The Cincinnati Bengals live stream and TV schedule for 2026 features a three-week stretch of national broadcasts that stands out from the rest of the season.
Cincinnati plays Atlanta in Madrid on NFL Network, hosts Pittsburgh on NBC Sunday Night Football one week later, and then visits Washington on ESPN Monday Night Football.
The Bengals also close 2026 on New Year’s Eve against Baltimore on Prime Video, while CBS carries most of their traditional Sunday games.
For league-wide viewing options, see our NFL Live Streaming Guide.
Cincinnati Opens at Home on FOX
The Bengals begin the regular season at Paycor Stadium against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
FOX carries the Week 1 matchup. Cincinnati identifies it as the team’s annual Open In Orange game.
After the opener, the Bengals move into a CBS-heavy portion of the schedule:
- Week 2: at Houston Texans — CBS
- Week 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers — CBS
- Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars — CBS
Cincinnati then visits Miami on FOX in Week 5 before reaching its Week 6 bye.
This early-season setup makes CBS especially important for Bengals fans compared with teams whose schedules are dominated by FOX.
Cincinnati Bengals 2026 Schedule and TV Channels
Detroit Lions
14
Cincinnati Bengals
16
Chicago Bears
9
Cincinnati Bengals
27
Cincinnati Bengals
30
Philadelphia Eagles
13
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27
Cincinnati Bengals
33
Cincinnati Bengals
20
Houston Texans
6
Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore Ravens
Tennessee Titans
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
Atlanta Falcons
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
Carolina Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals
Indianapolis Colts
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals
CBS Carries Most of Cincinnati’s Sunday Games
Seven Bengals games currently have confirmed CBS assignments:
- Week 2 at Houston
- Week 3 at Pittsburgh
- Week 4 vs. Jacksonville
- Week 7 at Baltimore
- Week 8 vs. Tennessee
- Week 12 vs. New Orleans
- Week 13 at Cleveland
CBS therefore carries more confirmed Cincinnati games than any other network on the published schedule.
For Bengals fans inside the applicable local broadcast market, Paramount+ can stream the live local NFL on CBS game. Cincinnati’s official viewing page specifically lists Paramount+ for local CBS coverage.
That does not make Paramount+ an out-of-market solution. If your local CBS station is showing another matchup, NFL Sunday Ticket is the relevant option for eligible Sunday afternoon games.
Bengals vs. Falcons in Madrid is on NFL Network
Cincinnati’s most distinctive broadcast comes in Week 9.
The Bengals face the Atlanta Falcons at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on Sunday, November 8.
Kickoff is scheduled for:
9:30 a.m. ET
3:30 p.m. local time in Madrid
The game airs in the United States on NFL Network, with NFL+ also listed by the NFL as a US streaming option for the international matchup.
This will be Cincinnati’s third international regular-season game. The Bengals previously played in London in 2016 and 2019, making Madrid their first overseas regular-season appearance in seven years.
It is also only the NFL’s second regular-season game in Madrid after the league debuted there during the 2025 season.
For US fans, the main point is simple: Bengals-Falcons is an NFL Network broadcast rather than a regional CBS or FOX Sunday game.
Madrid Starts Three Straight National Bengals Broadcasts
The Madrid game begins the most unusual section of Cincinnati’s 2026 TV schedule.
The Bengals play in nationally distributed windows for three consecutive weeks:
| Week | Matchup | TV / Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Week 9 | Bengals vs. Falcons in Madrid | NFL Network |
| Week 10 | Steelers at Bengals | NBC |
| Week 11 | Bengals at Commanders | ESPN |
Cincinnati’s own schedule analysis highlights this three-game national run.
For viewers, it means three consecutive Bengals games can be watched without depending on the normal regional Sunday afternoon FOX/CBS map.
Steelers at Bengals Is Sunday Night Football
The first AFC North prime-time game comes immediately after Cincinnati returns from Spain.
The Pittsburgh Steelers visit Paycor Stadium on Sunday, November 15 at 8:20 p.m. ET.
NBC carries the matchup as Sunday Night Football.
This is Cincinnati’s second meeting with Pittsburgh.
The first game is very different from a broadcast standpoint:
- Week 3 at Pittsburgh: CBS, 1:00 p.m. ET
- Week 10 vs. Pittsburgh: NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Sunday night game is nationally distributed, so out-of-market viewers do not need NFL Sunday Ticket for that matchup.
NBC’s Sunday Night Football coverage also has a streaming option through Peacock.
Bengals at Commanders Gets Monday Night Football
Cincinnati remains on national television the following week.
The Bengals visit the Washington Commanders on Monday, November 23 at 8:15 p.m. ET.
The matchup is scheduled for ESPN Monday Night Football.
It is Cincinnati’s only currently scheduled Monday Night Football appearance.
The game also completes the Bengals’ three-week sequence of:
NFL Network → NBC → ESPN
Cincinnati then returns to Sunday afternoon CBS coverage against New Orleans and Cleveland.
Chiefs at Bengals Gets FOX’s 4:25 National Window
Not every major Bengals broadcast is technically a prime-time game.
Cincinnati hosts the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, December 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET, with FOX carrying the matchup.
The Bengals identify Chiefs-Bengals as an America’s Game of the Week matchup.
This makes it different from Cincinnati’s 1:00 p.m. regional FOX games against Tampa Bay, Miami and Carolina.
It is also the only confirmed Bengals game currently assigned to the major 4:25 p.m. FOX Sunday window.
For out-of-market viewers, regional availability still matters because it remains a Sunday afternoon broadcast rather than a dedicated prime-time window.
Ravens at Bengals is a New Year’s Eve Prime Video Game
Cincinnati’s final confirmed national broadcast occurs on Thursday, December 31.
The Bengals host the Baltimore Ravens at 8:15 p.m. ET, with Prime Video carrying the game as Thursday Night Football.
It is Cincinnati’s only currently scheduled Prime Video game.
The two Baltimore-Cincinnati games therefore use very different platforms:
- Week 7 at Baltimore: CBS
- Week 17 vs. Baltimore: Prime Video
The New Year’s Eve matchup is also the second AFC North home prime-time game for Cincinnati, following the Steelers Sunday Night Football game in November.
Two Late-Season Bengals Games Still Need TV Assignments
Not every Cincinnati broadcast has been finalized.
The Bengals’ Week 16 road game against the Indianapolis Colts is designated for the December 26-27 weekend, but its kickoff time and network remain TBD.
The NFL’s Week 16 scheduling structure allows designated games to be placed into several possible windows, including Saturday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday.
The regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns also remains TBD for both kickoff time and television network.
Those are the two Cincinnati games that should be monitored most closely for future TV updates.
How to Watch Bengals Games Outside Cincinnati
Out-of-market Bengals fans mainly encounter problems during Cincinnati’s CBS and FOX Sunday afternoon games.
If your local affiliate shows a different game, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube or YouTube TV provides eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon coverage. The Bengals list Sunday Ticket directly among their official viewing options.
Sunday Ticket is not required for Cincinnati’s national games.
The key 2026 national platforms are:
- Madrid vs. Atlanta: NFL Network
- vs. Pittsburgh: NBC
- at Washington: ESPN
- vs. Baltimore: Prime Video
NFL+ can also provide live local and nationally televised games on supported mobile devices in the United States, but out-of-market Sunday afternoon games require Sunday Ticket.
Watching Cincinnati Bengals Games in the UK
UK fans can use NFL Game Pass on DAZN to follow Cincinnati throughout the regular season. The NFL says Game Pass provides every regular-season game in the UK, along with the playoffs and Super Bowl.
The Madrid game is particularly convenient for European Bengals fans.
The 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff corresponds to 3:30 p.m. in Madrid and an afternoon start in the UK, avoiding the overnight viewing times associated with Cincinnati’s NBC and ESPN prime-time games.
Sky Sports NFL also carries extensive Sunday, Monday and Thursday night coverage in the UK.
How to Watch Bengals Games in Canada
Canadian fans can use NFL Game Pass on DAZN for full access to NFL preseason, regular-season and postseason games.
CTV carries weekly Sunday afternoon NFL games, while TSN carries national prime-time windows including Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football.
That makes TSN particularly relevant to Cincinnati’s Steelers, Commanders and Ravens night games, while DAZN provides the broader option for following every Bengals matchup.
FAQs
What channel is Bengals vs. Falcons in Madrid?
Cincinnati plays Atlanta at Bernabéu Stadium on Sunday, November 8 at 9:30 a.m. ET, with the game scheduled for NFL Network in the United States. NFL+ is also listed as a US viewing option.
What channel is Steelers vs. Bengals on November 15?
Pittsburgh visits Cincinnati on Sunday, November 15 at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Week 10 matchup is scheduled for NBC Sunday Night Football.
Are the Bengals playing on Monday Night Football in 2026?
Yes. Cincinnati visits Washington on Monday, November 23 at 8:15 p.m. ET, with the game scheduled for ESPN Monday Night Football.
Where can I watch Ravens vs. Bengals on New Year’s Eve?
Baltimore visits Cincinnati on Thursday, December 31 at 8:15 p.m. ET, and the AFC North game will stream nationally on Prime Video.
What channel is Browns vs. Bengals in Week 18?
The Browns-Bengals regular-season finale currently has no confirmed kickoff time or television network. The NFL will finalize the Week 18 broadcast assignment later in the season.
Bottom Line
Cincinnati’s 2026 TV schedule has a clear broadcast identity: CBS dominates the ordinary Sunday games, while November delivers three consecutive national broadcasts.
The Bengals go from Atlanta in Madrid on NFL Network to Pittsburgh at home on NBC Sunday Night Football, then travel to Washington for ESPN Monday Night Football.
December adds a major FOX matchup with Kansas City before Baltimore visits Cincinnati for a New Year’s Eve Prime Video game.
The two remaining broadcast questions are the Week 16 trip to Indianapolis and the Week 18 home finale against Cleveland.
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