Football is part of Thanksgiving in America, and 2026 has five games in three days. There’s a game on Thanksgiving Eve, three on Thanksgiving Day and one on Black Friday. Here’s when they start and where to watch.
2026 Thanksgiving week NFL schedule
| Day | Time (ET) | Game | Where to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Nov. 25 (Thanksgiving Eve) | 8:00 pm | Packers at Rams | Netflix |
| Thu, Nov. 26 | 1:00 pm | Bears at Lions | CBS, Paramount+ |
| Thu, Nov. 26 | 4:30 pm | Eagles at Cowboys | FOX, FOX One |
| Thu, Nov. 26 | 8:20 pm | Chiefs at Bills | NBC, Peacock |
| Fri, Nov. 27 (Black Friday) | 3:00 pm | Broncos at Steelers | Prime Video |
The Thanksgiving Day games
Bears at Lions — 1:00 pm ET, CBS
The Detroit Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving game almost every year since 1934. This year it’s an NFC North rivalry game against Chicago, and both teams have been in the playoff race this season.
How to watch: CBS (free with an antenna) or Paramount+.
Eagles at Cowboys — 4:30 pm ET, FOX
The Dallas Cowboys host on Thanksgiving every year too. Eagles-Cowboys is one of the NFL’s biggest rivalries, and NFC East games often decide the division.
How to watch: FOX (free with an antenna) or FOX One.
Chiefs at Bills — 8:20 pm ET, NBC
The night game is an AFC showdown between Kansas City and Buffalo, two of the conference’s top teams. These two have met in several playoff classics in recent years.
How to watch: NBC (free with an antenna) or Peacock.
Thanksgiving Eve: Packers at Rams on Netflix
This year there’s also a game on the night before Thanksgiving. Packers at Rams kicks off at 8:00 pm ET on Netflix. You need a Netflix subscription; there’s no extra charge for the game.
Black Friday: Broncos at Steelers on Prime Video
The day after Thanksgiving, Broncos at Steelers kicks off at 3:00 pm ET on Prime Video. Because NBC has the Thanksgiving night game this year, this is the Prime Video game of the week.
How to watch all five games
| If you have… | You can watch |
|---|---|
| A TV antenna (free) | Bears-Lions, Eagles-Cowboys, Chiefs-Bills |
| Netflix | Packers-Rams (Thanksgiving Eve) |
| Amazon Prime | Broncos-Steelers (Black Friday) |
| Paramount+, FOX One and Peacock | The three Thanksgiving Day games without an antenna |
| A live TV service (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, etc.) | The three Thanksgiving Day games |
Fans in the two teams’ home markets can also watch the Netflix and Prime Video games on local TV.
Why do the Lions and Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving?
The Lions started playing on Thanksgiving in 1934 to attract fans, and the tradition stuck. The Cowboys joined in 1966 and have hosted nearly every year since. Since 2006, a third game at night has been added so the whole country gets more football.
Quick answers
How many NFL games are on Thanksgiving 2026? Three on Thanksgiving Day, plus one on Thanksgiving Eve and one on Black Friday.
What time is the first Thanksgiving game? 1:00 pm ET (Bears at Lions on CBS).
Can I watch the Thanksgiving games for free? Yes, all three Thanksgiving Day games are on free over-the-air channels (CBS, FOX and NBC).
