London will host three consecutive NFL games in October 2026, bringing six American teams to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley. The series begins on 4 October and continues across the following two Sundays, with each game starting at 2.30pm UK time.
The Indianapolis Colts meet the Washington Commanders in the opening fixture. The Philadelphia Eagles then face the Jacksonville Jaguars before Jacksonville moves to Wembley for an AFC South contest against the Houston Texans.
The three-game schedule arrives during a busy period for digital sport and entertainment in Britain. NFL broadcasts, fantasy football, streaming services and online blackjack UK platforms all compete for attention, but the London Games offer the atmosphere of a live regular-season contest rather than another screen-based experience.
When are the 2026 NFL London Games?
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will stage the first two fixtures, followed by the final game at Wembley:
- Indianapolis Colts vs Washington Commanders on Sunday 4 October
- Philadelphia Eagles vs Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday 11 October
- Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday 18 October
All three fixtures count towards the NFL regular season. The results will affect divisional standings, playoff qualification and potential postseason seeding in the same way as games played in the United States.
London has hosted NFL regular-season football since 2007. Once the 2026 series is complete, the UK will have staged 45 regular-season games. That total reflects the city’s gradual change into an established part of the league calendar rather than an occasional overseas experiment.
What makes Colts vs Commanders interesting?
The opening game pairs two teams that rarely meet because they compete in different conferences.
Indianapolis belongs to the AFC South, while Washington plays in the NFC East. The NFL’s rotating schedule means a long period can pass before teams in separate conferences face each other again, making the London fixture an uncommon matchup for supporters.
Much of the interest around Washington centres on quarterback Jayden Daniels. His running ability changes how opponents defend the Commanders because he can escape pressure, extend a play or gain yards himself when receivers are covered.
Indianapolis must decide how aggressively to rush him. Sending extra defenders can disrupt the pocket, but it may also leave open space if Daniels avoids the first challenge. Keeping more players in coverage reduces that risk but gives the quarterback additional time to pass.
The Colts have their own reasons to value a strong start in London. AFC South positions are often decided by narrow margins, and losing a non-divisional game can become costly once playoff tiebreakers are calculated late in the season.
Why Eagles vs Jaguars could produce the biggest crowd response
Philadelphia has one of the NFL’s largest and most recognisable fan bases. Eagles supporters regularly travel in significant numbers, and their presence should give the second Tottenham game a different feel.
The Eagles are traditionally built around a strong offensive line and a physical running game. Their version of the quarterback sneak has become one of the most discussed short-yardage plays in the league. When only a yard is required, the offensive line drives forward while players behind the quarterback add momentum.
Jacksonville’s defence will need to prevent Philadelphia reaching manageable third-down situations. Stopping a team that needs one yard is difficult enough. Allowing the Eagles to enter that position repeatedly gives them control of possession and keeps the opposing offence off the field.
The Jaguars will also need to protect Trevor Lawrence against Philadelphia’s pass rush. Lawrence has the arm strength to attack deep areas, but those longer plays require enough time for receivers to complete their routes.
This fixture begins an unusual two-week stay in London for Jacksonville. Remaining in Britain avoids an immediate transatlantic return journey and gives the team a full week to prepare for Houston.
Jacksonville plays two London games again
No NFL club has developed a stronger connection with London than the Jaguars. The Houston game will be Jacksonville’s 16th appearance in the capital and its 12th at Wembley.
The Jaguars first began playing regular London fixtures in 2013. Apart from the season disrupted by the pandemic, their visits have become a recurring part of the NFL calendar.
In 2023, Jacksonville became the first team to play consecutive home games in London. It beat the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley and then defeated the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 2026 schedule will be the third occasion on which the Jaguars have played on consecutive London weekends.
This arrangement provides some practical advantages. The players avoid another long flight between games and can maintain a normal preparation schedule at a temporary UK base. The challenge is creating suitable training, recovery and medical facilities away from the team’s permanent complex in Florida.
Players must also manage the time difference. Coaches generally adjust travel plans so that sleep, meals and training move gradually towards the UK timetable. Poor preparation can leave a team physically flat during the opening quarter.
Texans vs Jaguars has divisional consequences
The final London game carries added weight because Houston and Jacksonville compete in the AFC South. Each team plays the other twice during the regular season, so their meetings directly influence the divisional table.
Jacksonville enters the campaign as the defending AFC South champion after finishing the previous regular season with a 13-4 record. That places greater importance on the Texans game, particularly if the two clubs remain close during the opening weeks.
Houston will also be returning to Wembley for a familiar matchup. Its previous London appearance came against Jacksonville in 2019, when the Texans won 26-3 in front of 84,771 spectators.
Divisional games tend to involve fewer surprises because the teams know each other well. Coaches have recent footage of the opponent’s preferred formations, pressure packages and red-zone plays. Success often depends on adjusting an established plan rather than introducing an entirely new system.
Jacksonville’s second consecutive game could help or hurt. The players will already understand the stadium routines and UK schedule, but Houston arrives without the physical strain of playing in London the previous weekend.
Why Tottenham Hotspur Stadium suits American football
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was designed with NFL games in mind. Its retractable grass pitch can be moved away, revealing a separate artificial surface beneath it.
This removes the need to paint NFL markings over a Premier League pitch and protects the football surface during an American football game. The stadium also has larger changing rooms, media areas and facilities suited to NFL rosters, which contain considerably more players and staff than a Premier League squad.
Its 62,850 capacity is smaller than Wembley’s, but the enclosed design keeps spectators close to the field. Crowd noise can make communication difficult for an offence, particularly when players are trying to hear the quarterback’s instructions before the snap.
Wembley provides a different setting for the third game. Its larger capacity and long association with Jacksonville make it the closest thing the Jaguars have to a second home venue.
London remains central to the NFL’s international plans
The 2026 international schedule contains a record nine regular-season games across four continents. Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro and Paris will host their first NFL regular-season fixtures, while games also take place in Madrid, Munich and Mexico City.
London still has a distinct position within that expansion. It has hosted games for nearly two decades, supports two NFL-ready stadiums and attracts fans representing all 32 teams.
The October series should reveal more than which clubs handle travel best. Washington brings a mobile young quarterback, Philadelphia tests Jacksonville’s ability to resist a physical offence, and the Jaguars finish with a divisional game that could matter months later.
Three consecutive Sundays also give UK spectators a short NFL season of their own. By the time Jacksonville and Houston leave Wembley, London will have hosted six teams and three results with genuine playoff consequences.