NFL Games on Netflix in 2026: Every Game on the Schedule
Netflix has 5 NFL games in 2026, including the first-ever game in Australia, a Thanksgiving Eve matchup, and Christmas Day. Here's the full schedule.
Quick answer: Netflix has 5 NFL games in 2026: a Week 1 game in Australia, a Thanksgiving Eve game, two Christmas Day games, and a Week 18 finale. You need a Netflix subscription ($7.99/mo and up) to watch. These games are not on cable or your local broadcast affiliate.
Netflix is no longer just dipping its toes into NFL water. For the 2026 season, the streamer locked in a four-year extension through 2029-30 and expanded from two Christmas games to five total regular-season games. It is the most NFL games Netflix has ever carried in a single season.
Here is every game confirmed so far, with the final Christmas matchup and Week 18 game still being revealed as part of tonight's full schedule release.
The full NFL on Netflix 2026 schedule
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Thu, Sept 10 | 49ers vs. Rams | 8:35 PM | Netflix |
| Week 12 | Wed, Nov 25 | Packers at Rams | 8:00 PM | Netflix |
| Week 16 | Fri, Dec 25 | Packers at Bears | 1:00 PM | Netflix |
| Week 16 | Fri, Dec 25 | TBA at Broncos | 4:30 PM | Netflix |
| Week 18 | Sat, Jan 9 | TBA | TBA | Netflix |
The 4:30 PM Christmas game opponent and the Week 18 matchup will be confirmed tonight at 8 PM ET when the NFL releases its full 2026 schedule. We will update this table as soon as they are announced.
What makes this slate significant
The Australia game is a genuine first
The Week 1 game between the 49ers and Rams is the first regular-season NFL game ever played in Australia. Kickoff is at 8:35 PM ET for U.S. viewers, which works out to 10:35 AM local time in Melbourne the following morning. The game will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Netflix has exclusive streaming rights globally. In the U.S., the game will also be available on local over-the-air broadcast affiliates in the San Francisco and Los Angeles markets.
Thanksgiving Eve is a new tradition
The NFL has never played a standalone game on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving until now. The Packers traveling to face the Rams at SoFi Stadium on November 25 is the inaugural edition of what Netflix has locked up as an annual slot through 2029. Both teams will have a Week 11 bye to compensate for the short turnaround.
Christmas Day continues to grow
Netflix first aired NFL games on Christmas 2024 and averaged 27.5 million viewers for the Vikings-Lions game last season, the most-streamed NFL game in U.S. history. The 2026 slate gives Netflix two games on December 25. A third Christmas game (Rams at Seahawks) airs on Fox at 8:15 PM ET.
The early Netflix game is a genuine rivalry matchup: Packers at Bears at Soldier Field, 1 PM ET. It will be the third time these two franchises have played on Christmas Day, though the first time at Chicago. The Bears are also playing on Thanksgiving this year, making them one of the few teams in NFL history to appear on both holidays in the same season.
Christmas falls on a Friday in 2026, making this only the third time since 1989 the NFL has played on that day of the week.
Week 18 has playoff stakes baked in
The final week of the regular season almost always features games with postseason implications. The NFL gave Netflix a Week 18 game specifically for that reason. The matchup will be confirmed tonight.
The Packers are on Netflix three times
Worth noting for Packers fans: Green Bay appears on Netflix in Week 1 (as opponents of the Rams in Australia), Week 12 (Thanksgiving Eve at the Rams), and Week 16 (Christmas at the Bears). All three games require a Netflix subscription outside of local broadcast markets.
How to watch NFL on Netflix
You need an active Netflix subscription. Any current plan works: Standard with Ads ($7.99/mo), Standard ($15.49/mo), or Premium ($22.99/mo). Netflix streams these games live, not on delay.
Netflix apps are available on smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, iPhone, Android, PlayStation, and Xbox. If you can stream Netflix, you can watch the NFL games.
These games are not available on NFL+, your local cable package, or NFL Sunday Ticket unless you are in the local broadcast market of one of the participating teams.
Are these games blacked out on other platforms?
Netflix holds exclusive national streaming rights for all five games. However, the NFL's local broadcast rule means games are also available on over-the-air TV in the home markets of the participating teams. Depending on the game, that covers San Francisco, Los Angeles, Green Bay, Chicago, Denver, and Seattle. In those markets, a TV antenna works.
Outside of those local markets, Netflix is the only option.
Do you need cable to watch?
No. Netflix is a standalone streaming service with no cable requirement. If you already subscribe, these games cost you nothing extra.
Will these games be on NFL+?
No. Netflix holds the streaming rights. NFL+ does not carry the Netflix package games.
Last updated May 14, 2026. We will add the confirmed Christmas 4:30 PM matchup and Week 18 game tonight once the full NFL schedule is released.
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About the author
Platform news, streaming guides, and broadcast updates for MLB and NFL fans. The official voice of HowToWatchMyTeam.com.