May 14, 2026Updated May 15, 2026, 1:41 a.m. ET
The 2026 NFL schedule will officially be released on Thursday night around 8 p.m. ET for all 32 teams, but as is the case every year, individual game leaks tend to emerge before then, including the Atlanta Falcons.
A number of games have already been leaked, including the Falcons’ first two matchups and their International Series contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Falcons are hoping to finally break out of their eight-year postseason drought, but it won’t be easy.
The NFC South is only getting better and the Falcons have some tough opponents on the schedule this season. Atlanta will face several likely contenders, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears.
The full 17-game schedule for each team will be released tonight at 8 p.m. ET, but the Falcons are planning to release theirs at 7:30 p.m. ET. Check out the current schedule below (we’ll update as more games are leaked).
Shop Falcons 2026 ticketsExpert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Preseason Week 1: Denver Broncos
The Falcons will begin the 2026 NFL preseason at home against the Denver Broncos on August 14. Denver lost in the AFC Championship game to the New England Patriots. The Broncos will be looking to get quarterback Bo Nix back in time for the regular season.
Date: Friday, August 14Time: 7 p.m. ETPreseason Week 2: At Indianapolis Colts
In Week 2 of the preseason, the Falcons will head to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. Last season, Atlanta lost to Indianapolis in Berlin. Similar to the situation with Bo Nix in Denver, the Colts will be looking their quarterback, Daniel Jones, to get back on the field before the start of the season following a season-ending knee injury in 2025.
Date: Saturday, August 22Time: 1 p.m. ETPreseason Week 3: At Miami Dolphins
Finally, in the third week of the preseason, the Falcons will head down to Miami for a matchup against the Dolphins. Atlanta signed former Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year deal in free agency. Tagovailoa will return to Miami for the first time since being released.
Date: Friday, August 28Time: 7 p.m. ET Week 1: At Pittsburgh SteelersDate: Sunday, 9/13Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 2: Carolina PanthersDate: Sunday, 9/20Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 3: At Green Bay Packers (Thursday Night Football)Date: Thursday, 9/24Time: 8:15 p.m. ETWeek 4: At New Orleans Saints (Monday Night Football)Date: Monday, 10/5Time: 8:15 p.m. ETWeek 5: Baltimore Ravens (Sunday Night Football)Date: Sunday, 10/11Time: 8:20 p.m. ETWeek 6: Chicago BearsDate: Sunday, 10/18Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 7: San Francisco 49ersDate: Sunday, 10/25Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 8: At Tampa Bay BuccaneersDate: Sunday, 11/1Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 9: Cincinnati Bengals (Madrid)Date: Sunday, 11/8Time: 9:30 a.m. ETWeek 10: Kansas City ChiefsDate: Sunday, 11/15Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 11: BYEWeek 12: At Minnesota VikingsDate: Sunday, 11/29Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 13: Detroit LionsDate: Sunday, 12/6Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 14: At Cleveland BrownsDate: Sunday, 12/13Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 15: At Washington CommandersDate: Sunday, 12/20Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 16: Tampa Bay BuccaneersWeek 17: New Orleans SaintsDate: Sunday, 1/3Time: 1 p.m. ETWeek 18: At Carolina Panthers Atlanta Falcons schedule 2026Week 1: At Pittsburgh SteelersWeek 2: Carolina PanthersWeek 3: At Green Bay Packers (TNF)Week 4: At New Orleans Saints (MNF)Week 5: Baltimore Ravens (SNF)Week 6: Chicago BearsWeek 7: San Francisco 49ersWeek 8: At Tampa Bay BuccaneersWeek 9: Cincinnati Bengals (Madrid)Week 10: Kansas City ChiefsWeek 11: BYEWeek 12: At Minnesota VikingsWeek 13: Detroit LionsWeek 14: At Cleveland BrownsWeek 15: At Washington CommandersWeek 16: Tampa Bay BuccaneersWeek 17: New Orleans SaintsWeek 18: At Carolina PanthersShop Falcons 2026 tickets
The Falcons have had all 17 games leaked thus far. In Week 1, the team will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road. Then in Week 2, the Falcons will face the Carolina Panthers at home before heading to Green Bay to play the Packers in Week 3 on Thursday night football.
After taking on the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 4, the Falcons return home to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football in Week 5. Atlanta will then face the Chicago Bears at home in Week 6 and the San Francisco 49ers at home in Week 7.
Next up, the Falcons will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road in Week 8. In Week 9, they will face the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain. The Falcons will face the Vikings on the road in Week 10 before getting a bye in Week 11. Then in Week 13, they will face the Detroit Lions at home, followed by road games against the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders on the road in Weeks 14 and 15.
The Falcons will return home to play the Buccaneers and Saints in Weeks 16 and 17. Then in Week 18, Atlanta will close out the season against the Panthers on the road.
Falcons home opponents 2026Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ersFalcons away opponents 2026Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders
The Falcons are playing the NFC North and AFC North aside from their usual NFC South foes. Plus, Atlanta will face the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers at home.
Shop Falcons 2026 ticketsSuper Bowl 61 odds
The Falcons and the New Orleans Saints are tied for the seventh-worst odds to win it all this season (+8000). While Atlanta has plenty of talent, the team has a new head coach and question marks at the quarterback position.
