Updated May 13, 2026, 11:09 p.m. CT

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 for the Chicago Bears.

While many of these leaks do wind up coming to fruition, nothing is certain until the official announcement occurs.

The Bears have the most difficult schedule in the league this year (by strength of schedule), so second-year head coach Ben Johnson will certainly have his work cut out for him. On top of facing their NFC North opponents twice, they’ll face the AFC East and NFC South, along with some other teams who also finished first in their division in 2025.

Before the NFL officially reveals the 2026 schedule, Bears Wire will be tracking all of the latest leaks and announcements on the team’s schedule. This story will be updated as new information is released.

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This section will be updated when the NFL schedule is released in May.

  • Week 1: at Carolina Panthers (TBA)
  • Week 2:
  • Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Monday, Sept. 28, 7:15 p.m. CT, ESPN
  • Week 4:
  • Week 5:
  • Week 6:
  • Week 7: vs. New England Patriots (Thursday, Oct. 22, 7:15 p.m CT, Prime Video
  • Week 8:
  • Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Monday, Nov. 8, 7:15 p.m. CT, ESPN
  • Week 10:
  • Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, Nov. 22, time/channel TBA)
  • Week 12: at Detroit Lions (Thursday, Nov. 26, time/channel TBA)
  • Week 13:
  • Week 14:
  • Week 15:
  • Week 16:
  • Week 17: vs. Detroit Lions (Sunday, Jan 3, 3:25 p.m. CT/channel TBA
  • Week 18: at Minnesota Vikings (Date/time/channel TBA)

Shop Bears 2026 tickets Latest news, leaksBears close out the season in Minnesota

The Bears will play their regular season finale in Minnesota in Week 18, according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune. This will be the first time the Bears close out the season in Minneapolis since 2021.

Saints march into town in Week 11

The New Orleans Saints will visit the Bears in Week 11, according to multiple reports. This will be the second year in a row the Saints play the Bears in Chicago. They last met in October of 2025 with the Bears winning 26-14.

Bears play Lions at home in Week 17

The Bears will wrap up the season by facing divisional opponents in Weeks 17 and 18. According to multiple reports, the Detroit Lions will come to Soldier Field in Week 17 on January 3 for a late afternoon kickoff.

Bears to play Eagles on Monday Night Football in Week 3

Another Monday Night Football game will be played at Soldier Field this season. The Bears are set to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, according to Ryan Fowler of The Athletic. This will be the first Monday Night Football game between these two teams in 10 years.

Bears host Buccaneers on Monday Night Football in Week 9

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming to Soldier Field for a Monday Night Football matchup with the Bears in Week 9, according to WFLA News reporter Aileen Hnatiuk. This will be the first time the Buccaneers are coming to Chicago since 2020 when the Bears won 20-19 after Tom Brady believed he had one more down on the final drive.

Bears to face Patriots on TNF in Week 7

Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are meeting for the second time in their young careers and this time it will be under the lights. The Bears and Patriots are set to square off in Week 7 on Thursday Night Football, according to multiple reports.

Bears will open season vs. Panthers in Week 1

The Bears will play the Carolina Panthers on the road in Week 1, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. It’ll mark a battle of No. 1 pick quarterbacks in Caleb Williams and Bryce Young.

Bears won’t open season vs. Seahawks

Despite speculation that the Bears would open the 2026 season against the Seattle Seahawks, that won’t be the case. Seattle will face the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch from last season in Week 1 on Wednesday, Sept. 9, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Bears to play Lions on Thanksgiving

The Bears will play the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 26) at Ford Field, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. This marks head coach Ben Johnson’s second return to Ford Field since departing Detroit as offensive coordinator two years ago. Last season with the Bears, Johnson went 0-2 against the Lions, including a 52-21 blowout loss at Ford Field in his first game against his former team. This is the sixth time in the last 12 years that the Bears and Lions will play on Thanksgiving. In that span, Chicago has gone 3-2 in those meetings.

No international game for Bears

The Bears will not play an international game during the 2026 season. There were two possibilities leading up to the schedule release, including in Madrid against the Atlanta Falcons (who will host the Cincinnati Bengals) and in Munich against the Detroit Lions (who will host the New England Patriots).

Bears home opponents 2026

  • Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bears away opponents 2026

  • Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks

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