Buffalo Bills fans will witness history on September 17, 2026, when their team inaugurates the brand-new Highmark Stadium in a Week 2 Thursday Night Football showdown against the Detroit Lions, the NFL revealed Monday.
Amazon Prime Video will have exclusive streaming rights to the contest, though local Buffalo viewers will be able to watch on a television channel that has yet to be announced.
The state-of-the-art venue comes with a $2.1 billion price tag and features an open-air design with a protective canopy shielding 64% of spectators from the elements, ESPN reports. Players will compete on natural grass equipped with heating technology rather than artificial turf, and fans sitting in the front row along one sideline will enjoy seats positioned 54 feet nearer to the action.
Before the regular season kicks off, the new stadium will host summer activities, including Buffalo’s Blue & Red training camp practice session.
Buffalo’s football team has called their previous venue home since 1973, when it was known as Rich Stadium before receiving the Highmark Stadium designation in 2021. The Bills have successfully captured victory in each of their past four season-opening home contests.
Last season saw Buffalo compile a 12-5 record before falling to Denver in an overtime AFC Divisional Playoff battle, while Detroit concluded their campaign at 9-8 and missed postseason play.
Football fans can expect the complete 2026 NFL schedule to be unveiled Thursday evening at 8 p.m. ET during a special two-hour broadcast on ESPN and NFL Network.
