Cincinnati Bengals 2026 schedule release date rumors, leaks, opponents and more

Now we know the full 2026 Cincinnati Bengals schedule after the NFL schedule release on Thursday. Everything appears to be lining up for the Bengals to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022 thanks to their relatively easy slate.

Most of Cincinnati's games outside of the division this year will come against the AFC South and the NFC South. That's a pretty decent draw of underwhelming, or at least unproven divisions. Should make the always-difficult AFC North gauntlet a little easier to stomach.

Check out the link below to see what the Bengals' schedule looks like in full, and see how we got here with the various leaks and rumors along the way.

1. Cincinnati Bengals 2026 opponents
2. Cincinnati Bengals 2026 schedule rumors
3. Cincinnati Bengals 2026 schedule leaks
4. Cincinnati Bengals 2026 schedule

Cincinnati Bengals 2026 opponents

Home: Browns, Ravens, Steelers, Jaguars, Titans, Chiefs, Saints, Buccaneers

Away: Browns, Ravens, Steelers, Texans, Colts, Dolphins, Falcons, Panthers, Commanders

Cincinnati Bengals 2026 schedule rumors

The @NerdingonNFL account on X/Twitter has broken many schedule leaks in the past that were proven to be accurate. While the following prediction is mere speculation, it's rooted in educated guessing and years of knowledge of how the NFL schedule-makers operate.

This artist known as NFL Nerd is of the opinion that the Bengals will take on the Houston Texans in Week 2's edition of Thursday Night Football.

It'd be nice for the Bengals to get that matchup out of the way early. Facing the Texans' top-flight defense on a short week at some other point in the season would be a brutal task. Nipping it in the bud in Week 2 would take care of one major hurdle on Cincinnati's otherwise-easy schedule.

Bengals Squad Show host and Stripe Hype's own Alex Frank has created his own mock schedule. He actually has that prime-time tilt with Houston on Monday Night Football in Week 1, followed by a huge divisional duel with the Baltimore Ravens on Week 2's edition of Sunday Night Football at Paycor Stadium.

Last season's 2-0 start was an aberration for Cincinnati during the Joe Burrow-Zac Taylor era, and obviously didn't foreshadow success for the rest of the year.

Nevertheless, it's critical for the Bengals to start fast in 2026. They'll be forced to be at their best if they're squaring off with the Texans and Ravens right out of the gates. Going 2-0 in those games would set the tone for the new season and springboard them into early contender status.

The only downside? Burning two of the best games of the season so soon!

Cincinnati Bengals 2026 schedule leaks

Bengals will open the season vs. Buccaneers in Week 1

Cincinnati will welcome the Bucs to Paycor Stadium to kick off the 2026 campaign, per Jordan Schultz. An intriguing battle of past No. 1 overall pick quarterbacks is on tap between Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield.

Ravens at Bengals confirmed for New Year's Eve

As noted in Jordan Schultz's report, this marks the first time in the last five matchups that a prime-time game between the Ravens and Bengals wasn't played in Baltimore, as New Year's Eve falls on a Thursday.

What a way to ring in 2027, with a showdown that could go a long way in deciding both the division champion and AFC playoff seeding.

Commanders to host Bengals in Week 11's edition of Monday Night Football

A Monday night rematch of 2024's Week 3 thriller in Cincinnati that went the Commanders' way by a score of 38-33. That was a key plot point in Jayden Daniels' historic rookie season, which catapulted Washington to the NFC Championship Game.

But facing the Commanders on the road carries added weight for Joe Burrow. He's returning to the site of his horrendous rookie-year knee injury.

Bengals to face Falcons as the road team in Madrid for Week 9

It was announced on Tuesday that one of the Bengals' road games will actually be played on the neutral field of Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9.

The obvious juicy subplot here is the fact that former Cincinnati safety Jessie Bates will play his former team for the first time since leaving for Atlanta in free agency. Neither team has reached the playoffs since Bates and the Bengals parted ways.

Cincinnati was probably going to be a road favorite even if this game was at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Instead, the pronounced advantage in quarterback play for Joe Burrow versus either Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa should give the Bengals even more of an edge. This may actually be a pro-Bengals crowd, given Burrow's superior star power and international appeal.

Cincinnati Bengals 2026 schedule

Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET — Sept. 13

Week 2: at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET — Sept. 20

Week 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET — Sept. 27

Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET — Oct. 4

Week 5: at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET — Oct. 11

Week 6: BYE

Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET — Oct. 25

Week 8: vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET — Nov. 1

Week 9: at Atlanta Falcons, 9:30 a.m. ET — Nov. 8 (in Madrid, Spain)

Week 10: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday Night Football)

Week 11: at Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m. ET — Nov. 23 (Monday Night Football)

Week 12: vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET — Nov. 29

Week 13: at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET — Dec. 6

Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET — Dec. 13

Week 15: at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET — Dec. 20

Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts, Time TBD — Dec. 26/27

Week 17: vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday Night Football; New Year's Eve)

Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns, Time TBD — Jan. 9/10

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