2026 NFL Kickoff Countdown
Football returns with the NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday night, September 10, 2026. Since 2004 the season has opened at the home of the defending Super Bowl champion, under the lights, on the Thursday after Labor Day. This countdown ticks to kickoff.
How many days until NFL Season Kickoff?
NFL Season Kickoff is on Thursday, September 10, 2026, which is 61 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
Why Thursday night?
The NFL created the standalone Thursday opener in 2002 (a concert-and-football spectacle in Times Square) and made it the champion's showcase in 2004. It's now an unofficial holiday: one game, no competition, the whole sport holding its breath.
The longest offseason in sports
The NFL plays the fewest games of any major league, so its fans wait the longest — about seven months from the Super Bowl to kickoff. That scarcity is exactly why this one Thursday night out-rates almost everything else on TV all year.
Quick facts
- The 2026 season opens Thursday, September 10
- Since 2004 the opener is hosted by the defending champion
- The Thursday-night kickoff tradition began in 2002
- NFL games are the most-watched broadcasts on U.S. television
NFL Season Kickoff — frequently asked questions
When is NFL Season Kickoff?
NFL Season Kickoff is on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
How many days until NFL Season Kickoff?
NFL Season Kickoff is on Thursday, September 10, 2026, which is 61 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
Fact-checked & updated July 2026 · alarm-clock.org