The NFL officially released the Green Bay Packers' 2026 schedule on Thursday, May 14, and the slate is a blockbuster. With six primetime games — five of them at Lambeau Field, the most in franchise history — and a pair of holiday matchups streaming exclusively on Netflix, the Packers are set for one of the most nationally televised seasons in team history.
The Packers open the season on the road against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, kicking off Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS. It marks the third time in the last four seasons that Green Bay has started the year against an NFC North opponent, and it sets the tone for a schedule that analysts have ranked as middle-of-the-pack — 17th toughest in the league according to opponent win percentages — though CBS Sports places the Packers tied for the third-toughest schedule based on combined opponent records from 2025.
Six Primetime Games, Five at Lambeau: A Record-Breaking Home Slate
Perhaps the biggest story of the 2026 schedule is the sheer volume of primetime football at Lambeau Field. The Packers will play five home games under the lights, the most in a single season in the franchise's storied history. If no games are flexed, the five home primetime contests would set a new team record.
The home primetime lineup is headlined by a Sunday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 18, a clash of two of the NFL's most iconic franchises. The Packers also host the Atlanta Falcons for a Thursday Night Football game on Sept. 24 (Prime Video), welcome the Carolina Panthers for another Thursday night affair on Oct. 29, and will play two additional home games that could land in primetime slots later in the season.
"The schedule makers clearly recognize the appeal of Lambeau Field under the lights," one analyst noted. "Five home primetime games is unprecedented for Green Bay and reflects the national draw of this team and its fan base."
The 2026 Green Bay Packers Full Schedule
Week 1: Sun, Sept. 13 — at Minnesota Vikings, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Week 2: Sun, Sept. 20 — at New York Jets, 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
Week 3: Thu, Sept. 24 — vs. Atlanta Falcons, 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
Week 4: Sun, Oct. 4 — at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
Week 5: Sun, Oct. 11 — vs. Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
Week 6: Sun, Oct. 18 — vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Week 7: Sun, Oct. 25 — at Detroit Lions, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
Week 8: Thu, Oct. 29 — vs. Carolina Panthers, 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
Week 9: Sun, Nov. 8 — at New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
Week 10: Sun, Nov. 15 — vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Wed, Nov. 25 — at Los Angeles Rams, 8:00 p.m. ET (Netflix)
Week 13: Sun, Nov. 29 — vs. Buffalo Bills (time TBD)
Week 14: Sun, Dec. 6 — vs. New Orleans Saints (time TBD)
Week 15: Sun, Dec. 20 — vs. Miami Dolphins (time TBD)
Week 16: Fri, Dec. 25 — at Chicago Bears, time TBD (Netflix)
Week 17: Mon, Jan. 4 — vs. Houston Texans (time TBD)
Week 18: TBD — vs. Detroit Lions (flex)
Holiday Football: Christmas at Chicago and Thanksgiving Eve in LA
For the fifth time in franchise history, the Packers will play on Christmas Day, and they'll do it against their oldest rival. Green Bay travels to face the Chicago Bears on Friday, Dec. 25, in a game that will stream exclusively on Netflix. The Packers are 3-1 all-time on Christmas Day, including memorable wins over the Bears in 2011 and the Saints in 2020.
Just a month earlier, the Packers will also appear on Netflix when they visit the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday, Nov. 25 — the night before Thanksgiving. It's the second year in a row the NFL has scheduled a Thanksgiving Eve game, and the Packers-Rams matchup adds another layer of intrigue to a holiday week that already includes a Sunday game against the Bears (Week 10) and a potential battle for NFC North positioning.
Strength of Schedule: How Tough Is the Road Ahead?
Opinions vary on just how difficult the Packers' 2026 schedule will be. Based on the combined winning percentages of opponents from the 2025 season, the Packers hold the 17th-toughest schedule — right in the middle of the pack. However, CBS Sports calculates strength of schedule using 2025 opponent win totals, and that method has the Packers tied for the third-toughest schedule in football, with opponent teams combining for a 155-... record last season.
Dairyland Express noted that the schedule is "a tough reality check" for Green Bay, but there are some favorable stretches. Four of the Packers' last five games will be played at Lambeau Field, giving the team a significant home-field advantage down the stretch as they push for a playoff berth. The late-season home stand includes games against Miami, Houston, and Detroit, with only a Christmas Day trip to Chicago breaking up the homestand.
Rare Schedule Item: No Back-to-Back Division Games
In a scheduling quirk noted by Packers.com, Green Bay will not play back-to-back division games at any point during the 2026 season. This is a rare occurrence in the NFL schedule-making process and marks a departure from recent years when the Packers typically faced division opponents in consecutive weeks. The six NFC North matchups — two each against the Bears, Lions, and Vikings — are spread out across Weeks 1, 5, 7, 10, 16, and 18.
The lack of back-to-back division games could work to the Packers' advantage, allowing them to prepare specifically for each divisional opponent without the compressed preparation time that often accompanies consecutive division battles. However, it also means the intensity of the NFC North race will be sustained throughout the entire season, with a division game in every month from September through the potential Week 18 finale.
Where Things Stand Now: What the Schedule Means for 2026
The Packers enter the 2026 season with a roster that returns key stars like quarterback Jordan Love and pass rusher Micah Parsons, and the schedule offers both challenges and opportunities. The early-season trip to Minnesota in Week 1 will immediately test the team's readiness, while the Week 6 Sunday Night Football showdown against Dallas at Lambeau could be a statement game.
With a bye in Week 11, the Packers will have a mid-season reset before a critical stretch run that includes the Thanksgiving Eve game at the Rams, a home game against the Dolphins, and the Christmas Day showdown at Chicago. If Green Bay can navigate the early gauntlet and stay healthy through the middle of the season, the favorable late-season home schedule positions them well for a playoff push.
What Happens Next: Key Dates to Circle
For Packers fans planning their 2026 calendar, several dates stand out. The season opener at Minnesota on Sept. 13 will set the early tone for the NFC North race. The Oct. 18 Sunday night home game against Dallas is already being touted as one of the premier matchups of the entire NFL season. And the Christmas Day game at Chicago on Netflix — the second holiday game in as many years for the Packers after playing on Christmas in 2025 — could have major playoff implications.
With the schedule now officially released, the countdown to training camp begins. The Packers will report to training camp in late July, and the preseason schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. For now, Green Bay knows its path to the playoffs — and it runs through six primetime games, two holidays, and 17 chances to prove they belong among the NFL's elite.
Key Takeaways from the Packers' 2026 Schedule
- The Packers open the season at Minnesota on Sept. 13 (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) and close at home against Detroit in Week 18
- Six primetime games, five at Lambeau Field — both franchise records
- Two Netflix-exclusive games: Thanksgiving Eve at the Rams (Nov. 25) and Christmas Day at the Bears (Dec. 25)
- No back-to-back division games for the first time in recent memory
- Four of the final five games are at Lambeau Field, setting up a potential playoff push
- Strength of schedule ranked 17th (by opponent win percentage) or tied for 3rd-toughest (by CBS Sports)
