The NFL has officially announced key details for the start of the 2026 regular season, headlined by a rare Wednesday night kickoff and a major international game in Australia, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to kick off the season on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. The game is set for an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff and will be broadcast nationally on NBC and Peacock. While the Seahawks have been confirmed as a participant in the season opener, their opponent has not yet been determined.
Following the Wednesday opener, the league will travel to Melbourne, Australia, for a high-profile NFC West showdown. The San Francisco 49ers will face off against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Sept. 10. That international fixture is scheduled for an 8:35 p.m. ET start time as the league continues its global expansion.
The move to a Wednesday night start for the Seahawks marks a notable shift in the traditional NFL scheduling format for Week 1. Further details regarding the full 2026 schedule and the remaining Week 1 matchups are expected to be released at a later date.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Sources & Original Reporting