Following Minnesota Vikings football is a top priority for fans across the Midwest, no matter where the team is in the standings. Led by head coach Kevin O’Connell, the franchise is looking to improve upon its previous 9-8 finish, return to the playoffs, and finally end its three-year NFC North title drought.
If you’re cheering from Minneapolis, St. Paul, or beyond, keeping up with every game requires a solid TV plan. Most of the team’s Sunday afternoon matchups air locally on your regional CBS and FOX broadcast networks. But there’s a bit more to it than flipping on two different channels this season.
To figure out how to watch the Minnesota Vikings without missing a single snap, keep reading. In this guide, I outline the exact TV networks you’ll need, dive into the best streaming and TV packages to consider, and sprinkle in additional tips along the way.
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What channel shows Minnesota Vikings games?
You can watch the Minnesota Vikings across five primary networks this season: CBS, FOX, ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video. Most of the team’s Sunday afternoon games air regionally on your local CBS and FOX affiliates, but there are also a few standalone primetime matchups on the schedule. I’m really looking forward to the Vikings’ Week 11 International Series game on NBC, pitting them against the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City.
Keep in mind that those Sunday afternoon CBS and FOX broadcasts are strictly regional. Fans living outside the Minnesota TV market will need an NFL Sunday Ticket subscription to catch those out-of-market matchups live.
2026 Minnesota Vikings TV schedule
Minnesota’s 2026 schedule is built around the typical NFC North stakes, plus a rare international spotlight. The team starts with Green Bay at home in Week 1, then gets a Monday Night Football test against Buffalo on November 9 and a Mexico City matchup with San Francisco on November 22.
Check out the table below for the complete Vikings TV schedule, featuring each opponent, game time, and channel listing. Keep in mind that some information may change due to the NFL’s flex scheduling rules.
NFL - Minnesota Vikings Schedule
| Week | Opponent | Date | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Preseason | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | ||
Preseason | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 1:00 p.m. | ||
Preseason | Friday, Aug. 28 | 9:00 p.m. | ||
Week 1 | Sunday, Sept. 13 | 4:25 p.m. | ||
Week 2 | Sunday, Sept. 20 | 1:00 p.m. | ||
Week 3 | Sunday, Sept. 27 | 4:05 p.m. | ||
Week 4 | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 4:05 p.m. | ||
Week 5 | Sunday, Oct. 11 | 1:00 p.m. | ||
Week 6 | Bye Week | — | — | — |
Week 7 | Sunday, Oct. 25 | 1:00 p.m. | ||
Week 8 | Sunday, Nov. 1 | 1:00 p.m. | ||
Week 9 | Monday, Nov. 9 | 8:15 p.m. | ||
Week 10 | Sunday, Nov. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | ||
Week 11 | Sunday, Nov. 22 | 8:20 p.m. | ||
Week 12 | Sunday, Nov. 29 | 1:00 p.m. | ||
Week 13 | Sunday, Dec. 6 | 4:25 p.m. | ||
Week 14 | Thursday, Dec. 10 | 8:15 p.m. | ||
Week 15 | Sunday, Dec. 20 | 8:20 p.m. | ||
Week 16 | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
Week 17 | Sunday, Jan. 3 | 1:00 p.m. | ||
Week 18 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Best TV plans for watching the Minnesota Vikings
A traditional cable, satellite, or live TV streaming plan remains the ideal foundation for watching most Minnesota Vikings games this season. Alternatively, if you live in the Twin Cities or the broader regional broadcast market, you can catch a significant chunk of the schedule for free using a simple over-the-air antenna.
That said, if you’re looking to lock into a new, comprehensive TV plan this year, I highly recommend a combination of YouTube TV and Amazon Prime Video. This setup will get you every Vikings game this season, plus a massive slate of broader NFL coverage and premium entertainment.
Best Overall
At $82.99/mo., YouTube TV is our top provider pick because it carries every local and national network you need for Vikings football, including CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN.
Exclusive Games
You’ll need a Prime Video subscription ($8.99–$17.98/mo.) to catch the team’s Thursday Night Football matchup, plus other NFL exclusives.
Out-of-Market Coverage
Out-of-market fans need this add-on to stream regional Sunday afternoon Vikings games. I recommend checking 506sports.com weekly to verify which matchups are broadcasting in your area.
Most major TV providers carry Vikings games through local channels like CBS, FOX, and NBC, plus ESPN for Monday Night Football. Game availability still depends on your location, and streaming exclusives may require separate subscriptions. Use the table below to compare popular TV providers that carry the main Vikings channels.
| Provider | Price | CBS | FOX | ESPN | NBC | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $20.00–$184.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Cox Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $84.99–$171.98/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM Read DIRECTV review |
| DISH | $89.99–$119.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DISH Read DISH review |
| Fubo | $14.99–$103.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for FuboTV Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $88.99–$99.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Hulu Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $15.00–$140.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Optimum Read Optimum review |
| Sling TV | $19.99–$60.99/mo. | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Sling TV Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $40.00–$145.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Check Availability Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | $105.00–$149.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Verizon Read Verizon Fios review |
| Xfinity | $65.00–$135.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Xfinity Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for YouTube TV Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Watch the Minnesota Vikings for free
The best way to watch Vikings games for free is with an over-the-air antenna. If you live within range of your local CBS, FOX, NBC, or ABC stations, an antenna can give you access to many Sunday-afternoon and national NFL broadcasts without a monthly TV bill. Use Antennas Direct’s Transmitter Locator tool to see which channels are available in your area, then browse our Best OTA Antennas guide for our top-ranked models.
Free trials from live TV streaming services can also help you watch select Vikings games without paying upfront. I often recommend Fubo and YouTube TV‘s free trials because they’re very straightforward. Just remember that local channel availability varies by region, so confirm that your trial includes the right network feed before kickoff.
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings FAQ
Can I stream Vikings games without cable?
Yes, you can stream Vikings matchups without a cable subscription by using a live TV service that carries CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC. Out-of-market fans will need NFL Sunday Ticket, while Amazon Prime Video is also necessary for select exclusives.
Can I watch Vikings games on NFL+?
Yes, NFL+ works best as a mobile viewing option rather than a full TV replacement. The service streams live local and primetime regular-season games on phones and tablets. However, you can watch out-of-market preseason games and on-demand regular-season replays directly on your TV.
Who are the Vikings TV announcers?
National broadcast teams rotate during the regular season, but Paul Allen (play-by-play) and Pete Bercich (analyst) lead the Vikings' local preseason TV coverage. They're often joined by sideline reporters such as Tatum Everett or Ben Leber.
How can I listen to Vikings radio coverage?
You can listen to Paul Allen and Pete Bercich call every Minnesota game locally on the team's flagship station, KFAN FM 100.3. Fans living throughout the broader Midwest can catch the action via the five-state Vikings Audio Network.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, built this comprehensive resource by cross-referencing the official Minnesota Vikings schedule with the NFL’s broadcast partners. Factoring in CableTV.com’s own in-depth TV provider reviews, Taylor curated these expert recommendations and cross-checked every channel listing to ensure Vikings fans have a reliable guide for the entire season.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our review methods.
