The Chiefs are set to open the 2026-27 regular season under the lights, and they’re not getting a soft landing. Kansas City hosts the Broncos on Monday Night Football in Week 1, a prime-time AFC West test right out of the gate.
The next Chiefs game is Monday, Sept. 14, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
ET. The game will air on ESPN and ABC and can be streamed on DIRECTV.
Kansas City enters the season with a brighter outlook, and the biggest storyline is Patrick Mahomes’ return after a brutal ACL tear in December. Even with that optimism, the Chiefs will be forced to jump straight into a tough division matchup instead of easing into the schedule.
Andy Reid spent the offseason making moves to keep the roster fresh, while Steve Spagnuolo added help on defense. Among the new faces are cornerback Mansoor Delane and edge R Mason Thomas. Travis Kelce is also back in Arrowhead, though this could be his final season with the franchise.
Here’s the full Chiefs schedule for 2026:
Week 1: Monday, Sept. 14 vs. Broncos, 8:15 p.m.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20 vs. Colts, 8:20 p.m.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27 at Dolphins, 1 p.m.
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4 at Raiders, 4:25 p.m.
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18 vs.
Chargers, 4:25 p.m.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 25 at Seahawks, 8:20 p.m.
Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1 at Broncos, 4:25 p.m.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8 vs.
Jets, 1 p.m.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 15 at Falcons, 1 p.m.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22 vs. Cardinals, 1 p.m.
Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 26 at Bills, 8:20 p.m.
Week 13: Thursday, Dec. 3 at Rams, 8:15 p.m.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13 at Bengals, 4:25 p.m.
Week 15: Monday, Dec. 21 vs.
Patriots, 8:15 p.m.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27 vs. 49ers, 4:25 p.m.
Week 17: TBD at Chargers, TBD
Week 18: TBD vs.
Raiders, TBD
Week 1 also includes a full Sunday slate before Kansas City takes the field on Monday. The remaining games listed for Sunday, Sept. 13 are Bengals vs.
Buccaneers, Lions vs. Saints, Steelers vs.
Falcons, Panthers vs. Bears, Titans vs.
Jets, Colts vs. Ravens, Jaguars vs.
Browns, Texans vs. Bills, Vikings vs.
Packers, Chargers vs. Cardinals, Raiders vs.
Dolphins and Eagles vs. Commanders.
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Patrick Mahomes is the reason the conversation can even start there, and the concern is just as obvious as the hope. The quarterback tore his ACL late in the year, leaving the Chiefs to answer the biggest question of their rebound before anything else on the field can matter. Until there is more clarity on how that recovery unfolds, the gap between preseason buzz and a real return to form will be the story in Kansas City. [Read more 🡒]