The 2026 Houston Texans schedule hands DeMeco Ryans a home heavy start, a Week 6 trip to London and four primetime windows. Below you will find every preseason and regular season game with dates, kickoff times in Eastern Time, TV channels and live streaming options, plus a free printable PDF you can keep on the fridge, at your desk or on your phone.
Houston opens at home against Buffalo on September 13, takes its bye in Week 8, and closes the regular season against Tennessee at NRG Stadium.
2026 Houston Texans Schedule at a Glance
The Texans went 12 and 5 in 2025 and made the playoffs for a third straight season, a franchise first. They beat Pittsburgh 30 to 6 in the Wild Card round for the first road postseason win in club history, then lost 28 to 16 at New England in the Divisional Round. Jacksonville won the AFC South, so reclaiming the division title is goal number one.
C.J. Stroud returns for a pivotal fourth season behind a rebuilt offensive line. Houston traded with Detroit for running back David Montgomery, signed guard Wyatt Teller and tackle Braden Smith, and spent the 26th overall pick on Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge. Nick Caley is back for a second year as offensive coordinator.
Defense is still the identity. Will Anderson Jr. and a newly extended Danielle Hunter rush the passer, Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter, Jalen Pitre and free agent safety Reed Blankenship cover, and second round pick Kayden McDonald adds size inside for coordinator Matt Burke. Oddsmakers set the Texans win total at 9.5, and ESPN rates the slate the seventh easiest in the league.
Free Printable Houston Texans Schedule PDF
The printable Houston Texans schedule puts the whole season on a single letter size page. Every row lists the opponent, date, kickoff time in Eastern Time and TV channel, with space to write in scores and follow the record from Week 1 through Week 18. No signup and no extra steps, just click and download.
2026 Texans Preseason Schedule
Houston hosts two exhibition games at NRG Stadium and finishes on the road in Charlotte. ABC 13 KTRK carries the local broadcasts, and the Las Vegas game airs nationally on ESPN.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | Thu, Aug 13 | vs Chargers | 8:00 PM | KTRK |
| P2 | Thu, Aug 20 | vs Raiders | 8:00 PM | ESPN |
| P3 | Fri, Aug 28 | at Panthers | 7:00 PM | KTRK |
2026 Houston Texans Schedule: Full Regular Season
Here is the complete week by week slate with kickoff times in Eastern Time. Networks and times from Week 5 onward can move under NFL flexible scheduling, and Week 18 is set once the playoff picture clears.
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | vs Bills | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | vs Bengals | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 27 | at Colts | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | vs Cowboys | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | at Titans | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | at Jaguars | 9:30 AM | NFL Network |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | vs Giants | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 8 | Bye Week | No game | None | None |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | at Chargers | 4:05 PM | CBS |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | at Browns | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 11 | Thu, Nov 19 | vs Colts | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | vs Ravens | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | at Steelers | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | at Commanders | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | vs Jaguars | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 16 | Thu, Dec 24 | at Eagles | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 17 | Mon, Jan 4 | at Packers | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 18 | TBD | vs Titans | TBD | TBD |
Week 6 is played at Wembley Stadium in London with Jacksonville as the designated home team, so Houston keeps all eight home dates at NRG Stadium. The Week 17 Monday night game at Lambeau Field falls on January 4, 2027.
Key Matchups, Bye Week and the London Game
Three of the first four games are at NRG Stadium, which gives Houston a real chance to bank early wins after an 0 and 3 start last year. The Week 1 opener against Buffalo is the headline. The last time these teams met in primetime, on Thursday night in Week 12 last season, the Texans sacked Josh Allen eight times and won 23 to 19.
- Week 4 vs Cowboys: the in state rivalry game returns to Houston and is the hottest home ticket on the calendar.
- Week 6 at Jaguars in London: a 9:30 AM ET kickoff from Wembley and the third international game in franchise history.
- Week 11 vs Colts: Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, one of six AFC South games that will decide the division.
- Week 12 vs Ravens: Lamar Jackson visits NRG Stadium in the toughest home test of the year.
- Week 16 at Eagles: a Christmas Eve trip to Philadelphia on Prime Video against the back to back NFC East champions.
The bye falls in Week 8, on the weekend of November 1. The finish is where this season is won or lost: four of the last six games are on the road at Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia and Green Bay, and the six AFC South games are spread across the calendar. For the wider picture, see our printable list of NFL teams.
How to Watch the 2026 Houston Texans Schedule on TV and Streaming
CBS carries most of the Texans slate because Houston plays in the AFC. FOX picks up the NFC crossover games against Dallas, the Giants and Cleveland. Prime Video has both Thursday night games, NBC has the Week 13 Sunday night trip to Pittsburgh, ESPN has the Week 17 Monday nighter, and NFL Network has the London game.
Streaming Services
| SERVICE | TEXANS GAMES COVERED | WHAT YOU NEED |
|---|---|---|
| Paramount+ | All CBS games | Essential plan or higher, no free trial in 2026 |
| Prime Video | Week 11 and Week 16 Thursday games | Amazon Prime membership |
| Peacock | Week 13 Sunday Night Football | Premium plan, no free trial in 2026 |
| ESPN app or Disney+ | Week 17 Monday Night Football | ESPN Unlimited, not the cheaper ESPN Select tier |
| NFL+ | Local and primetime games on mobile | NFL+ subscription |
| YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo | CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network live | Live TV subscription |
| NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube | Out of market Sunday afternoon games | Add on to YouTube TV or a standalone plan |
You can still watch a lot of football for free. An HD antenna pulls in local CBS, FOX and NBC broadcasts at no cost in the Houston market, and KTRK airs two of the three preseason games. One thing that changed for 2026: Paramount+ and Peacock have both dropped their free trials, so streaming the full season now means a paid subscription.
Radio Coverage
- Houston flagship: 95.7 The Fan on FM with a 610 AM simulcast, from August 13, 2026. Audacy is retiring the SportsRadio 610 name and moving the broadcast off 100.3 FM.
- Spanish language: Mega 101.1 FM
- Streaming: the Audacy app and the official Texans app
- Nationwide: SiriusXM carries the full Texans broadcast
Where to Buy Texans Tickets
- Official source: HoustonTexans.com and Ticketmaster, the team’s ticketing partner
- Verified resale: SeatGeek, StubHub and Vivid Seats
- Priciest home games: Week 4 vs Cowboys and Week 12 vs Ravens
- Best value home games: Week 7 vs Giants and Week 2 vs Bengals
- Road trip to plan early: Week 6 at Wembley Stadium in London
FAQ: Houston Texans 2026 Season
When do the Houston Texans play their first game in 2026?
The Texans open the 2026 regular season at home against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 PM ET on CBS. Preseason starts earlier, on Thursday, August 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Where do the Texans play home games?
The Texans play home games at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. They keep all eight home dates in 2026 because Jacksonville is the designated home team for the London game.
When is the Texans bye week in 2026?
Houston has its bye in Week 8, the weekend of November 1, right after the home game against the New York Giants.
What channel are Texans games on in 2026?
Most Texans games air on CBS. FOX carries the NFC crossover games against Dallas, the Giants and Cleveland. Prime Video has both Thursday night games, NBC has Sunday Night Football in Week 13, ESPN has Monday Night Football in Week 17, and NFL Network has the London game.
Do the Texans play in London in 2026?
Yes. Houston faces the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, October 18 at 9:30 AM ET on NFL Network. Jacksonville is the designated home team, and it is the third international game in Texans history.
Who is the Texans head coach and quarterback in 2026?
DeMeco Ryans returns for his fourth season as head coach and C.J. Stroud is the starting quarterback. Nick Caley is the offensive coordinator and Matt Burke runs the defense.
How many primetime games do the Texans have in 2026?
Four. Thursday Night Football against the Colts in Week 11 and at the Eagles in Week 16, Sunday Night Football at Pittsburgh in Week 13, and Monday Night Football at Green Bay in Week 17.
How can I stream Texans games live?
Paramount+ carries the CBS games, Prime Video has the two Thursday night games, and Peacock has Sunday Night Football. Monday Night Football needs an ESPN Unlimited subscription through the ESPN app or Disney+, since the cheaper ESPN Select tier does not include it. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo carry the live channels, and NFL+ streams local and primetime games on mobile.
How can I listen to Texans games on the radio?
From August 13, 2026 the Houston flagship broadcasts as 95.7 The Fan on FM with a 610 AM simulcast, replacing the old SportsRadio 610 branding and the 100.3 FM home. Spanish broadcasts air on Mega 101.1 FM, and you can stream through the Audacy app, the Texans app or SiriusXM.
How did the Texans finish the 2025 season?
Houston went 12 and 5 and earned the AFC number 5 seed. The Texans beat Pittsburgh 30 to 6 in the Wild Card round for the first road playoff win in franchise history, then lost 28 to 16 at New England in the Divisional Round.
Have the Texans ever won a Super Bowl?
No. Houston has never won a Super Bowl and has never reached an AFC Championship Game. The franchise has reached the Divisional Round seven times and lost all seven, most recently 28 to 16 at New England after the 2025 season.
Where can I buy Texans tickets?
Official tickets are sold on HoustonTexans.com through Ticketmaster. Verified resale inventory is available on SeatGeek, StubHub and Vivid Seats.
From the home opener against Buffalo to the Wembley kickoff and a Christmas Eve trip to Philadelphia, the 2026 Houston Texans schedule gives this roster every chance to win the AFC South back.
Bookmark this page, download the free printable Texans schedule, and check back as the NFL confirms flexible scheduling and locks in the Week 18 finale against Tennessee.