Everything you need for Monday Night Football tonight is right here: who plays, kickoff times, TV channels, and how to stream every game without cable.
MNF returns September 14 with an AFC West showdown between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. The 2026 schedule features one Monday game each week, with every listed kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. ET.
Here’s your complete viewing guide for the season. You will find the full Monday Night Football schedule, kickoff times, broadcast channels, and the most reliable streaming options.
What channel is Monday Night Football on?
ESPN is the primary home of Monday Night Football in 2026. ESPN’s season package includes 17 regular-season MNF games, running from September 14 through January 4, 2027.
ESPN says 10 of the 17 Monday Night Football games will also be simulcast on ABC, while seven will be ESPN-only broadcasts. ESPN’s original announcement also said seven ABC simulcasts would fall within the first nine weeks.
ABC’s published August schedule currently identifies several ESPN/ABC simulcasts, although its date-by-date listing does not yet fully reconcile with ESPN’s announced total of 10. Viewers should therefore check the week’s listings before kickoff, especially later in the season.
Spanish-language coverage will be available for ESPN’s NFL games, with most Spanish telecasts airing on ESPN Deportes. ESPN2 will carry selected editions of Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, better known as the ManningCast.
Monday Night Football Schedule 2026
The NFL’s official Monday Night Football schedule contains 17 games, all currently listed for 8:15 p.m. ET. The season opens with Broncos-Chiefs and finishes January 4 with Texans-Packers.
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time | Primary TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 14 | Broncos at Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 2 | Sept. 21 | Giants at Rams | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 3 | Sept. 28 | Eagles at Bears | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 4 | Oct. 5 | Falcons at Saints | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 5 | Oct. 12 | Bills at Rams | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 6 | Oct. 19 | Commanders at 49ers | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 7 | Oct. 26 | Cowboys at Eagles | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 8 | Nov. 2 | Bears at Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 9 | Nov. 9 | Bills at Vikings | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 10 | Nov. 16 | Chargers at Ravens | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 11 | Nov. 23 | Bengals at Commanders | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 12 | Nov. 30 | Panthers at Buccaneers | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 13 | Dec. 7 | Cowboys at Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 14 | Dec. 14 | Steelers at Jaguars | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 15 | Dec. 21 | Patriots at Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 16 | Dec. 28 | Giants at Lions | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 17 | Jan. 4, 2027 | Texans at Packers | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
One correction is important: some published ABC material lists the Week 2 opponent as the Los Angeles Chargers. The NFL’s official schedule and ESPN’s own release identify the game as New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams, so Rams is the matchup used here.
ABC simulcasts apply to selected dates in addition to ESPN. ESPN has announced 10 ABC simulcasts overall, but because the currently published ABC list contains inconsistencies, checking ESPN or ABC’s current weekly listing remains the safest approach.
How to Watch Monday Night Football Without Cable
Cord-cutters have several ways to watch Monday Night Football because the essential requirement is access to ESPN. ABC provides an additional free over-the-air option during weeks when the game is simulcast locally.
ESPN Unlimited is ESPN’s direct-to-consumer option. The plan currently costs $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year and includes ESPN’s linear networks, including ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, through the ESPN app.
Do not confuse ESPN Unlimited with ESPN Select. Select currently costs $12.99 per month and is essentially the ESPN+ tier; it does not provide the same full linear ESPN network access required for every MNF game.
YouTube TV is another option. Its standard plan is currently $82.99 per month and includes national and local networks, although exact local-channel availability should always be checked by ZIP code.
Hulu + Live TV starts at $89.99 per month and lists both ESPN and ABC among its live-TV channels. Hulu also notes that regional restrictions and local-channel availability may apply.
Fubo, DirecTV and Sling also offer packages that can include ESPN. Because packages, local ABC access and promotional prices change, verify the channel lineup for your ZIP code before subscribing.
An over-the-air antenna can be the cheapest solution for games simulcast on ABC. It will not, however, cover ESPN-exclusive Monday nights.
NFL+ provides another low-cost option for mobile viewers. NFL+ currently costs $6.99 per month or $49.99 annually and includes live local and primetime regular-season games on phones and tablets. Live primetime games cannot be cast to a television through NFL+.
Can Monday Night Football Games Be Flexed?
Yes. The NFL can use flexible scheduling for Monday Night Football during Weeks 12 through 17.
During those weeks, an eligible Sunday afternoon game can move into the Monday night window, while the originally scheduled Monday game moves to Sunday afternoon. The NFL says Monday flex decisions are generally announced at least 12 days before the game.
That means the late-season MNF schedule should be treated as tentative. Weeks 1 through 11 are outside the league’s 2026 Monday flex window.
Week 18 is handled separately. Its Saturday and Sunday assignments are determined after Week 17, allowing the league to place games with major playoff implications into national windows. ESPN and ABC are scheduled to carry two Week 18 Saturday games.
Best Monday Night Football Games in 2026
Broncos at Chiefs — Week 1: The season begins at Arrowhead Stadium with a divisional matchup. Denver and Kansas City already know each other well, making this a high-profile way to launch the 2026 Monday schedule.
Cowboys at Eagles — Week 7: Dallas-Philadelphia brings one of the NFL’s most recognizable divisional rivalries to prime time. ESPN specifically highlighted the NFC East matchup when announcing its 2026 slate.
Bears at Seahawks — Week 8: Chicago travels to Seattle for one of two Monday games hosted by the Seahawks. Seattle enters 2026 as the reigning Super Bowl champion, adding another layer to the matchup.
Chargers at Ravens — Week 10: Los Angeles and Baltimore provide another nationally prominent AFC matchup. ESPN included Chargers-Ravens among the early-season games featuring recent league MVP quarterbacks across its MNF package.
Patriots at Chiefs — Week 15: New England visits Kansas City on December 21. ESPN highlighted the game as a meeting of recent AFC champions and the first matchup between Drake Maye and Patrick Mahomes.
Texans at Packers — Week 17: The scheduled Monday finale sends Houston to Lambeau Field on January 4. Because Week 17 falls inside the MNF flex window, its final place in prime time remains subject to league scheduling decisions.
Who Calls Monday Night Football in 2026?
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman return as ESPN’s lead Monday Night Football booth for 2026. Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge also return as sideline reporters, giving ESPN the same primary four-person MNF broadcast team for a second full season.
Buck and Aikman enter their 25th season together as an NFL broadcast pairing.
Peyton and Eli Manning also return for the sixth season of Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli. ESPN has announced 12 ManningCast games beginning in Week 1, plus a ManningCast presentation for Super Bowl LXI.
Monday Night Football FAQs
Is there a Monday Night Football game tonight?
The 2026 Monday Night Football regular-season schedule runs from September 14, 2026 through January 4, 2027. Check the schedule above for the matchup corresponding to the current week.
What channel is Monday Night Football on tonight?
ESPN carries the entire 17-game Monday Night Football regular-season schedule. Selected games are also simulcast on ABC, while alternate ManningCast broadcasts are scheduled for ESPN2 on selected Mondays.
What time does Monday Night Football start in 2026?
Every game on the currently published 2026 MNF schedule kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET, or 5:15 p.m. PT. Late-season games remain subject to NFL flex scheduling.
How can I watch Monday Night Football without cable?
You can watch through ESPN Unlimited or a live-TV streaming provider carrying ESPN, including services such as YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. ABC simulcasts can also be watched free over the air with an antenna where local reception is available.
Does ESPN Select include Monday Night Football?
ESPN Select does not provide the full linear ESPN channel package needed to guarantee every Monday Night Football broadcast. ESPN Unlimited includes ESPN’s linear networks and is the direct ESPN subscription designed for that access.
Are there Monday Night Football doubleheaders in 2026?
The published 2026 MNF schedule contains one game each Monday from Week 1 through Week 17 rather than the Monday doubleheaders seen in some previous seasons. ESPN and ABC will instead have a separate Week 18 Saturday doubleheader.
Is the ManningCast on Monday Night Football in 2026?
Yes. Peyton and Eli Manning return for their sixth ManningCast season. ESPN says they will cover 12 games beginning in Week 1, with the remaining game selections announced around the start of the season.
Do all 32 NFL teams play on Monday Night Football in 2026?
No. The original 17-game Monday schedule does not include every NFL team. Late-season flex scheduling could change the lineup by moving an eligible Sunday game into Monday night.
Can Monday Night Football games be moved?
Yes. Monday Night Football is eligible for flexible scheduling from Weeks 12 through 17. The NFL generally announces a Monday flex decision at least 12 days before kickoff.
Can I watch Monday Night Football on NFL+?
Yes, but with an important limitation. NFL+ offers live primetime games on phones and tablets; those live local and primetime broadcasts cannot be cast to a television.
Can I rewatch a Monday Night Football game later?
NFL+ Premium includes full and condensed game replays across supported devices. ESPN’s platforms may also provide replay access depending on the subscriber’s plan and rights for the specific broadcast.
Editorial Disclaimer: NFL schedules, flex decisions, TV assignments, streaming packages and subscription prices can change during the season. This guide reflects information available as of August 2026. Confirm the latest matchup and viewing details with the NFL, ESPN, ABC or your television provider before kickoff.
