The 2026 Carolina Panthers Schedule is now set for kickoff. Preseason is over, the 53 man roster is in, and Carolina opens the regular season at home against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 PM ET on FOX.
Below you get every game with the date, kickoff time in Eastern Time and the TV channel, plus the Week 5 bye, the three primetime nights, the players who will miss the opening month and a free printable PDF for 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 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 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 windows still open.
Weeks 16 and 18 stay blank because the league fills them late. Carolina at Pittsburgh is one of four Week 16 games in the pool for two Saturday, December 26 windows on NFL Network at 4:30 PM and 8:00 PM ET.
The two that miss out play Sunday, December 27, and the league confirms the split after Week 14. The Week 18 finale against Atlanta is announced only at the end of Week 17, so it lands Saturday, January 9 or Sunday, January 10.
2026 Panthers Preseason Results
Carolina played four exhibitions instead of three because Luke Kuechly went into the Hall of Fame Class of 2026, which earned the team the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton. The Panthers finished 3 and 1.
| GAME | DATE | OPPONENT | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOF | Thu, Aug 6 | vs Cardinals (Canton) | W 33 to 30 |
| 1 | Sat, Aug 15 | @ Bills | L 14 to 29 |
| 2 | Fri, Aug 21 | @ Jaguars | W 34 to 17 |
| 3 | Fri, Aug 28 | vs Texans | W 16 to 13 |
Undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King won the Hall of Fame Game with a last second touchdown and played his way onto the roster as the third quarterback. Kuechly was enshrined at noon on Saturday, August 8 alongside Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig.
Roster and Injury Notes Before Week 1
Both starting tackles begin the year on the shelf. Ikem Ekwonu is on reserve or physically unable to perform after tearing a patellar tendon in the January playoff loss to the Rams, and right tackle Taylor Moton is on the non football illness list. Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton joins Ekwonu on PUP. All three must miss at least four games, so Week 5 is the earliest any of them can play, though they can practise again after two weeks.
That reshapes the offensive line. Free agent signing Rasheed Walker, who arrived from Green Bay, protects Bryce Young at left tackle, and first round rookie Monroe Freeling, taken 19th overall out of Georgia, starts at right tackle. Damien Lewis, Luke Fortner and Robert Hunt fill the interior.
Carolina also signed veteran linebacker Bobby Okereke after cuts, pairing him with Jacksonville arrival Devin Lloyd in the middle, and waived 2024 draft pick Trevin Wallace in the squeeze. Running back Trevor Etienne went to injured reserve with a designation to return. The team kept five tight ends, including Darren Waller, and three quarterbacks.
The other change carried over from the offseason is who calls the offence. Dave Canales handed play calling to coordinator Brad Idzik in February after two seasons ranked 23rd then 27th in scoring. Ejiro Evero stays as defensive coordinator.
Bryce Young opens year four with his fifth year option exercised, backed by reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette and Chuba Hubbard. Compare the roster churn across the league on the printable list of NFL teams.
Key Matchups, Bye Week and Primetime Games
Three primetime games in a nine week stretch
Sunday Night Football at home against the Lions in Week 4 comes first. Thursday Night Football at the Packers in Week 8 follows a short turnaround, only four days after the Buccaneers game. Monday Night Football at Tampa Bay in Week 12 closes the set and is an ESPN exclusive with no ABC simulcast. A Saturday slot in Week 16 or a late Week 18 window could still add a fourth.
Week 5 bye, the earliest in the league
Byes do not begin until Week 5 in 2026, and only Carolina and Kansas City take that first one, on the weekend of October 11. It arrives early enough to help the injured tackles return, but it leaves 13 straight game weeks from Week 6 to Week 18. The only 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. 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 finale against Atlanta at Bank of America Stadium is the game most likely to decide the title again.
Toughest tests and reunion games
Six opponents made the 2025 playoffs: the Bears, Broncos, Seahawks, Packers, Eagles and Steelers. Eight games come against teams that finished 2025 above .500, which puts Carolina 10th toughest in the league on strength of schedule at a .521 opponent win percentage.
Two reunions stand out. Week 16 at Pittsburgh is Rico Dowdle’s first meeting with Carolina after running for 1,076 yards here last season. 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, and doubles as a Dave Canales rematch with the club where he spent 13 seasons.
How to Watch the Carolina Panthers Schedule on TV and Streaming
| PLATFORM | WHAT IT COVERS FOR PANTHERS FANS | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| FOX | Eight games, including three 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 | 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 | Both tiers carry them; the Sports Plan is $64.99 a month |
| Hulu + Live TV | FOX, CBS, NBC and ESPN | Covers all three primetime games |
| Fubo | FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network | NBC is back on all Fubo plans |
| 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 | $378 a season with YouTube TV, $480 without |
Inside the Carolinas broadcast footprint, an antenna gets 13 of the 17 games at no cost: every FOX and CBS game plus the Sunday night game. Outside the region, NFL Sunday Ticket is the only legitimate way to see out of market Sunday afternoon kickoffs. It lists at $378 a season for YouTube TV subscribers and $480 on YouTube Primetime Channels, students pay $119, and NFL RedZone adds roughly $40.
On radio, every game airs on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network with flagship WRFX 99.7 The Fox in Charlotte, where Anish Shroff handles play by play.
One caveat worth marking on your printable: Sunday night games can be flexed with 12 days notice through Week 13 and about six days from Week 14, Monday night games can be flexed from Week 12, and Week 18 is announced only after Week 17 is played.
Tickets and Bank of America Stadium
Single game seats come from panthers.com and Ticketmaster, the club’s official channels, with NFL Ticket Exchange 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 in Charlotte is in the middle of a $1.3 billion phased renovation due for completion in 2030. Work through the end of the 2026 season stays behind the scenes, so all nine home games are played there as normal. The fan facing build starts in 2027, and the club says PSL owners whose seats sit in the affected 500 level will hear from the team directly.
2026 Panthers Schedule FAQ
When is the Panthers first game of the 2026 season?
Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 PM ET against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium, live on FOX. Carolina already played its preseason, including the Hall of Fame Game on August 6.
How did the Panthers do in the 2026 preseason?
They finished 3 and 1. Carolina beat Arizona 33 to 30 in the Hall of Fame Game, lost 29 to 14 at Buffalo, won 34 to 17 at Jacksonville and beat Houston 16 to 13 in the finale.
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 13 consecutive game weeks from Week 6 through Week 18.
Which Panthers starters miss the start of the season?
Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton opened on reserve or physically unable to perform, and right tackle Taylor Moton on the non football illness list. All three sit out at least the first four games. Running back Trevor Etienne is on injured reserve with a designation to return.
How many primetime games do the Panthers have in 2026?
Three as 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. A Saturday slot in Week 16 or a late Week 18 window could add a fourth.
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. Inside the Carolinas an antenna picks up 13 of the 17 games free.
How can I stream Panthers games without cable?
YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo all carry the broadcast networks and ESPN, and both YouTube TV tiers include 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 local and primetime games on phone and tablet for $6.99 a month.
Why are Weeks 16 and 18 still marked TBD?
The NFL slots those windows late so it can pick the best matchups. Carolina at Pittsburgh is one of four Week 16 games in the pool for two Saturday, December 26 windows on NFL Network, with the rest playing Sunday, December 27. The Week 18 home game against Atlanta is scheduled only after Week 17, so it lands Saturday, January 9 or Sunday, January 10.
The 2026 Carolina Panthers Schedule asks a division champion to start without both starting tackles, take the earliest bye in the league, then play 13 straight weeks that finish with Atlanta at home.
Download the printable PDF, circle the Week 5 bye and the three primetime nights, and check back when the league fills in Weeks 16 and 18.