The Dallas Cowboys will enter the 2026 NFL season facing a schedule filled with major rivalries, primetime opportunities and an unusually demanding travel slate. With Super Bowl expectations surrounding the team, the path ahead will test Dallas both on the field and away from home.
Dallas Cowboys schedule for 2026 season
| Week | Date | Time (CT) | Opponent | Venue | Broadcaster | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun 09/13 | 7:20 PM | AT New York Giants | MetLife Stadium | NBC | Upcoming |
| 2 | Sun 09/20 | 3:25 PM | VS Washington Commanders | AT&T Stadium | FOX | Upcoming |
| 3 | Sun 09/27 | 3:25 PM | VS Baltimore Ravens | Maracana Stadium | CBS | Upcoming |
| 4 | Sun 10/04 | 12:00 PM | AT Houston Texans | Reliant Stadium | FOX | Upcoming |
| 5 | Thu 10/08 | 7:15 PM | VS Tampa Bay Buccaneers | AT&T Stadium | AMZN | Upcoming |
| 6 | Sun 10/18 | 7:20 PM | AT Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | NBC | Upcoming |
| 7 | Mon 10/26 | 7:15 PM | AT Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | ESPN | Upcoming |
| 8 | Sun 11/01 | 12:00 PM | VS Arizona Cardinals | AT&T Stadium | FOX | Upcoming |
| 9 | Sun 11/08 | 12:00 PM | AT Indianapolis Colts | Lucas Oil Stadium | FOX | Upcoming |
| 10 | Sun 11/15 | 3:25 PM | VS San Francisco 49ers | AT&T Stadium | FOX | Upcoming |
| 11 | Sun 11/22 | 12:00 PM | VS Tennessee Titans | AT&T Stadium | FOX | Upcoming |
| 12 | Thu 11/26 | 3:30 PM | VS Philadelphia Eagles | AT&T Stadium | FOX | Upcoming |
| 13 | Mon 12/07 | 7:15 PM | AT Seattle Seahawks | Lumen Field | ESPN | Upcoming |
| ⏸ BYE WEEK | ||||||
| 15 | Sun 12/20 | 3:25 PM | AT Los Angeles Rams | SoFi Stadium | CBS | Upcoming |
| 16 | Sun 12/27 | 7:20 PM | VS Jacksonville Jaguars | AT&T Stadium | NBC | Upcoming |
| 17 | Sun 01/03 | 12:00 PM | VS New York Giants | AT&T Stadium | FOX | Upcoming |
| 18 | TBD | TBD | AT Washington Commanders | Northwest Stadium | TBD | Upcoming |
| Week | Date | Time | Opponent | Venue | Broadcaster | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | Sat 08/15 | FINAL | AT Seattle Seahawks | Lumen Field | — | W 17-7 |
| P2 | Sat 08/22 | FINAL | AT Arizona Cardinals | State Farm Stadium | — | W 34-13 |
| P3 | Fri 08/28 | FINAL | VS New Orleans Saints | AT&T Stadium | — | L 24-27 |
The Cowboys are scheduled to travel nearly 28,000 miles during the regular season, the fourth-highest total in the NFL. That demanding journey begins in Week 1 with a primetime road matchup against the New York Giants.
Dallas has historically enjoyed considerable success against New York in season openers, holding an 11-1 record in those games. However, the Cowboys will have little time to settle into the season before another historic challenge arrives.
Cowboys face historic Brazil trip early in season
One of the biggest storylines on the Dallas Cowboys schedule comes in Week 3, when the team will travel to Rio de Janeiro to face the Baltimore Ravens. Dallas will be the designated home team in the NFL’s first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro, making the matchup a historic moment for the franchise and the league.
The international trip also creates a significant logistical challenge. After returning from Brazil following the Week 3 matchup, the Cowboys will have a short turnaround before traveling to face the Houston Texans in Week 4.
That early stretch could prove particularly demanding because of the combination of international travel, recovery time and another road game. For a team with championship aspirations, handling that portion of the schedule could be just as important as winning the games themselves.
The Cowboys will then return to the national spotlight in Week 5 when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football. The following week brings another high-profile contest, with Dallas traveling to Lambeau Field for a Sunday night meeting with the Green Bay Packers.
Primetime games and NFC East rivalries dominate schedule
The Cowboys remain one of the NFL’s biggest television draws, and that is reflected throughout their 2026 schedule. Dallas will appear in at least six primetime games for the fourth consecutive season, including two Monday Night Football appearances.
However, the most important games could come within the NFC East.
Dallas will meet the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders twice during the regular season as part of its divisional schedule. Those six games will carry significant weight in the NFC playoff race, particularly if the division remains competitive late in the year.
The Thanksgiving matchup against Philadelphia Eagles on November 26 is another game that immediately stands out. The Cowboys have never defeated the Eagles on Thanksgiving, giving Dallas an opportunity to erase an unusual piece of franchise history while also potentially strengthening its position in the division.
The regular season will conclude with another NFC East matchup when Dallas travels to face the Washington Commanders. With the playoff race potentially coming down to the final week, that game could have major postseason implications.
Difficult schedule leaves little room for error
The overall strength of the Dallas Cowboys schedule makes consistency particularly important. Dallas is scheduled to face eight teams that reached the playoffs in 2025, including the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
That means the Cowboys will have to navigate a number of difficult opponents while also dealing with one of the NFL’s longest travel schedules. Winning at home will be important, but the team’s ability to perform on the road could ultimately determine how far it goes.
Dallas does receive a valuable break late in the season. The Cowboys’ Week 14 bye provides an opportunity for the roster to recover before the final stretch of the regular season.
The Cowboys return from the bye with a road game against the Los Angeles Rams before hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars in a Sunday night matchup. Those games arrive at a critical point of the season, when injuries, fatigue and the playoff standings could all become decisive factors.
Ultimately, the 2026 Dallas Cowboys schedule offers no shortage of significant games. From the season opener against the Giants and the historic trip to Brazil to the Thanksgiving rivalry with Philadelphia and the final-week matchup against Washington, Dallas will face meaningful tests throughout the year.
For a team with Super Bowl ambitions, the challenge is straightforward. The Cowboys will need to handle the travel, survive a difficult group of opponents and remain consistent when the national spotlight is at its brightest.
