You can watch Thursday Night Football without cable in 2026 through Prime Video, and there are a few additional ways to follow the game depending on your device and location.
Amazon remains the national streaming home of the weekly TNF package, while NFL+ provides mobile access to eligible prime-time games in the United States.
Most Thursday Night Football games kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET, with Prime Video’s pregame coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
The 2026 slate runs from Week 2 through Week 17 and also includes Black Friday Football plus a Prime Video Wild Card game in January.
If you need more than Thursday games, our complete guide to streaming NFL games live without cable in 2026 explains where to watch Sunday afternoon games, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, NFL Network games, international matchups and out-of-market coverage.
Quick Answer: Where Can You Watch Thursday Night Football?
| Option | Live TNF? | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Video | Yes | Watching on TVs, streaming devices, phones, tablets and browsers |
| NFL+ | Yes, on phone/tablet | Mobile viewers in the United States |
| Twitch | Yes, when carried by Amazon | Viewers looking for Amazon’s free web stream where available |
| Local over-the-air station | Yes, in participating teams’ home markets | Local fans with an antenna |
Amazon’s official 2026 Thursday Night Football guide says viewers can watch on Prime Video across compatible devices, online through Amazon, on mobile through NFL+, and on over-the-air stations in the two participating teams’ home markets.
How to Watch Thursday Night Football on Prime Video
Prime Video is the primary national home of Thursday Night Football in the United States. Amazon’s current package includes the regular Thursday slate, Black Friday Football and a Wild Card playoff game.
To watch:
- Open the Prime Video app or visit Prime Video in a browser.
- Sign in with the Amazon account connected to your Prime membership.
- Find Thursday Night Football under Sports, Live & Upcoming or search for the game.
- Select the live broadcast and press play.
Amazon’s current Prime Video viewing instructions confirm that TNF can be watched on hundreds of compatible devices, including connected TVs, streaming players, phones, tablets, computers and game consoles.
How Much Does Prime Video Cost for Thursday Night Football?
Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon currently lists Prime at $14.99 per month or $139 per year in the United States.
Amazon also offers a 30-day Prime trial to eligible customers, which includes Prime Video and therefore access to Thursday Night Football during the trial period.
The company’s official Prime trial guide notes that the subscription renews at the standard rate unless cancelled before the trial ends.
Prime Video’s core live sports benefit is included with Prime. Amazon also offers Prime Video Ultra for viewers who want additional video features such as ad-free on-demand programming and 4K/UHD support, but Ultra is not required simply to access TNF with an eligible Prime membership.
Can You Watch Thursday Night Football on NFL+?
Yes, but there is an important device restriction.
The NFL lists Thursday Night Football among the nationally televised prime-time games available live with NFL+. However, live local and prime-time regular-season games are limited to phones and tablets.
The league’s official NFL+ live-game guide specifically includes Thursday Night Football in the mobile live package.
NFL+ currently costs $6.99 per month or $49.99 per year. NFL+ Premium costs $14.99 per month or $99.99 for the season and adds NFL RedZone, full and condensed replays, All-22 film and NFL Pro.
Premium does not remove the phone-and-tablet restriction for live prime-time games. The NFL’s casting policy says live local and prime-time games cannot be cast from NFL+ to a television.
Can You Watch Thursday Night Football for Free?
There are limited legitimate ways to watch TNF without paying a separate monthly sports bill.
Prime Free Trial
Eligible new customers can use Amazon’s 30-day Prime trial. If a Thursday Night Football game falls within the trial period, Prime Video access is included.
Twitch
Amazon says each Thursday Night Football game also streams live on Twitch. Availability and presentation can change, so check Amazon’s current TNF page or the official NFL on Prime presence before kickoff.
Local Over-the-Air Broadcasts
The NFL requires local television availability in the participating teams’ home markets for the Prime Video TNF package.
Amazon’s 2026 viewing guide confirms that each Thursday Night Football game is available on over-the-air stations in those two local markets.
That means a fan living in one of the participating teams’ home television markets may be able to watch with an antenna even though the national presentation is on Prime Video.
This does not create a nationwide free broadcast. Viewers outside those local markets still need the appropriate streaming access.
2026 Thursday Night Football Schedule
The NFL’s official 2026 TNF schedule lists the following Prime Video matchups:
| Week | Date | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | September 17 | Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills |
| 3 | September 24 | Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers |
| 4 | October 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns |
| 5 | October 8 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys |
| 6 | October 15 | Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos |
| 7 | October 22 | New England Patriots at Chicago Bears |
| 8 | October 29 | Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers |
| 9 | November 5 | Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens |
| 10 | November 12 | Washington Commanders at New York Giants |
| 11 | November 19 | Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans |
| 12 | November 27 | Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers — Black Friday Football |
| 13 | December 3 | Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Rams |
| 14 | December 10 | Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots |
| 15 | December 17 | San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers |
| 16 | December 24 | Houston Texans at Philadelphia Eagles |
| 17 | December 31 | Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals |
Most regular TNF games begin at 8:15 p.m. ET. Black Friday Football is scheduled separately, with the 2026 Broncos-Steelers game set for 3 p.m. ET.
Prime Video also has a Wild Card playoff game in January 2027. Amazon says the exact Saturday date will be determined by the playoff schedule.
Is the Week 1 Thursday Game on Prime Video?
No. The traditional Week 1 Thursday slot is not part of Prime Video’s normal TNF package in 2026.
The season opens with New England against Seattle on NBC and Peacock on Wednesday, September 9, followed by the Rams-49ers Melbourne game on Netflix on Thursday, September 10.
Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football schedule begins in Week 2 with Detroit at Buffalo.
Can You Record Thursday Night Football?
Yes. Prime Video lets viewers opt in to record the entire Thursday Night Football season.
Amazon says season recordings include the games as well as the associated pregame, postgame and alternate streams.
Recorded content is stored in the cloud and remains available until the start of the following NFL season.
Once recording is enabled, viewers can pause, rewind and fast-forward during the live broadcast and access complete replays afterward. Without opting in, Amazon says viewers still receive a limited rewind window after joining the game.
What Devices Support Thursday Night Football?
Prime Video supports TNF across a broad range of hardware, including:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Roku
- Apple TV
- Google TV and Android TV
- Compatible Samsung, LG and other smart TVs
- iPhone and iPad
- Android phones and tablets
- Web browsers
- Compatible PlayStation and Xbox consoles
Amazon says Prime Video is available across hundreds of compatible devices. If you have an older smart TV that no longer supports the app, adding a current Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV or Google TV device is usually easier than replacing the television.
Can You Watch TNF Without Amazon Prime?
For the normal national television experience, Prime Video is the primary destination. However, there are exceptions:
- NFL+ can carry the live prime-time game on phones and tablets in the United States.
- Amazon says TNF is also streamed on Twitch.
- Local over-the-air stations carry the game in the participating teams’ home markets.
Which option is best depends on whether you want to watch on a television, mobile device or browser and whether you live in one of the two local markets.
Do You Need YouTube TV, Hulu, Fubo or Sling for TNF?
Not for the national Prime Video stream.
A live TV package can still be useful for the rest of the NFL season because CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network carry other games. But subscribing to YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo or Sling does not replace Prime Video for Amazon’s exclusive national TNF package.
This is one reason cord-cutters should build their NFL setup around the games they actually watch instead of assuming one large live TV bundle includes everything.
Does NFL Sunday Ticket Include Thursday Night Football?
No. NFL Sunday Ticket is designed for eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season games. It does not replace Prime Video for Thursday Night Football.
A viewer who wants both out-of-market Sunday games and Thursday Night Football may need Sunday Ticket plus Prime Video, along with access to other national broadcasters depending on the schedule.
Can You Watch Thursday Night Football Outside the United States?
International NFL rights differ by country. Prime Video’s U.S. Thursday Night Football package should not be assumed to apply identically worldwide.
For many countries outside the United States, NFL Game Pass International through DAZN provides live NFL coverage, subject to local rights and blackout rules. Check the local DAZN Game Pass listing and authorized national broadcasters for your country.
Best Way to Watch Thursday Night Football Without Cable
For most U.S. viewers watching on a television, Prime Video is the simplest option. It provides the primary national broadcast, works across common streaming devices and supports recording the season.
NFL+ is useful if you prefer to watch on a phone or tablet and want other NFL features. Local fans can check whether the game is available over the air in their team’s home market, while eligible customers can also consider Amazon’s Prime trial.
You do not need to buy a large cable-replacement service solely for TNF.
FAQs
What channel is Thursday Night Football on in 2026?
Prime Video is the primary national home of Thursday Night Football. The NFL’s official schedule also lists TNF as available through NFL+ under its mobile live-game rules.
What time does Thursday Night Football start?
Most 2026 TNF games kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET. Prime Video’s pregame coverage normally begins at 7 p.m. ET. Special games such as Black Friday Football use a different kickoff time.
Can I watch Thursday Night Football without Prime?
Yes in certain situations. NFL+ provides eligible prime-time games on phones and tablets, Amazon says TNF also streams through Twitch, and over-the-air local broadcasts are available in the participating teams’ home markets.
Can I watch TNF on NFL+?
Yes. NFL+ includes live local and nationally televised prime-time games on phones and tablets. Those live games cannot be cast to a television through NFL+.
Is Thursday Night Football on regular TV?
Not nationally. Prime Video owns the national package. However, the game is also made available through over-the-air television stations in the two participating teams’ home markets.
Is Thursday Night Football free on Twitch?
Amazon’s 2026 TNF viewing guide says each game also streams live on Twitch. Check the official Amazon or NFL on Prime listing before kickoff because streaming availability can change.
Does Sunday Ticket include Thursday Night Football?
No. Sunday Ticket focuses on eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon games, while Prime Video carries the national Thursday Night Football package.
Can I record Thursday Night Football on Prime Video?
Yes. Prime Video lets viewers opt in to record the TNF season, including games and related broadcasts, with cloud storage through the start of the following NFL season.
