NFL Announces Key Dates for 2026-2027 Season
The National Football League (NFL) has released its schedule for the upcoming 2026-2027 season, featuring changes to roster reduction deadlines and the start of free agency. The regular season begins on September 9, with the postseason culminating in Super Bowl LXI on February 14.
Key points
- The NFL regular season kicks off on September 9, 2026, with the defending champion Seahawks hosting the Patriots at Lumen Field.
- The trade deadline for the 2026 season is November 10 at 1 p.m. PT, the Tuesday following Week 9 of the season.
- The NFL postseason begins with Wild Card weekend, January 16-18, and culminates with Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles on February 14.
- Free agency will begin almost immediately after the NFL Scouting Combine, with the negotiation period starting at 9 a.m. PT on March 9, and the new league year starting at 1 p.m. on March 11.
- The NFL Annual League Meeting will take place from March 21-24 in Phoenix.
The National Football League (NFL) has announced its key dates for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. The regular season will begin on September 9, 2026, with the defending champion Seahawks hosting the Patriots at Lumen Field. The postseason will culminate in Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles on February 14.
The NFL has also made changes to its roster reduction deadlines and the start of free agency. The deadline to reduce the roster from 90 to 53 players is now on August 30, two days after the Seahawks' preseason finale in Kansas City. Free agency will begin almost immediately after the NFL Scouting Combine, with the negotiation period starting at 9 a.m. PT on March 9, and the new league year starting at 1 p.m. on March 11.
The NFL Annual League Meeting will take place from March 21-24 in Phoenix. The changes are part of the league's efforts to improve its scheduling and roster management processes.
The NFL's key dates for the 2026-2027 season are as follows:
- Regular season: September 9, 2026 - February 14, 2027
- Trade deadline: November 10, 2026, at 1 p.m. PT
- Postseason: January 16-18, 2027 (Wild Card weekend) - February 14, 2027 (Super Bowl LXI)
- NFL Scouting Combine: March 1-8, 2027, in Indianapolis
- Free agency: March 9, 2027 (negotiation period starts at 9 a.m. PT) - March 11, 2027 (new league year starts at 1 p.m.)
- NFL Annual League Meeting: March 21-24, 2027, in Phoenix
Sources
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