The short answer
Thanksgiving football 2026 is a three-game NFL tripleheader on Thursday, November 26: Bears at Lions at 1 p.m. ET (CBS), Eagles at Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX) and Chiefs at Bills at 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC). In addition, the week opens with the first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game and closes with a Black Friday game on Prime Video.
- Thanksgiving Eve (Wed., Nov. 25): Packers at Rams, 8 p.m. ET, Netflix
- What time is the Lions game on Thanksgiving: 1 p.m. ET vs. the Bears on CBS and Paramount+
- What channel is the Cowboys game on Thanksgiving: FOX (streaming on FOX One), 4:30 p.m. ET vs. the Eagles
- Prime-time nightcap: Chiefs at Bills, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
- Is there a Black Friday NFL game in 2026: Yes. Broncos at Steelers, 3 p.m. ET, Prime Video
5
NFL games over Thanksgiving week
3
Games on Thanksgiving Day
86th
Lions’ Thanksgiving game
1st
Thanksgiving Eve game ever
Last checked: October 13, 2026.
In this article
Thanksgiving football 2026 lands on Thursday, November 26, and this year the National Football League (NFL), the top U.S. pro football league, has stretched the holiday into a five-game, three-day event. The league confirmed the full slate when it released the 2026 schedule in May; the official details are on NFL.com. So whether you plan your turkey around the Lions at lunch or the Chiefs-Bills nightcap, every kickoff time and channel you need is below.
For the rest of your holiday plans, from the parade to dinner timing, start with our complete Thanksgiving 2026 guide. Meanwhile, this page sticks to the games: the NFL schedule, how to watch each one, the Black Friday matchup, the college rivalry weekend and the history behind the tradition.
What NFL Games Are on Thanksgiving 2026?
In total, three NFL games are on Thanksgiving Day 2026: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills. Plus, Week 12 adds Packers at Rams on Thanksgiving Eve and Broncos at Steelers on Black Friday, for five games in all.
| Date | Matchup | Kickoff (ET) | TV / streaming | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., Nov. 25 | Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams | 8 p.m. | Netflix | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif. |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions | 1 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+, NFL+ | Ford Field, Detroit |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys | 4:30 p.m. | FOX, FOX One, NFL+ | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills | 8:20 p.m. | NBC, Peacock, NFL+ | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y. |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers | 3 p.m. | Prime Video | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh |
In short, the Thanksgiving day football schedule follows the usual rhythm: an early window in Detroit, a late-afternoon window in Dallas and a prime-time game at night. However, all five games fall in Week 12 of the 2026 regular season, so these results count in the standings like any Sunday game.
Watch out. The NFL can still change times or flex games late in the season, and FOX Sports notes that the schedule is subject to change. Therefore, recheck the official NFL schedule the week of Thanksgiving before you set dinner around a kickoff.
Who plays on Thanksgiving 2026?
The teams playing on Thanksgiving 2026 are the Lions, Bears, Cowboys, Eagles, Chiefs and Bills. Also, the Packers and Rams play the night before, and the Broncos and Steelers play the day after. As a result, 10 of the league’s 32 teams take the field during the holiday stretch.
Thanksgiving Football 2026 Game by Game
Below, each Thanksgiving football 2026 matchup carries its own storyline, from a classic NFC North rivalry to a playoff-style AFC rematch. So here is what to know about every game, with history and figures taken from the NFL.com schedule release.
Bears at Lions: what time is the Lions game on Thanksgiving?
The Lions game on Thanksgiving 2026 kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on CBS, with streaming on Paramount+ and NFL+. Notably, it is Detroit’s 86th Thanksgiving game, and the Bears lead the Thanksgiving series 11-9.
- Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET, Thursday, Nov. 26
- Watch: CBS, Paramount+, NFL+ (mobile)
- Venue: Ford Field, Detroit
- History: Detroit is 38-46-2 all time on Thanksgiving; it beat Chicago 23-20 on the holiday in 2024
- Fun fact: only Packers-Lions has been played on Thanksgiving more often than Bears-Lions
Eagles at Cowboys: what channel is the Cowboys game on Thanksgiving?
The Cowboys game on Thanksgiving 2026 airs on FOX at 4:30 p.m. ET, and it also streams on FOX One and NFL+. Surprisingly, these NFC East rivals have met on Thanksgiving only twice since Dallas began hosting in 1966.
- Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, Nov. 26
- Watch: FOX, FOX One, NFL+ (mobile)
- Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- History: Philadelphia won both previous Thanksgiving meetings, 27-0 in 1989 and 33-10 in 2014
- Form: Dallas finished 7-9-1 in 2025
Chiefs at Bills: the prime-time nightcap
Chiefs at Bills is the Thanksgiving night game, at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and NFL+. Meanwhile, the rivalry is as tight as it gets: six of the last seven meetings were decided by seven points or fewer.
- Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET, Thursday, Nov. 26
- Watch: NBC, Peacock, NFL+ (mobile)
- Venue: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.
- Head to head: 10 meetings since 2020, including playoffs; Buffalo has won five straight regular-season games, while Kansas City is 4-0 in the postseason
Packers at Rams: the first Thanksgiving Eve game
For the first time, the NFL is playing on the night before Thanksgiving. Specifically, the Rams host the Packers at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and the game streams only on Netflix, according to NFL.com.
- Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 25
- Watch: Netflix (subscription required)
- Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif.
- Context: the Rams went 12-5 in 2025 and reached the NFC Championship Game
Is There a Black Friday NFL Game in 2026?
Yes. The Denver Broncos visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Black Friday, November 27, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET, and the game streams on Prime Video. Notably, it is the fourth edition of the NFL’s Black Friday game, which first appeared in 2023.
Because the game streams on Amazon’s Prime Video, you need a Prime or Prime Video account rather than a cable package to watch it live. Also, the afternoon kickoff makes it an easy fit for a day of leftovers or a shopping break; if you are heading out, check our Black Friday 2026 sale dates by store first.
Thanksgiving football 2026 by day: Eve, Thursday and Black Friday
| Day | Games | Where to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Eve (Wed.) | 1 | Netflix |
| Thanksgiving Day (Thu.) | 3 | CBS, FOX, NBC (plus Paramount+, FOX One, Peacock, NFL+) |
| Black Friday (Fri.) | 1 | Prime Video |
How to Watch Thanksgiving Football Without Cable
You can watch every Thanksgiving football 2026 game without cable by combining an antenna or the broadcasters’ own streaming apps with Netflix and Prime Video. In practice, the three Thursday games air on free over-the-air networks, so a basic TV antenna covers most viewers.
| Game | Free over the air | Streaming option | Phone and tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packers at Rams (Wed.) | No | Netflix | Netflix app |
| Bears at Lions (Thu.) | Yes, CBS | Paramount+ | NFL+ |
| Eagles at Cowboys (Thu.) | Yes, FOX | FOX One | NFL+ |
| Chiefs at Bills (Thu.) | Yes, NBC | Peacock | NFL+ |
| Broncos at Steelers (Fri.) | No | Prime Video | Prime Video app |
Pro tip. Before the holiday, test your antenna and sign in to Netflix, Prime Video and any other app on the living-room TV. That way, nobody is resetting a password at 12:58 p.m. while the Lions kick off.
Subscription prices change often, so we do not list them here. instead, check each service’s own sign-up page. Likewise, live-TV streaming bundles that carry local CBS, FOX and NBC stations are another option, although channel availability varies by ZIP code.
Why Do the Lions and Cowboys Play on Thanksgiving?
The Lions play on Thanksgiving because owner G.A. Richards scheduled a holiday game in 1934 to draw crowds for his newly relocated team, and the Cowboys joined in 1966 because general manager Tex Schramm wanted national exposure. Over time, both games became permanent fixtures, as ESPN’s history of the tradition explains.
The Detroit Lions tradition (since 1934)
First, on November 29, 1934, the Bears beat the Lions 19-16 in front of 26,000 fans at the University of Detroit Stadium. Since then, Detroit has played on Thanksgiving every year except during a 1939-1944 break, and annually since 1945. As a result, the 2026 game against Chicago will be the Lions’ 86th on the holiday.
The Dallas Cowboys tradition (since 1966)
Meanwhile, Dallas first hosted on Thanksgiving in 1966, beating the Cleveland Browns 26-14 at the Cotton Bowl in front of 80,259 fans. At the time, the NFL also guaranteed the Cowboys a set amount of gate revenue to ease the risk. Later, in 1975 and 1977, the St. Louis Cardinals hosted instead, but the experiment flopped, so the game went back to Dallas for good.
The third game, the Black Friday game and Thanksgiving Eve
In 2006, the NFL added a third Thanksgiving game in prime time with no fixed host. Then the league introduced a Black Friday game in 2023, and in 2026 it added a Thanksgiving Eve game on Netflix. In other words, the holiday has grown from one game into a five-game week.
Want something to do between games? Our Thanksgiving games and activities list has family-friendly ideas for halftime.
Who Won the Thanksgiving Games Last Year?
For comparison, last year’s three Thanksgiving Day games went Packers 31, Lions 24; Cowboys 31, Chiefs 28; and Bengals 32, Ravens 14. So both host teams split, with Dallas winning and Detroit losing at home.
| 2025 Thanksgiving game | Final score |
|---|---|
| Packers vs. Lions | Packers 31, Lions 24 |
| Chiefs vs. Cowboys | Cowboys 31, Chiefs 28 |
| Bengals vs. Ravens | Bengals 32, Ravens 14 |
College Football on Thanksgiving Weekend 2026
College football fills the rest of the holiday weekend, starting with TCU at Texas Tech on Thanksgiving night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. After that, Black Friday and rivalry Saturday bring several of the sport’s biggest grudge matches, according to network schedules summarized by Sports Video Group.
| Date | Game | Kickoff (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Nov. 26 | TCU at Texas Tech | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Mississippi State at Ole Miss (Egg Bowl) | Noon | ABC |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Nebraska at Iowa | Noon | CBS |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Florida at Florida State | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Texas at Texas A&M | 7:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Michigan at Ohio State (The Game) | Noon | FOX |
Thanksgiving football 2026 therefore keeps going all weekend for college fans. However, other rivalry-weekend games, including several Saturday kickoffs, still had times or networks to be announced when we checked. Consequently, look at each conference schedule closer to the date for late-season TV selections.
How to Plan Thanksgiving Dinner Around the Games
If you want to see all of Thanksgiving football 2026, the easiest plan is to eat between the 4:30 p.m. ET Cowboys game and the 8:20 p.m. ET nightcap, or to serve an early meal right after the Lions game ends. Either way, the gaps between kickoffs are your natural dinner windows.
- Morning: the parade runs before the first kickoff; see our Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026 guide.
- 1 p.m. ET: Bears at Lions; set out snacks and appetizers.
- 4:30 p.m. ET: Eagles at Cowboys; most kitchens are busiest now.
- About 7:30 p.m. ET: sit down to eat as the late-afternoon game wraps up.
- 8:20 p.m. ET: Chiefs at Bills with dessert.
If you are on the West Coast, subtract three hours: the Lions kick off at 10 a.m. PT and the night game starts at 5:20 p.m. PT. Then, for timing the bird itself, our turkey cooking time chart helps you work backward from kickoff.
Our verdict
Thanksgiving football 2026 is the biggest holiday slate the NFL has ever scheduled: five games across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On the day itself, Bears-Lions and Eagles-Cowboys deliver tradition, while Chiefs-Bills is the marquee matchup. However, you will need Netflix for the Thanksgiving Eve game and Prime Video for Black Friday, because neither airs on broadcast TV.
Frequently Asked Questions
What NFL games are on Thanksgiving 2026?
Three NFL games are on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026. The Bears play the Lions at 1 p.m. ET on CBS, the Eagles play the Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX, and the Chiefs play the Bills at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. The NFL also schedules Packers at Rams on Thanksgiving Eve and Broncos at Steelers on Black Friday.
What time is the Lions game on Thanksgiving?
The Lions game on Thanksgiving 2026 kicks off at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) on Thursday, November 26. Detroit hosts the Chicago Bears at Ford Field, and the game airs on CBS with streaming on Paramount+ and NFL+. It will be the Lions’ 86th Thanksgiving game, a tradition that began in 1934.
What channel is the Cowboys game on Thanksgiving?
The Cowboys game on Thanksgiving 2026 is on FOX. Dallas hosts the Philadelphia Eagles at 4:30 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. You can also stream it on FOX One or watch on a phone or tablet with NFL+. The teams have met on Thanksgiving only twice before, in 1989 and 2014.
Is there a Black Friday NFL game in 2026?
Yes. The Denver Broncos play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Black Friday, November 27, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET at Acrisure Stadium. The game streams on Prime Video, so you need an Amazon Prime or Prime Video account to watch live. It is the fourth NFL Black Friday game since the league added the slot in 2023.
Why do the Lions play on Thanksgiving?
The Lions play on Thanksgiving because owner G.A. Richards scheduled a holiday game against the Bears in 1934 to attract fans to his newly moved team. The game drew 26,000 people, and Detroit kept the tradition going. Apart from a break from 1939 to 1944, the Lions have hosted every year, and annually since 1945.
How can I watch Thanksgiving football without cable?
The three Thanksgiving Day games air free on CBS, FOX and NBC, so an over-the-air antenna works. Alternatively, stream them on Paramount+, FOX One and Peacock, or on phones and tablets with NFL+. The Thanksgiving Eve game is only on Netflix, and the Black Friday game is only on Prime Video, so plan those subscriptions in advance.
