MN Vikings 2026 Schedule Starts Off Juicy
We are still months away from the start of the Minnesota Vikings 2026 regular season, but that won’t stop the hype train that is the NFL from steamrolling right along, taking every possible headline they can while other leagues fight for air.
In Minnesota, those headlines have mostly revolved around topics including (but not limited to) the new “QB competition” between JJ McCarthy and Kyler Murray, the future of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and more recently, what the Vikings will do at general manager.
Of course, the MN Vikings have signed a few free agents and new draft class, as well. But for the most part, the rest of the weeks between now and the start of the NFL regular season will be spent preparing for week one.
Well, that is every week other than this week. Because this is schedule release day, meaning we will know, not just who the Vikings will play against next season, but when.
Border battle vs Packers highlights early season matchups
The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers have played each other twice per season for decades. They have not opened the season against each other since 2022. That will change in 2026, and Minnesota will host the Cheeseheads for a Week 1 divisional matchup.
To say the Packers game is a big way to kick off the season would be putting it lightly. Not only will they be breaking in a new, big name quarterback, but the chance to grab a division win against a rival out of the gate has massive implications.
Serving up 17 courses. We'll take them all.https://t.co/IcZACQxP0Q pic.twitter.com/VLPqBiJCdS
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 14, 2026
| Week | Opponent | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Packers | U.S. Bank Stadium | 3:25 pm |
| Week 2 | Bears | Chicago, IL | 12:00 pm |
| Week 3 | Buccaneers | Tampa, FL | 3:05 pm |
| Week 4 | Dolphins | U.S. Bank Stadium | 3:05 pm |
| Week 5 | Saints | New Orleans, LA | 12:00 pm |
| Week 6 | Bye | ||
| Week 7 | Colts | U.S. Bank Stadium | 12:00 pm |
| Week 8 | Lions | Detroit, MI | 12:00 pm |
| Week 9 | Bills | U.S. Bank Stadium | MNF |
| Week 10 | Packers | Green Bay, WI | 12:00 pm |
| Week 11 | 49ers | Mexico City, MX | SNF |
| Week 12 | Falcons | U.S. Bank Stadium | 12:00 pm |
| Week 13 | Panthers | U.S. Bank Stadium | 3:25 pm |
| Week 14 | Patriots | Foxboro, MA | TNF |
| Week 15 | Lions | U.S. Bank Stadium | SNF |
| Week 16 | Commanders | U.S. Bank Stadium | TBD |
| Week 17 | Jets | East Rutherford, NJ | 12:00 pm |
| Week 18 | Bears | U.S. Bank Stadium | TBD |
A year ago everyone in the NFC North finished with nine wins aside from the division-winning Chicago Bears (11). The Vikings missed the playoffs and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah got the boot.
We have known the Minnesota Vikings opponents for some time now. The schedule release puts them on set dates with times for the matchups as well. Outside of their NFC North matchups, the Vikings get both the AFC East and NFC South in 2026.
It was previously revealed that the Vikings would play San Francisco in Mexico City, and that game will be a Sunday Night Football contest. They have three other primetime matchups including a Monday Night Football game (Week 9 vs Buffalo), Thursday Night Football (Week 14 @ New England), and Sunday Night Football (Week 15 vs Detroit).
NFC North comes early for MN Vikings
With a pair of divisional matchups scheduled for the first two weeks of the season, the Minnesota Vikings could be well positioned or behind the Eight Ball right out of the gate.
Minnesota opened with a dramatic come-from-behind victory against the Chicago Bears a season ago. They then didn’t play another divisional opponent until Week 9.
That won’t be the case this season as they’ll have three NFC North matchups by that point. If the Vikings are going to return to the playoffs, they’ll need to beat the teams they are most closely in contention with, and winning the division would be a good path to ensuring an easier path to a ring.
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