Detroit Lions games on in 2026?
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.
How many home games do the Lions play in 2026?
The Detroit Lions play eight home games at Ford Field in 2026, plus one designated home game in Munich in Week 10. That leaves eight true road games, including the Week 18 finale at Green Bay.
Do the Detroit Lions play on Christmas in 2026?
No. The Detroit Lions have no Christmas Day game in 2026, so there is no Netflix broadcast for Detroit this season. Their nearest games are Week 15 at Minnesota on December 20 and Week 16 against the Giants on December 28.
When is the Lions Week 18 game against Green Bay?
The Detroit Lions close the 2026 season at Green Bay in Week 18, on either Saturday, January 9 or Sunday, January 10, 2027. The NFL confirms the exact date, kickoff time and network in late December.
How hard is the 2026 Detroit Lions schedule?
Detroit’s 2026 opponents posted a combined .467 winning percentage in 2025, the sixth easiest strength of schedule in the NFL. Seven of the 17 games come against teams that made the 2025 playoffs.
Are any Lions preseason games on national TV in 2026?
Yes. The Detroit Lions preseason finale at Indianapolis on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET is carried nationally on NFL Network. All three preseason games also air locally on the Lions TV Network.
Where can I download the printable Detroit Lions schedule?
The free printable Detroit Lions schedule PDF is in this post, just above the preseason table. It fits every preseason and regular season game on one letter size page with dates, kickoff times in ET, TV channels, the bye week and a blank result column.
The 2026 Detroit Lions schedule gives Dan Campbell an early bye, the sixth easiest slate in the league, and a genuine chance to reclaim the NFC North after a 9-8 season.
The path runs through a Munich trip in November, the Thanksgiving classic against Chicago, and two division road games to finish
Download the printable PDF above, mark the bye in Week 6, and plan your Sundays.