The Atlanta Falcons are in the midst of their 2026 regular season schedule. They just beat the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football in the return of Michael Penix Jr.
The 17-game slate offers a mix of divisional battles, high-profile primetime contests, tough road trips, and one unforgettable international showdown. Falcons fans can now start planning tailgates, travel, and watch parties for what looks like an action-packed year at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and beyond.
Atlanta Falcons 2026 Schedule: Key highlights include:
- A historic Week 9 international game in Madrid, Spain, against the Cincinnati Bengals at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (broadcast on NFL Network).
- Multiple primetime matchups, including a Sunday Night Football home game against the Baltimore Ravens and a Monday Night Football road tilt versus the New Orleans Saints.
- A Week 17 home game against the Saints on January 3, 2027, billed as a special holiday contest.
- The team’s bye week falls in Week 11.
- Familiar NFC South rivalries with the Panthers, Saints, and Buccaneers, plus challenging games against 2025 playoff contenders like the Chiefs, 49ers, Lions, and Ravens.
The preseason schedule (dates and times confirmed) is as follows:
- Preseason Week 1: Friday, August 14, 2026 – vs. Denver Broncos (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 7:00 PM EDT)
- Preseason Week 2: Saturday, August 22, 2026 – at Indianapolis Colts (Lucas Oil Stadium, 1:00 PM EDT)
- Preseason Week 3: Friday, August 28, 2026 – at Miami Dolphins (Hard Rock Stadium, 7:00 PM EDT)
2026 Atlanta Falcons Regular Season ScheduleHere is the full week-by-week schedule with location (home or away, plus venue), opponent, kickoff time (ET), TV network, and notes:
| Week | Date | Opponent | Location | Kickoff (ET) | TV Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Away (Acrisure Stadium) | 1:00 PM | FOX | L 20-13 |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | Carolina Panthers | Home (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) | 1:00 PM | FOX | L 3-34 |
| 3 | Thu, Sep 24 | Green Bay Packers | Away (Lambeau Field) | 8:15 PM | Amazon Prime | W 35-14 |
| 4 | Mon, Oct 5 | New Orleans Saints | Away (Caesars Superdome) | 8:15 PM | ESPN | Monday Night Football |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | Baltimore Ravens | Home (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) | 8:20 PM | NBC | Sunday Night Football |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | Chicago Bears | Home (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) | 1:00 PM | FOX | — |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | San Francisco 49ers | Home (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) | 1:00 PM | FOX | — |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Away (Raymond James Stadium) | 1:00 PM | FOX | — |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | Cincinnati Bengals | Home (Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain) | 9:30 AM | NFL Network | International Game |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | Kansas City Chiefs | Home (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) | 1:00 PM | CBS | — |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | Minnesota Vikings | Away (U.S. Bank Stadium) | 1:00 PM | FOX | — |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | Detroit Lions | Home (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) | 1:00 PM | CBS | — |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | Cleveland Browns | Away (Huntington Bank Field) | 1:00 PM | CBS | — |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | Washington Commanders | Away (Northwest Stadium) | 1:00 PM | FOX | — |
| 16 | TBD | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Home (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) | TBD | TBD | — |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3, 2027 | New Orleans Saints | Home (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) | 1:00 PM | FOX | Holiday game |
| 18 | TBD | Carolina Panthers | Away (Bank of America Stadium) | TBD | TBD | — |
Note: Week 11 is the Falcons’ bye week. Dates and times for Weeks 16 and 18 are listed as TBD on the official release and may be subject to NFL flex scheduling later in the season. All home games are at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta unless otherwise noted.Falcons fans can purchase tickets now via Ticketmaster.
Week 1: Steelers 20, Falcons 13
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Falcons 2013 in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season on September 13, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium.
- The Turning Point: Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt sealed the game in the fourth quarter by intercepting a pass from Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush and returning it 35 yards for a decisive touchdown.
- Quarterback Situation: The Falcons played without intended starter Tua Tagovailoa, who experienced back spasms right before the opener, forcing Cooper Rush into emergency duty.
Week 2: Carolina 34, Falcons 3
The Falcons got whipped by the Panthers 34-3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, September 20, 2026, dropping to 0-2 on the season.
Panthers Domination: Carolina quarterback Bryce Young threw two touchdown passes to tight end Darren Waller (12 yards and 7 yards) as the Panthers built a commanding 20-3 halftime lead and cruised to their fourth consecutive victory against Atlanta.
Disastrous Start: Starting quarterback Cooper Rush fumbled on the very first offensive play of the game, setting the tone for a sloppy, error-filled afternoon.
Offensive Meltdown: Rush struggled heavily, accounting for three total turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble) before getting benched.
Rookie Debut: Undrafted rookie Jack Strand replaced Rush late in the third quarter, but his very first NFL pass attempt was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Devin Lloyd.
Week 3: Falcons 35, Packers 14
Penix returned and helped rout Green Bay 35-14 at Lambeau Field.
The 2026 season promises big moments—whether it’s the Spain trip, primetime showdowns, or the push for the NFC South title. Stay tuned to AtlantaFalcons.com for updates, ticket info, and more!
Drake London was the primary beneficiary, catching nine passes for a career-high 194 yards. Bijan Robinson added 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. The combination of Penix’s accuracy, London’s production and Robinson’s workload produced the kind of balanced attack the Falcons lacked while Penix recovered.
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