Everybody is falling into place as usual for the 2026 NFL season. As the 2026 NFL draft, mandatory minicamps and major roster issues have been dealt with, before the 2026 NFL season starts in a couple of weeks, the time for official training camps has arrived.
In the next 8 to 10 days, the Dallas Cowboys and the other 31 NFL teams will try to finalise their best 53 men for the upcoming season through rigorous training camp battles between edge rushers, DBs, safeties, wide receivers, and quarterbacks in some cases.
But for the Cowboys, the 2026 training camp will be an important litmus test to check every player’s strength and suitability to have a number of snaps. We will talk about the position battles and biggest storylines to observe for the 2026 training camp in another article, but in this post we will simply cover when the Dallas Cowboys training camp 2026, what will be the Cowboys training camp schedule for 2026 will be, and more. So, let’s get started.
When does the Dallas Cowboys training camp 2026 start?
The 2026 Dallas Cowboys training camp will start on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, and conclude on Tuesday, August 18, 2026; that is, this year’s camp will last for three weeks. And in case you are wondering the boys have their first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on August 15 at 7 p.m., and after the game, the Cowboys will follow their schedule as it is and conclude on August 18.
According to the organization’s official website, the Cowboys, under the head coaching of Brian Schottenheimer, will once again hold open training camp practices in Oxnard, California, with the Super Bowl as the larger goal for 2026. All public practice sessions of the Cowboys will be free for fans. Interestingly, the 2026 camp also marks the team’s 20th year in Oxnard.
Training camp will officially begin with the annual ‘Cowboys Back Together Saturday’, presented by American Airlines, on Saturday, August 1. The festivities are scheduled to start at 9:15 a.m. PT. The fun part will be that the camp will be featuring live entertainment, appearances by Cowboys mascot Rowdy, exclusive merchandise, fan giveaways, and other activities.
The opening ceremony will take place at 11:15 a.m. PT and will include a performance by Cheerleaders. To talk about it specifically, this ceremony will be a participation full of 90 boys and girls representing NFL Flag Ventura County, and remarks from the Jones family and Oxnard Mayor Luis McArthur.
Now comes the important part- on July 29, the day’s events will conclude with the Cowboys’ first open practice session, which is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. PT.
Dallas Cowboys open training camp with first practices in Oxnard
The ‘America’s Team’ will begin training camp with back-to-back open practices on Wednesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 30, at 11:45 a.m. PDT. Both sessions will be free for fans to attend at River Ridge Playing Fields as the team begins preparations for the 2026 season.
Oxnard Fan Night brings Cowboys celebrations to the community
On Friday, July 31, the Cowboys will host the fifth annual Oxnard Fan Night at The Collection at RiverPark from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. PDT. The free event will feature appearances by the Cheerleaders, mascot Rowdy, Cowboys legends, live entertainment, trivia contests, and fan giveaways.
Cowboys Back Together Saturday marks the official start of camp
The annual Cowboys Back Together Saturday celebration takes place on Saturday, August 1. Gates open at 9:15 a.m. PDT, followed by the opening ceremony at 11:15 a.m. PDT and an open practice at 11:45 a.m. PDT. Fans can also enjoy entertainment, merchandise, and performances by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders host youth dance clinic
The Cowboys Cheerleaders Dance Clinic will be held on Sunday, August 2, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. PDT at Rio Mesa High School, giving young dancers an opportunity to learn from members of the iconic cheerleading squad.
Open practices continue as players battle for roster spots
Training camp resumes with open practices on Monday, August 3, and Tuesday, August 4, both beginning at 11:45 a.m. PDT. These sessions will continue to showcase competitions for starting jobs and roster positions.
Cowboys NFL FLAG Training Camp gives young players a chance to learn
On Wednesday, August 5, the Cowboys will host the Dallas Cowboys NFL FLAG Training Camp, with sessions beginning at 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. PDT for participating youth athletes.
Heroes Appreciation Day recognizes military personnel and first responders
The Cowboys will celebrate Heroes Appreciation Day, presented by USAA, on Thursday, August 6, alongside an open practice at 11:45 a.m. PDT. Eligible military members and first responders will receive special benefits, including complimentary parking and reserved sideline viewing.
Weekend practices continue before first joint workout
The team returns to the practice field with open sessions on Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, both scheduled for 11:45 a.m. PDT.
Cowboys face Rams in first joint scrimmage
Dallas will hold a joint scrimmage against the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday, August 11, at Rams Village in Woodland Hills, California. The start time will be announced later.
Final open practices before preseason opener
The Cowboys will hold two more public practices on Thursday, August 13, and Friday, August 14, with both sessions beginning at 11:45 a.m. PDT before the team’s first preseason game.
Then the Cowboys will play their first preseason game of 2026 against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, August 15, at Lumen Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
After the August 15 game, the Dallas team will return to the practice field on Monday, August 17, for its final open practice at 11:45 a.m. PDT before concluding the Oxnard portion of camp with a joint practice against the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, August 18, at 2 p.m. PDT.
And lastly, following the conclusion of training camp, Dallas will travel to face the Arizona Cardinals on August 22 before wrapping up the preseason at home against the New Orleans Saints on August 28 at AT&T Stadium.