The Chicago Bears are officially primed for a blockbuster 2026 season. After capturing the league's attention last year, the NFL is giving fans plenty of chances to watch the Bears on the biggest stages. The league dropped its full 272-game schedule Thursday night, and Chicago is set for at least seven standalone national broadcasts—including marquee matchups on both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The action kicks off Sunday, Sept. 13, when the Bears head to Charlotte for a season-opening clash with the Carolina Panthers. Just two weeks later, the prime-time spotlight turns to Soldier Field as Chicago hosts the Philadelphia Eagles on "Monday Night Football" in Week 3.
From Weeks 7 through 9, the Bears will be must-see TV with three consecutive prime-time games: a Thursday night home date against the New England Patriots, a Monday night visit to the Seattle Seahawks, and a "Sunday Night Football" showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in Chicago.
Thanksgiving has become a tradition for the Bears and the Detroit Lions. Chicago will travel to Ford Field for a noon holiday kickoff—marking the fifth time in nine seasons these two rivals meet on Turkey Day. The standalone games keep coming in December: a Saturday night battle with the Buffalo Bills at their new Highmark Stadium on Dec. 19, followed by a Christmas Day showdown against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. That Friday afternoon game will stream live on Netflix at noon—a festive twist for Bears fans everywhere.
Before the holiday drama, Chicago visits Lambeau Field on Oct. 11 for a 3:25 p.m. kickoff on Fox against the Packers—not a standalone window, but still a marquee afternoon slot.
The Bears will enjoy nine home games this season, with a stretch of three straight at Soldier Field from Weeks 2 through 4, when Chicago's early fall weather is still at its finest. A Week 10 bye arrives right in the middle of the season, giving the team a perfect midseason reset.
Schedule makers also gave Chicago a couple of weather-friendly breaks: hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars in early December, when the cold could be a home-field advantage, and visiting the Miami Dolphins a week later—meaning the Bears avoid South Florida's brutal September heat entirely.