The 2026 Chicago Bears Schedule brings Green Bay to Soldier Field on Christmas Day, delivers Philadelphia for a Monday Night Football home game in September, and features a loaded home slate that includes Minnesota, the Jets, New England, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Detroit, and the Packers on Netflix on December 25. Three preseason games set things up before a 17-game regular season that opens on the road in Carolina and closes at Minnesota.
2026 Chicago Bears Preseason Schedule
The Bears open at home before back-to-back road preseason games to close August.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug 15 | vs Cleveland Browns | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | 1:00 pm | NFLN/Local |
| Sat, Aug 22 | at Cincinnati Bengals | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 7:00 pm | Local |
| Sat, Aug 29 | at Tennessee Titans | Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN | 6:00 pm | NFLN/Local |
The afternoon home opener against Cleveland on August 15 gives Chicago an early look in front of the Soldier Field crowd before two road trips close the preseason. The trip to Nashville on August 29 — just days before roster cutdowns — is the most meaningful of the three exhibitions from a roster evaluation standpoint.
2026 Chicago Bears Regular Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 13 | at Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Sun, Sep 20 | vs Minnesota Vikings | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Mon, Sep 28 | vs Philadelphia Eagles | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | 8:15 pm | ESPN/ABC |
| Sun, Oct 4 | vs New York Jets | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Sun, Oct 11 | at Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI | 4:25 pm | FOX |
| Sun, Oct 18 | at Atlanta Falcons | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Thu, Oct 22 | vs New England Patriots | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | 8:15 pm | Prime Video |
| Mon, Nov 2 | at Seattle Seahawks | Lumen Field, Seattle, WA | 8:15 pm | ESPN |
| Sun, Nov 8 | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | 8:20 pm | NBC/Peacock |
| Sun, Nov 15 | BYE | — | — | — |
| Sun, Nov 22 | vs New Orleans Saints | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Thu, Nov 26 | at Detroit Lions | Ford Field, Detroit, MI | 1:00 pm | CBS |
| Sun, Dec 6 | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Sun, Dec 13 | at Miami Dolphins | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL | 1:00 pm | CBS |
| Sat, Dec 19 | at Buffalo Bills | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY | 8:20 pm | CBS |
| Fri, Dec 25 | vs Green Bay Packers | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | 1:00 pm | Netflix |
| Sun, Jan 3 | vs Detroit Lions | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | 4:25 pm | FOX |
| Sat/Sun, Jan 9/10 | at Minnesota Vikings | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | TBA | TBA |
MORE: 2026 NFL Schedule Every Week, Date, and Kickoff Time
Key Games on the 2026 Chicago Bears Schedule
Monday Night Football: Philadelphia at Soldier Field
The Eagles visit Soldier Field on September 28 for Monday Night Football at 8:15 pm ET on ESPN/ABC. A prime-time home game in the third week of the season gives Chicago an early national showcase. Soldier Field under the lights with a crowd that’s invested in the season’s direction — this is the kind of game that sets early narratives for NFC contenders. Philadelphia is a legitimate Super Bowl-caliber program, and the Bears hosting them on Monday Night is a genuine test.
Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers 2026 — Twice, Including Christmas Day
The NFL’s most storied rivalry runs twice on this schedule, and the Christmas Day edition is the one that will be talked about all season. Green Bay visits Soldier Field on Friday, December 25 at 1:00 pm ET on Netflix — the NFC North rivalry as a holiday streaming event. That’s a genuinely unique scheduling placement for one of football’s oldest and most meaningful matchups.
The first meeting is on the road at Lambeau Field on October 11 at 4:25 pm ET on FOX. Lambeau in mid-October, with the NFC North race still developing and both fan bases fully energized, is as classic a Bears-Packers setting as exists.
Thanksgiving at Detroit
Chicago travels to Ford Field for Thanksgiving on November 26 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS. The Detroit Thanksgiving game is one of the NFL’s anchor holiday traditions, and the Bears drawing this spot puts them in one of the most-watched games of the entire regular season. Detroit has become a genuinely strong home team, and this is a road game Chicago needs to prepare for specifically — not treat as a holiday exhibition.
Thursday Night Football: New England at Home
New England visits Soldier Field for Thursday Night Football on October 22 at 8:15 pm ET on Prime Video. A short-week home game against a historical rival organization — even in an era where both franchises are navigating transitions — generates real interest. The Prime Video audience for TNF has grown steadily, and Chicago in October under the lights is a watchable product.
Sunday Night vs Tampa Bay in November
Tampa Bay visits Soldier Field for Sunday Night Football on November 8 at 8:20 pm ET on NBC/Peacock. A mid-November prime-time home game against a credible NFC opponent is exactly the kind of nationally televised opportunity the Bears need to capitalize on. Win this one and momentum builds heading into the bye.
Late December Road Gauntlet
Chicago faces a brutal late-season road stretch — at Miami on December 13, then at Buffalo on Saturday night December 19 at 8:20 pm ET on CBS. Back-to-back road games in Miami and Orchard Park in mid-December is a weather and travel challenge that will test the roster’s depth and the coaching staff’s preparation. The Buffalo game in particular — a Saturday night primetime road game in late December — is one of the toughest spots on the schedule.
Chicago Bears Home Games 2026
| Game | Date |
|---|---|
| vs Cleveland Browns (Preseason) | Sat, Aug 15 |
| vs Minnesota Vikings | Sun, Sep 20 |
| vs Philadelphia Eagles (MNF) | Mon, Sep 28 |
| vs New York Jets | Sun, Oct 4 |
| vs New England Patriots (TNF) | Thu, Oct 22 |
| vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SNF) | Sun, Nov 8 |
| vs New Orleans Saints | Sun, Nov 22 |
| vs Jacksonville Jaguars | Sun, Dec 6 |
| vs Green Bay Packers (Christmas Day) | Fri, Dec 25 |
| vs Detroit Lions | Sun, Jan 3 |
Eight regular season home games at Soldier Field. Three of those eight are prime-time national television games — Monday Night vs Philadelphia, Sunday Night vs Tampa Bay, and Christmas Day vs Green Bay on Netflix.
Chicago Bears Bye Week 2026
The bye falls on Sunday, November 15 — arriving after the Sunday Night home game against Tampa Bay on November 8. The timing is well-placed. Chicago gets a week of rest before New Orleans at home, Thanksgiving at Detroit, and the December stretch. A mid-November bye in the NFC North race gives the Bears a chance to regroup before the final push.
FAQ
Q: When do the Chicago Bears open the 2026 regular season?
A: The 2026 Chicago Bears Schedule regular season opens Sunday, September 13, with Chicago traveling to Bank of America Stadium to face the Carolina Panthers at 1:00 pm ET on FOX.
Q: What are the Chicago Bears home games in 2026?
A: Chicago Bears home games 2026 at Soldier Field include Minnesota (Sep 20), Philadelphia (Sep 28), New York Jets (Oct 4), New England (Oct 22), Tampa Bay (Nov 8), New Orleans (Nov 22), Jacksonville (Dec 6), Green Bay on Christmas Day (Dec 25), and Detroit (Jan 3).
Q: When do the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers in 2026?
A: Chicago travels to Lambeau Field on October 11 at 4:25 pm ET on FOX, then hosts Green Bay at Soldier Field on Christmas Day, December 25, at 1:00 pm ET on Netflix.
Q: When is the Chicago Bears bye week in 2026?
A: The bye week on the 2026 Chicago Bears Schedule falls on Sunday, November 15.
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