NFL to Skip Friday Games Next Season Due to Broadcasting Laws

NEW YORK, NY – The NFL confirmed on Tuesday that there will not be any Friday games during Week 1 of the upcoming 2026 season. This decision comes after an executive noted the league’s inability to legally operate its season like in previous years.

Hans Schroeder, NFL executive vice president and COO, announced this change during a conference call with reporters. The ban results from an antitrust provision spelled out in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. This law prevents any station within 75 miles of a high school or college football game from broadcasting professional football on Fridays and Saturdays between mid-September and mid-December.

Last season, the NFL was able to schedule Friday games as Labor Day fell early, allowing the season opener to occur without legal complications. However, as Labor Day in 2026 falls on September 7, the NFL will be unable to schedule a Friday game without violating the law.

The Sports Broadcasting Act was created to protect high school and college football from the competition posed by the NFL. Many high school games are typically held on Fridays, whereas college games dominate Saturdays. If the NFL were to run games on these days, it would interfere with the other levels of the sport.

The upcoming 2025 NFL season will still feature a Friday game as the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs are set to play on September 5 in São Paulo, Brazil. Following this matchup, all games in Week 2 will revert to traditional days: Monday, Thursday, or Sunday.

Additionally, the NFL is planning its first-ever regular-season game in Australia for 2026 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, although the date and the opponent have yet to be announced. This year also marks the NFL’s return to international play with seven games scheduled outside the United States.

Schroeder emphasized the NFL’s aim to expand its international footprint, seeking discussions with the NFL Players’ Association about increasing the number of international games over the coming years.