The Minnesota Vikings 2026′ regular season schedule has been unveiled after a long wait. Check out the slate below.
- Week 1; 9/13/26 – vs. Green Bay Packers (3:25pm CDT)
- Week 2; 9/20/26 – @ Chicago Bears (Noon CDT)
- Week 3; 9/27/26 – @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3:05pm CDT)
- Week 4; 10/04/26 – vs. Miami Dolphins (3:05pm CDT)
- Week 5; 10/11/26 – @ New Orleans Saints (Noon CDT)
- Week 6 – BYE
- Week 7; 10/25/26 – vs. Indianapolis Colts (Noon CDT)
- Week 8; 11/01/26 – @ Detroit Lions (Noon CDT)
- Week 9; 11/09/26 – vs. Buffalo Bills (7:15pm CDT – Monday Night Football)
- Week 10; 11/15/26 – @ Green Bay Packers (Noon CDT)
- Week 11; 11/22/26 – vs. San Francisco 49ers (7:20pm CST – Sunday Night Football)
- Week 12; 11/29/26 – vs. Atlanta Falcons (Noon CST)
- Week 13; 12/06/26 – vs. Carolina Panthers (3:25pm CST)
- Week 14; 12/10/26 – @ New England Patriots (7:15pm CST – Thursday Night Football)
- Week 15; 12/20/26 – vs. Detroit Lions (7:20pm CST – Sunday Night Football)
- Week 16; TBD – vs. Washington Commanders (TBD)
- Week 17; 1/03/27 – @ New York Jets (Noon CST)
- Week 18; TBD – vs. Chicago Bears (TBD)
While there is a major annoyance with the Week 6 bye, the schedule does also hold a major advantage to end the season.
Vikings Staying Home for Most of Back-Half of 2026 Season
GettyJustin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Like the third-consecutive Week 6 bye-week, Jonathan Harrison of Sports Illustrated pointed out the Vikings’ advantageous final 7-game stretch.
“Minnesota will finish the season with five of their last seven games at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The pair of two-game homestands will be split by the Week 14 Thursday Night Football game against the Patriots. That means Minnesota will have five weeks starting with two home games, followed by a quick trip out to New England, a 10-day mini-bye week, and then another pair of home games that kick off the final four games of the season.
The Vikings will host the Falcons, Panthers, Lions, and Commanders during the four games in that stretch. Those are four games the Vikings, especially since they are hosting, should be competitive and potentially even favored in. Minnesota will then close out the regular season with a final road game at New York, taking on a Jets team likely to already be eliminated from playoff contention, and then a home finale against the Bears.”
This is a very welcome revelation for a Minnesota Vikings team trying to return to the postseason. Minnesota will likely be tested on the road in New England, but all indications towards it being quite advantageous for one the two road games in the final seven weeks to be against the Jets.
You can’t ask for much more help when it comes to home-field advantage during your playoff push.
Minnesota Given Another Very Early Bye Week in 2026
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings walks to the sideline during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Yet again, the Minnesota Vikings were given another early bye-week. In fact, it’s the third-straight season in which Minnesota has their week off come in Week 6. This was pointed out by Jonathan Harrison of Sports Illustrated.
“For the third straight season, the Vikings will have their bye in Week 6. While the bye in each of the past two seasons came after international trips, this year’s early bye splits a trio of what should be considered winnable games for the Vikings.
Following the tough three-week start, Minnesota returns home to take on a Dolphins team projected to be one of the worst in the NFL. After Miami, the Vikings will head back on the road to take on a Saints squad that is expected to improve on a 6-11 season, but is still short of being a real playoff contender. They will then have their bye and return to action in Week 7, taking on a Colts team that could still be without quarterback Daniel Jones. Without Jones last season, the Colts went 0-4.”
The Vikings haven’t won the game immediately after the bye-week since 2023. In the Kevin O’Connell era, they are 2-2 in such games. This year, that game will be at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Indianapolis Colts.
Vikings’ 2026 Schedule Holds Major Playoff Advantage