Cincinnati Bengals Schedule 2026: Full Slate, Dates, Times and TV

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Week 16 is a designated matchup whose date and time are set later in the season, no later than immediately after Week 14. Week 18 details are announced only after Week 17 concludes. Prime-time games can move under flexible scheduling.

Games That Will Define the Bengals’ Season

Wk 9 at Falcons Madrid, 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network, with Atlanta as the designated home team. It is Cincinnati’s first international game since 2019.
Wk 10 vs Steelers Sunday night at Paycor, a week after the flight home from Spain. Pittsburgh won the AFC North last season and the Bengals see them twice in eight weeks.
Wk 14 vs Chiefs Kansas City in the late-afternoon national window, the kind of December game Cincinnati has to win to be taken seriously in the AFC.
Wk 17-18 Baltimore on Thursday night, New Year’s Eve, then Cleveland at home in Week 18. Two division games at Paycor to finish the year.
Back Overseas
The Madrid game is Cincinnati’s first appearance in the NFL International Series since 2019, and it lands right before the Steelers on Sunday night.
An All-In Offseason
Cincinnati traded the No. 10 overall pick to the Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in April, the first time the franchise had ever dealt a top-10 selection.
A Very Early Bye
Week 6 is the break, which leaves twelve straight games to close, including the Madrid trip and three prime-time windows.

How the Schedule Sets Up

The opening five weeks are ordinary: Tampa Bay at home, then Houston, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Miami. Cincinnati has to bank wins there, because the bye arrives in Week 6 and nothing after it gets easier.

The run from Baltimore in Week 7 through the Chiefs in Week 14 includes Madrid, two prime-time games and four division matchups. The last four weeks are Carolina, Indianapolis, Baltimore on New Year’s Eve and Cleveland. For the other side of the Week 7 and Week 17 games, see our Baltimore Ravens schedule page. Full league schedules and flexible-scheduling rules are published by the NFL.

The Bottom Line

Eight home games, an early Week 6 bye, a trip to Madrid, and a finish that runs through Baltimore and Cleveland. Coming off 6-11 and three straight seasons without a playoff berth, the Bengals get a soft opening month and then have to prove something for twelve straight weeks. Bookmark this page; results and Week 16 and 18 details are updated throughout the season.