What time is Monday Night Football? MNF games in the 2026 NFL season typically kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC. Whether you’re tuning in for a big playoff push or just trying to catch a regular season game tonight, knowing the exact start time and TV channel is key. This guide covers the full MNF tv schedule, how to stream live, which teams are playing, and everything else you need to plan your Monday nights around NFL football.
What Time Does Monday Night Football Start in 2026?
The standard Monday Night Football start time is 8:15 p.m. ET, which has been the consistent kickoff for most games on ESPN and ABC throughout the 2026 NFL season. A small number of games may have adjusted start times, so it’s always smart to check the official NFL schedule closer to game day. The pregame show on ESPN typically begins around 7:00 p.m. ET, giving fans plenty of warm-up coverage before the game live broadcast begins.
For West Coast fans, 8:15 p.m. ET translates to 5:15 p.m. PT early enough to catch the full game without staying up too late. Central Time viewers tune in at 7:15 p.m. CT, while Mountain Time fans watch at 6:15 p.m. MT. No matter where you are, the night game is accessible on multiple platforms, so you never have to miss a snap.
Full 2026 Monday Night Football Schedule
The 2026 NFL season features a stacked MNF lineup from the preseason all the way through the regular season and into the postseason. Below is a breakdown of key matchups across the schedule.
Early Season Highlights
The 2026 schedule kicked off strong with marquee matchups right from the start. The Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles headlined early prime time slots, drawing massive national audiences. The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions also appeared in MNF slots during the opening weeks, giving NFC fans some of the best football games of the early season.
Week 15 brought a heated divisional rivalry between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a game with direct playoff implications for both NFC South teams. The atmosphere was electric, and it set the tone for the stretch run.
Mid-Season Matchups (Week 16 & Week 17)
Week 16 featured one of the most anticipated MNF matchups of the year the Los Angeles Chargers taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC battle. Both teams were squarely in the playoff race, making every snap count. The Los Angeles Rams also had a prominent appearance, with their high-powered offense drawing prime time attention.
Week 17 delivered a classic NFC West showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, two storied rivals with plenty of history and a lot on the line. That matchup is exactly the kind of game that makes Monday Night Football tonight must-see television every week.
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| Week | Matchup | Kickoff (ET) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 15 | Atlanta Falcons vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN/ABC |
| Week 16 | Los Angeles Chargers vs Pittsburgh Steelers | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN/ABC |
| Week 17 | San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN/ABC |
| Week 18 | Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN/ABC |
Late Season Battles (Week 18)
Week 18 is always packed with drama. The Philadelphia Eagles faced the New York Giants in a game that had NFC East seeding implications. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts squared off in an AFC clash, while the New England Patriots faced the New York Jets in a rivalry renewed. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans also battled it out for AFC South positioning. Every MNF game in Week 18 carries playoff stakes.
What Channel Is Monday Night Football On?
Monday Night Football airs on both ESPN and ABC, making it one of the most widely available prime time NFL broadcasts of the week. ESPN is available on most cable and satellite packages, and ABC is a free over-the-air network, which means many fans can watch MNF without a cable subscription.
How to Watch and Stream Monday Night Football
There are several ways to watch Monday Night Football in 2026:
- ESPN – Available on standard cable and satellite packages
- ABC – Free over-the-air with an antenna
- ESPN+ – Streaming via the ESPN app on mobile, smart TV, tablet, and more
- YouTube TV – Includes both ESPN and ABC in its channel lineup
- Sling TV – Offers ESPN as part of its Orange package
- ESPN App – Stream live on ESPN directly with a provider login
- Hulu + Live TV – Carries both ESPN and ABC for full live TV access
To stream Monday Night Football without cable, YouTube TV and Sling TV are two of the most popular options. You can also stream on ESPN directly through the ESPN app if you have an active TV provider login. The game live is typically available in full HD, and most platforms support streaming on multiple devices simultaneously.
Pro tip: If you want to watch MNF for free, use an HD antenna to receive ABC’s over-the-air broadcast. Many MNF games in the 2026 NFL season air on ABC as part of the simulcast arrangement with ESPN.
Who’s Playing Monday Night Football Tonight?
Who’s playing Monday Night Football on any given week depends on the NFL schedule. The league typically announces the full MNF lineup well in advance, though some flex scheduling can shift games into or out of the Monday slot. You can always find the latest information by checking the official NFL website, the ESPN app, or the ABC sports page.
Some of the biggest teams to appear on NFL Monday Night Football in 2026 include the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, and Atlanta Falcons in addition to perennial prime time draws like the Eagles, Cowboys, Bills, and Rams. Whether it’s an AFC powerhouse or an NFC sleeper, the Monday Night Football game delivers high-caliber matchups week after week.
Monday Night Football and the Playoff Picture
As the regular season winds down, Monday Night Football becomes an even bigger stage. Teams fighting for AFC and NFC wild card spots often find themselves in the MNF spotlight during Weeks 16 through 18. The intensity of a playoff game atmosphere begins to build in these late-season matchups.
The 2026 NFL season also saw several key MNF games directly shape the playoff bracket. The Los Angeles Chargers used a MNF win to clinch their division. The Buffalo Bills locked up the AFC East with a prime time performance. These moments are exactly why NFL Monday Night Football has been a weekly tradition since 1970 it captures football at its most dramatic and meaningful.
Monday Night Football Returns: A Historic Tradition
Monday Night Football returns each season as one of the most-watched programs on American television. The show originally launched on ABC in 1970 and has been a cultural institution ever since. When it moved to ESPN in 2006, it retained its iconic status, and the addition of simulcasts on ABC and ESPN in recent years has brought even more viewers back to the franchise.
The MNF live experience on ESPN includes top-tier commentary, in-depth analysis, and the kind of production value that sets it apart from other NFL broadcasts. The full TV lineup for MNF in 2026 is available on ESPN.com and the ESPN app, and is considered the official source of the latest schedule and broadcast information.
Conclusion
So, what time is Monday Night Football? Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC each week during the 2026 NFL season. From Week 15 through Week 18 and into the postseason, MNF delivers the biggest matchups in NFL football.
Whether you’re watching on cable, streaming via YouTube TV or Sling TV, or catching the broadcast over the air on ABC, there’s no shortage of ways to tune in. Always check the Monday Night Football schedule ahead of game day to confirm the matchup and start time and get ready for another unforgettable night of NFL Monday Night Football.
FAQs
What time does Monday Night Football start?
Monday Night Football kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC.
Who plays Monday Night Football on Oct 13, 2026?
Check the official 2026 NFL schedule on ESPN or NFL.com for the confirmed teams and kickoff time.
Who plays Monday Night Football on December 1?
Visit NFL.com or the ESPN app to see the confirmed matchup for the December 1, 2026 MNF game.
Is there Monday Night Football on January 12th?
If a playoff game is scheduled, it will air on ABC and ESPN check the NFL tv schedule closer to the date.
What channel is MNF on?
MNF airs on both ESPN and ABC, and streams live via the ESPN app, YouTube TV, and Sling TV.
Here’s how to watch Monday Night Football without cable
Use YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, or a free HD antenna to catch ABC’s over-the-air broadcast.
