For the first time since the Super Bowl, NFL teams will go head-to-head in a live game.
The annual Pro Football Hall of Fame game will kick off on Aug. 6, marking the official start of the 2026 NFL preseason. It’s the sole preseason game this week before the league’s full preseason ramp-up begins next Thursday, Aug. 13.
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This year, the Arizona Cardinals will face off against the Carolina Panthers to get the NFL’s competitive juices flowing again after the league’s six-month hiatus. Both the Cardinals and Panthers have a franchise icon due to be officially enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 8 as members of the Class of 2026.
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Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald set dozens of Cardinals franchise records and earned Pro Bowl status 11 times in his career before ending his career after the 2020 season. Linebacker Luke Kuechly rose to prominence as one of the best at his position – and one of the best overall defenders – in the NFL across eight seasons with the Panthers.
But before their enshrinement ceremony, there is football to be played. Here’s everything to know about the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame game:
What is the Pro Football Hall of Fame game?
The annual Pro Football Hall of Fame game is one of the league’s oldest traditions. It’s a tradition so old that it actually predates the first Super Bowl by more than four years.
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The very first Hall of Fame game took place on Aug. 11, 1962 as part of a fundraising campaign for the construction of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Since then, it has taken place there almost every year, and it has served as the introduction to the NFL’s preseason action since 1970.
Starting in 2017, the exhibition game has also served as a kickoff event for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “Enshrinement Weekend.” Following the game, the weekend will also feature a dinner event for the class of 2026 to receive their gold jackets on Aug. 7, and the official enshrinement ceremony will take place on Aug. 8.
Who is playing in the Hall of Fame game?
The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers will play each other in this year’s Hall of Fame game. Both teams have a representative in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2026: wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald for the Cardinals and linebacker Luke Kuechly for the Panthers.
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Both teams are expected to rest many of their starters for the exhibition game. The Panthers have already announced none of their starters will play. Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett will start behind center in place of Bryce Young, Carolina announced on Aug. 3. The Cardinals announced on Aug. 4 that rookie quarterback Carson Beck will start behind center in his first taste of NFL game action.
This will be the sixth time the Cardinals are playing in the Hall of Fame game, dating back to their first appearance in the inaugural exhibition matchup in Canton (as the St. Louis Cardinals) in 1962. The Panthers are back for a second appearance. It’s their first time playing in Canton since 1995, when they played the Jacksonville Jaguars, their fellow expansion team, before both teams’ first season.
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How to watch the Hall of Fame game
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Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio
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Stream the NFL preseason on Fubo (free trial)
NBC will broadcast this year’s Hall of Fame game between the Cardinals and Panthers. Fans can watch on their local NBC affiliate or stream the game on Peacock, the network’s proprietary streaming service.
Cord-cutters can also stream the game on NFL+ or Fubo, which offers a one-week free trial.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about the Pro Football Hall of Fame game, from time to TV info
