Per annual tradition — and with a so-far impeccable streak of accuracy — VikingsTerritory has the Minnesota Vikings’ schedule hours ahead of the official NFL announcements.
Minnesota’s 2026 path now looks clearer ahead of the NFL making the full slate official.
The Vikings notably have nine true home games in 2026, seven true road games, and a date in Mexico City with the San Francisco 49ers.
A Tough November Stretch Will Determine Minnesota’s Season
The leak is here. The NFL will confirm the games on Thursday night.
The Vikings’ 2026 Schedule
The following is not ten thousand percent ironclad, but we trust our sources enough to publish the docket online. We’ve done this annually — an early schedule release — since 2020 and have avoided major gaffes. If you’re spending thousands of dollars on airfare, hotels, and whatnot, wait until Thursday night to press the GO button.
Nevertheless, here’s the schedule:
Week 1 — vs. Green Bay Packers (3 pm)
Week 2 — at Chicago Bears
Week 3 — at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 4 — vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 5 — at New Orleans Saints
Week 6 — Bye
Week 7 — vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 8 — at Detroit Lions
Week 9 — vs. Buffalo Bills (MNF)
Week 10 — at Green Bay Packers
Week 11 — at San Francisco 49ers (SNF)
Week 12 — vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 13 — vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 14 — at New England Patriots (TNF)
Week 15 — vs. Detroit Lions (SNF)
Week 16 — vs. Washington Commanders
Week 17 — at New York Jets
Week 18 — vs. Chicago Bears
Most expect Kyler Murray to lead the Vikings at QB1, and he’ll experience the franchise’s two main rivalries out of the gate.
The Good Part
Nothing on the schedule can be considered wholly “easy” — the NFL doesn’t work like that when forecasting six months in advance — but this portion will be the time to stack wins:
Week 3 — at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 4 — vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 5 — at New Orleans Saints
Week 6 — Bye
Week 7 — vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Vikings will probably split with the Packers and Bears to get 2026 rolling, and then Kevin O’Connell’s team must exit Week 7 with a 4-2 record or so to be considered a contender.
Thereafter, taking on the Falcons, Panthers, Commanders, and Jets in six weeks isn’t the worst menu in the world. Minnesota has two true road games in the final eight weeks — a perk.
Murderer’s Row
Here’s the unfriendly part:
Week 8 — at Detroit Lions
Week 9 — vs. Buffalo Bills (MNF)
Week 10 — at Green Bay Packers
Week 11 — at San Francisco 49ers (SNF)
Depending on how Murray acclimates to the Vikings’ offense — or if J.J. McCarthy has found his way into the lineup — this four-game stretch may define Minnesota’s seriousness as a Super Bowl seeker. The Vikings will be lucky to split this foursome with a 2-2 record, and if they escape the aforementioned “easy” section with a 4-2 record, the club would sit at 6-4 heading into Thanksgiving.
The Viking Age‘s Adam Patrick noted on the Mexico City development, “Vikings players will also have to deal with playing inside a venue that is in an area where the altitude is over 7,200 feet, which is more than 1,500 feet higher than the altitude in the ‘Mile High City,’ Denver, Colorado.”
“There will be plenty of challenges for Minnesota, but at least the game will take place at a neutral site and not San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium since the 49ers are technically the home team.”
The other vicious part is at Patriots and home versus the Lions in Week 14 and Week 15. That will determine if Minnesota can dream big in January, its performance against those foes.
SI.com‘s Tony Liebert on the Patriots showdown: “Week 14 will reportedly feature Minnesota traveling to New England to face the AFC champion Patriots. That would be a Dec. 10 game, and it would mark the FOURTH straight season in which Minnesota has to go on the road to play a very tough opponent on short rest for TNF. The past three seasons have seen the Vikings play on Thursday night, on the road, against the Chargers, Rams, and Eagles.”
Preseason
For full context, these are the Vikings’ exhibition contests in August:
Preseason Game 1 — at New York Giants
Preseason Game 2 — vs. Baltimore Ravens
Preseason Game 3 — at Denver Broncos
All things considered, those games don’t matter much, but the Vikings may play more starters this go-round as the club didn’t seem fully ready for the regular season last year (mainly McCarthy as the first-time starter).
Oddsmakers expect Minnesota to finish the 2026 season with an 8-9 or 9-8 record.
