Having a case of the Mondays isn’t always a bad thing when Monday Night Football is on the schedule. For decades, MNF has turned the start of the workweek into appointment viewing, pairing marquee NFL matchups with one of football’s most recognizable broadcast crews.
ESPN is the main home of Monday Night Football, with select games also simulcast on ABC and Spanish-language coverage available on ESPN Deportes. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, and Laura Rutledge lead the main 2026 broadcast, while Peyton and Eli Manning return for select alternate telecasts. MNF remains a major draw, with ESPN reporting that the 2025 season averaged 15.8 million viewers.
Whether you want to watch Monday Night Football through a traditional TV provider, streaming service, or over-the-air antenna on select nights, we’ll break down your options. Keep reading for the complete 2026 MNF schedule, channel listings, and our top TV plan recommendations.
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What channel shows Monday Night Football?
Most Monday Night Football games air on ESPN, with select matchups also simulcast on ABC. But if you want Spanish-language coverage, ESPN Deportes is the main destination for watching MNF en Español.
ESPN also produces “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” (aka the “ManningCast”), which returns for its sixth season in 2026. Hosted by the Manning brothers, the alternate broadcast airs on ESPN2 during select MNF matchups. It’s basically two former quarterbacks hanging out and watching football, and we love it.
2026 Monday Night Football TV schedule
ESPN’s Monday Night Football lineup features 17 regular-season games, with most matchups kicking off Mondays at 8:15 p.m. ET. Select games are also simulcast on ABC, while ESPN2 carries the “ManningCast” during designated weeks.
Our table below lists the complete 2026 MNF schedule with matchup dates, kickoff times, channels, and alternate broadcast availability. Games from Weeks 12 through 17 are eligible for flexible scheduling, so we’ll keep late-season details updated as changes are confirmed.
| Week | Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channels | ManningCast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs | Monday, Sept. 14 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | ESPN2 |
| Week 2 | New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams | Monday, Sept. 21 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | ESPN2 |
| Week 3 | Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears | Monday, Sept. 28 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | — |
| Week 4 | Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints | Monday, Oct. 5 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | ESPN2 |
| Week 5 | Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams | Monday, Oct. 12 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | ESPN2 |
| Week 6 | Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers | Monday, Oct. 19 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | — |
| Week 7 | Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles | Monday, Oct. 26 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | ESPN2 |
| Week 8 | Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks | Monday, Nov. 2 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | ESPN2 |
| Week 9 | Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings | Monday, Nov. 9 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | — |
| Week 10 | Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens | Monday, Nov. 16 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | ESPN2 |
| Week 11 | Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders | Monday, Nov. 23 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | ESPN2 |
| Week 12 | Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Monday, Nov. 30 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | — |
| Week 13 | Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks | Monday, Dec. 7 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | ESPN2 |
| Week 14 | Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars | Monday, Dec. 14 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | — |
| Week 15 | New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs | Monday, Dec. 21 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | ESPN2 |
| Week 16 | New York Giants at Detroit Lions | Monday, Dec. 28 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | — |
| Week 17 | Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers | Monday, Jan. 4 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | ESPN2 |
Data effective as of post date. Games in Week 12 through Week 17 are subject to flexible scheduling.
Best TV plans for watching Monday Night Football
Our favorite way to watch Monday Night Football is through Hulu + Live TV, starting at $88.99 per month. The live TV streaming service comes with ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, so you’ll never miss an MNF matchup. Subscribers also get Disney+ and access to ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost, unlocking even more live sports through the ESPN app. You can also tack on Hulu’s Español Add-on for $4.99 per month to get ESPN Deportes.
ESPN Unlimited offers a more affordable way to watch Monday Night Football. At $31.99 per month, the service includes ESPN’s full lineup of networks and services, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN on ABC. That also means you’ll have access to every “ManningCast” presentation.
If you want an even cheaper option for watching every Monday Night Football game, you can sign up for NFL+ for as low as $6.99 per month. NFL+ lets you stream every local and primetime NFL game live on your phone or tablet. Sure, you’ll be stuck watching live games on a small screen. But it’s better than nothing.
Which TV providers carry Monday Night Football?
Most TV providers carry ESPN and ESPN2, but you may need a higher-tier plan or a separate add-on to get ESPN Deportes. Our table below provides a snapshot of ESPN channel availability across some of the most popular TV services.
| Provider | Price | ESPN | ESPN2 | ESPN Deportes† | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband | $48.37–$177.75/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Astound Broadband Learn about Astound TV |
| Cox | $20.00–$184.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Cox Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $89.99–$169.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM Read DIRECTV review |
| DISH | $94.99–$124.99/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.
†May require Spanish-language plan or separate add-on.
How to watch Monday Night Football for free
The cheapest way to watch every Monday Night Football game is with NFL+ for $6.99 per month. But if you only need select games, you can watch ABC broadcasts for free over the air with a digital antenna.
To see whether your local ABC affiliate is within range, enter your zip code into Antennas Direct’s Transmitter Locator. The tool shows nearby broadcast towers and their distances, which can help you determine what antenna range you’ll need. You may also pick up other NFL-friendly local channels like CBS, FOX, and NBC while you’re at it.
Once you know the distance to your local stations, check out our Best OTA Antennas guide for recommendations. We like the Mohu Leaf 50 for its 60-mile range and included amplifier, making it a solid option for many households.
How to watch Monday Night Football FAQ
Can I watch Monday Night Football without cable?
Yes, you can stream every Monday Night Football game without cable through ESPN Unlimited or a live TV streaming service with ESPN. NFL+ also carries live primetime games on phones and tablets, while an over-the-air antenna can pick up select MNF games simulcast on ABC.
Can I watch Monday Night Football on the ESPN app?
Yes, you can watch Monday Night Football in the ESPN app with an ESPN Unlimited subscription or an eligible TV provider plan. Many live TV packages now include ESPN Unlimited after you activate your account through the ESPN website.
How do I watch Monday Night Football in Spanish?
Spanish-language coverage is available for every Monday Night Football matchup, with most games airing on ESPN Deportes. You can also stream Spanish-language coverage through ESPN Unlimited.
How do I watch the ManningCast?
You can watch the "ManningCast" version of Monday Night Football during select Monday nights on ESPN2. ESPN Unlimited subscribers can also stream ESPN2 and other digital exclusives through the ESPN app.
Can Monday Night Football games be flexed?
Yes, Monday Night Football games can be flexed during Weeks 12 through 17 of the 2026 NFL season. The NFL generally announces MNF flex decisions at least 12 days before the affected game.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, has spent well over a decade watching Monday Night Football across a variety of TV providers and streaming services. He combined that firsthand experience with research into channel availability, pricing, streaming access, and other key viewing details. From there, he compared the top options to determine the best services for watching MNF.
Check out our Editorial Policy page to learn more about our methods.
More ways to watch the NFL
Trying to find what channel the NFL game is on can feel like a fourth-and-long situation. With games spread across a dozen channels and streaming services, just figuring out where to watch is half the battle.
Learn how to watch Sunday Night Football on NBC and Peacock with our complete viewing guide, featuring the SNF schedule and TV provider recommendations.
Learn how to watch Thursday Night Football on Prime Video. Explore the full TNF schedule, streaming options, and ways to tune in all season.
