College football is back on the calendar, and that can only mean one thing: the NFL’s regular-season kickoff is almost here.
The Week 1 college football schedule wraps up tonight with No. 19 SMU heading to Tallahassee for a primetime matchup against Florida State at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. NFL fans, meanwhile, may be expecting the pro season to open with the traditional Thursday night showcase. Not this time. This year, the league is rolling out something different: Wednesday Night Football.
The season begins with a Super Bowl rematch, as the Seattle Seahawks welcome the New England Patriots on Wednesday, September 9, at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. After that marquee opener, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will meet in Australia, with the international matchup streaming live on Netflix.
Yes, football season has officially arrived. So when does the first Monday Night Football broadcast of the new campaign take place? Here’s when MNF makes its return.
Is There a Monday Night Football Game on Tonight (September 7)?
Not tonight. The NFL regular season kicks off later this week — Wednesday, September 9 — when the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
When Does Monday Night Football Start?
Next week! The first regular-season MNF matchup takes place on September 14 when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos. All the fun begins at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, and NFL+.
MNF 2026 Schedule:
Monday Night Football will air on ESPN and ABC throughout the 26-27 regular season. You’ll also be able to stream live MNF games from your phone or tablet with a subscription to NFL+.
- Week 1 (September 14): Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC)
How To Watch Monday Night Football Without Cable:
If you have a valid cable login, you can watch MNF live on ESPN, ABC, the ESPN website/app, or ABC.com. If you’ve already cut that cord, well, no problem!
The only way to watch shows airing live without cable is by using a live TV streaming service. Our favorite is DIRECTV, which comes with a five-day free trial before payment begins.
DIRECTV offers a number of flexible subscription options, including Genre Packs, so you can best choose which streaming plans fit your needs and budget. Packs start at $19.99/month.
You can also stream MNF live with an active subscription to Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, NFL+, or Sling TV. Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV all offer free trials for new subscribers.
MNF returns on September 14 when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos.