Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 schedule released — dates, times, TV and early analysis
The full Dallas Cowboys schedule for 2026 is here.
The second season under head coach Brian Schottenheimer will kick off on Sept. 13 and includes a trip to Brazil, a road game against the defending Super Bowl champion and the team’s latest bye week since 1990.
Here is what to watch for in all 17 contests:
Week 1: at Giants (Sunday, Sept. 13, at 7:20 p.m. on NBC)
For the fourth consecutive year, the Cowboys will open the season on the road, as they will travel to the Big Apple to take on the New York Giants. The 2026 opener will serve as the 13th time the Cowboys have opened the season against the Giants, with Dallas owning an 11-1 record all-time against its divisional foes in season openers. The two teams have opened against each other in eight of the past 15 seasons, dating back to the season opener in 2012.
Week 2: vs. Commanders (Sunday, Sept. 20, at 3:25 p.m. on Fox)
The Cowboys will play at AT&T Stadium only twice in the season’s first seven weeks, so this divisional matchup against Washington in Week 2 is about as important as an early season game could be. The Cowboys and Commanders haven’t had a game where both starting quarterbacks were healthy since the 2023 season, so as long as Week 1 goes to plan, we should see the Jayden Daniels-Dak Prescott matchup at full force.
Week 3: vs. Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Sunday, Sept. 27, at 3:25 p.m. on CBS)
This was one of the few games we knew coming into the schedule release, but the picture around this game has become clearer. After the roughly 11-hour flight back from Brazil, the Cowboys will immediately head back out on the road, making this a fairly crucial early season contest.
Week 4: at Texans (Sunday, Oct. 4, at 12 p.m. on Fox)
For the fourth time in franchise history, the Cowboys will head down Interstate 45 to take on the Texans in Houston, as they look to avenge an overtime loss the last time they were in the building in 2018. This will be a physical game, as Houston sports one of the best defenses in the NFL. Even though the trip is all of 45 minutes on a chartered flight, the turnaround from Brazil to going back out on the road won’t be easy for the Cowboys.
Week 5: vs. Buccaneers (Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7:15 p.m. on Amazon Prime Video)
What’s worse than having to turn around and play on the road after Brazil? How about a Thursday night game just days later? Simply put, this will be an incredibly tough early stretch for the Cowboys. Getting through this stretch healthy will be a huge accomplishment. For on-the-field storylines, this will Dallas’ chance to get a look at Buccaneers rookie pass rush Rueben Bain Jr., who was passed up by Dallas at No. 11 in favor of Caleb Downs.
Week 6: at Packers (Sunday, Oct. 18, at 7:20 p.m. on NBC)
A report came out earlier Thursday that Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons may not be ready to start the season after tearing his ACL late last season, which means the Cowboys will either not see him on the other side or get one of his first games back on the field. Dallas does dodge the weather element of a potential game in Green Bay in November or December, but it won’t mean that the matchup won’t be any less tough. This will also serve as Cowboys outside linebacker Rashan Gary’s first game against his former team after being traded earlier this offseason.
Week 7: at Eagles (Monday, Oct. 26, at 7:15 p.m. on ESPN)
A prime-time matchup on Monday night for Cowboys and Eagles will always drive up the viewership, and ESPN will be the benefactor in Week 7. It’s the last big road trip for a little while, and it could be a big opportunity to get back on the right track after an early season slump or the stamp on a strong start to the campaign.
Week 8: vs. Cardinals (Sunday, Nov. 1, at 12 p.m. on Fox)
This should be a needed breath of fresh air for the Cowboys after a super rough start to the season, but Dallas has lost eight of its last nine contests against the Cardinals dating back to 2006, including four losses in a row. Quarterback Kyler Murray is no longer in Arizona, and it’s not because they have more clarity at the quarterback position. The Cowboys should be favored in this one. This will be Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson’s first game against his former team since departing this offseason.
Week 9: at Colts (Sunday, Nov. 8, at 12 p.m. on Fox)
After Daniel Jones tore his ACL late last season, the quarterback position has some murkiness for the Colts entering 2026. Can it be figured out by Week 9? If so, the Colts proved last season that they had a complete-enough roster to compete in every game. The Cowboys have won four of their past five matchups against Indianapolis dating back to 2002. Of note, this will be Cowboys’ rookie Caleb Downs first ever game against his brother, Colts wide receiver Josh Downs.
Week 10: vs. 49ers (Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3:25 p.m. on Fox)
What has become somewhat of a playoff preview in recent years has turned into a showcase for San Francisco dominance, as Dallas will look for its first win over the 49ers since 2020. If the Cowboys want to compete for the postseason in 2026, they will need to beat the NFC contenders on their schedule. There’s a lot of them, and San Francisco should be an attainable challenge at home.
Week 11: vs. Titans (Sunday, Nov. 22, at 12 p.m. on Fox)
A home game against one of the worst teams in the NFL over the past couple of seasons should be a marked win for the Cowboys at this point in the season. It’s a welcoming opponent to get before having to turn around before Thanksgiving four days later. Can Texas native Cam Ward get things turned around under his new head coach, Robert Saleh, in time for this Week 11 clash?
Week 12: vs. Eagles (Thursday, Nov. 26, at 3:30 p.m. on Fox)
The annual Cowboys holiday tradition in 2026 will be the fourth in the past five years that has featured an NFC East rival. It’s the first time the Eagles have played Dallas on Thanksgiving since 2014 when Philadelphia won 33-10. It’s just the third time in the 60-year tradition that the Eagles will travel to Dallas on Thanksgiving.
Week 13: at Seahawks (Monday, Dec. 7, at 7:15 p.m. on ESPN)
Each of the past three matchups against the Seahawks for the Cowboys have been decided by one possession. After Seattle won the Super Bowl last season, this will certainly be a game that is circled on the schedule as a huge litmus test for the Cowboys, in the Monday night spotlight. Could the elements play a role in December in the Pacific Northwest?
Week 14: Bye week
This is the latest bye week the Cowboys have had in 36 years when they also had a Week 14 bye in 1990.
Week 15: at Rams (Sunday, Dec. 20, at 3:25 p.m. on CBS)
Having a bye week sandwiched between two games against the two best teams in the NFC is a luxury that Dallas has to take advantage of. Getting out of this stretch with a win in one or both of these contests would offer a lot of optimism for the postseason just a few weeks later. This will serve as the first game against the Rams for new Cowboys cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick.
Week 16: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, Dec. 27, at 7:20 p.m. on NBC)
Remember the last matchup between these teams in Jacksonville in 2022? I’m sure it’s one Prescott would love to forget. Nevertheless, he’ll have the chance to put it behind him with a win that would also put the Cowboys ahead of the Jaguars in their all-time series (currently tied 4-4). Of note, this will be Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis’ first game against the Cowboys after spending his first eight seasons with the team from 2017 to 2024. This is Dallas’ seventh and final standalone matchup on the schedule.
Week 17: vs. Giants (Sunday, Jan. 3, at 12 p.m. on Fox)
It will be odd to see two weeks of games into the month of January, but that is a product of the season starting a week later this year. The first of the two 2027 matchups will be a division game against the Giants after going 16 weeks between matchups. With two division games in the final two weeks, the Cowboys could enter a crucial part of the year here if they are still on the outside looking into the playoff picture.
Week 18: at Commanders (date and time TBD)
The final game of the season will be on the road in the nation’s capital, as the Cowboys will travel to take on the Commanders in what could either be a meaningless Week 18 matchup or a crucial do-or-die game. The weight of the game will determine what day and time the game is played at, as it will be determined a week in advance.
Preseason schedule
While the dates and times of the preseason games will be determined at a later date, the opponents and order were announced Thursday. Here is that three-game slate:
Preseason Week 1: Cowboys at Seahawks
Preseason Week 2: Cowboys at Cardinals
Preseason Week 3: Saints at Cowboys
This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 6:32 PM.
