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You don't need cable to watch Monday Night Football in 2026. Every MNF game airs on ESPN, and 10 of this season's 17 matchups are also simulcast on ABC. You can stream ESPN directly with ESPN Unlimited or get it through a live TV streaming service.
If you don't mind watching on a phone or tablet, NFL+ is an even cheaper option for live Monday Night Football games. We'll break down what each option costs, where to find the ManningCast, and the complete 2026 Monday Night Football schedule.
ESPN is the main home of Monday Night Football for the 2026 NFL season. The regular-season schedule includes 17 MNF games, and all air on ESPN. Ten games are also simulcast on ABC, while seven are exclusive to ESPN.
That gives cord-cutters several ways to watch. ESPN Unlimited lets you subscribe directly to ESPN without a traditional cable or live TV package. Sling and YouTube TV also carry ESPN, while NFL+ lets you stream live primetime games on a phone or tablet.
| Option | Price | Every MNF game? | Watch live on a TV? |
| ESPN Unlimited | $31.99/mo | Yes | Yes |
| Sling Essentials | $19.99/mo | Yes | Yes |
| NFL+ | $6.99/mo | Yes | No, live games are phone/tablet only |
| YouTube TV Sports Plan | $64.99/mo | Yes | Yes |
| ABC with an antenna | Free after antenna purchase | No, 10 of 17 games | Yes |
ESPN Unlimited is the most direct way to stream Monday Night Football without a cable or live TV subscription. It costs $31.99/mo or $319.99/yr and includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, NFL Network, and other ESPN networks and content.
Don't confuse ESPN Unlimited with ESPN Select. ESPN Select is the lower-priced tier built around ESPN+ content and doesn't include the full lineup of ESPN networks you need to watch every Monday Night Football game. If you're subscribing specifically for MNF, you'll want ESPN Unlimited.
Sling Essentials is a lower-cost way to get ESPN on your TV. It costs $19.99/mo and includes ESPN and ESPN2, giving you access to every standard Monday Night Football broadcast, plus ManningCast games on ESPN2. Sling also offers short-term passes, which can be useful if you only need ESPN for a particular Monday night rather than the full month.
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NFL+ costs $6.99/mo or $49.99/yr and includes live local and nationally televised primetime games, including Monday Night Football.
There's one major limitation: live local and primetime games on NFL+ are available only on phones and tablets. You can't cast a live MNF game from NFL+ to your television. NFL+ Premium adds NFL RedZone and full and condensed game replays, but the same mobile-device restriction applies to live primetime games.
YouTube TV's Sports Plan is another option if you want more than ESPN. It costs $64.99/mo and includes more than 30 sports and broadcast channels, including ESPN and local ABC stations where available. It also includes unlimited DVR storage and features like multiview.
A broader live TV package like YouTube TV may make more sense if you're also trying to watch Sunday NFL games on CBS, FOX, and NBC rather than subscribing specifically for Monday Night Football.
The cost to watch Monday Night Football depends largely on where you want to watch. NFL+ is the least expensive way to stream every MNF game live at $6.99/mo, but live games are limited to phones and tablets. If you want to watch on a TV, Sling Essentials costs $19.99/mo and includes ESPN, while ESPN Unlimited costs $31.99/mo and gives you direct access to ESPN without a cable or live TV subscription.
| Option | Cost | What you get |
| ABC with an antenna | Free after antenna purchase | 10 of 17 MNF games |
| NFL+ | $6.99/mo | Every MNF game live on phones and tablets |
| Sling Essentials | $19.99/mo | Every MNF game on ESPN |
| ESPN Unlimited | $31.99/mo | Every MNF game plus ESPN's broader network lineup |
Monday Night Football also makes up a significant portion of the NFL's paid streaming schedule. In our analysis of how much it costs to watch NFL games, we found that 43 of the league's 272 regular-season games require access to a paid cable or streaming platform. ESPN carries 17 games, giving it the largest slate among the premium services we analyzed.
You don't necessarily have to pay to watch all 17 MNF games, though. Ten Monday Night Football matchups are also simulcast on ABC this season. If you can pick up your local ABC station for free over the air, you can watch those games without a streaming subscription.
Yes, but not every game. ABC is simulcasting 10 of the 17 Monday Night Football games during the 2026 regular season, while the remaining seven are exclusive to ESPN.
If a game is scheduled for ABC, you may be able to watch it for free through your local ABC station using an over-the-air TV antenna. Check the schedule below to see which games air on both ABC and ESPN.
"Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli," better known as the ManningCast, is back for its sixth season. The alternate broadcast airs on ESPN2 and the ESPN App on selected Monday nights.
The 2026 regular-season ManningCast schedule includes 11 games, with Peyton and Eli Manning providing alternate commentary, analysis, and interviews with guests.
| Date | ManningCast matchup |
| September 14 | Broncos @ Chiefs |
| September 21 | Giants @ Rams |
| October 5 | Falcons @ Saints |
| October 12 | Bills @ Rams |
| October 26 | Cowboys @ Eagles |
| November 2 | Bears @ Seahawks |
| November 16 | Chargers @ Ravens |
| November 23 | Bengals @ Commanders |
| December 7 | Cowboys @ Seahawks |
| December 21 | Patriots @ Chiefs |
| January 4, 2027 | Texans @ Packers |
Yes, you can watch Monday Night Football in 4K on supported platforms and devices. ESPN began rolling out ESPN and ESPN2 in 4K HDR in September 2026, and the upgrade includes all ESPN productions of Monday Night Football.
Availability depends on your device and TV provider. ESPN initially launched 4K HDR through the ESPN App on supported Apple devices, with additional connected TV platforms and participating TV providers being added as the rollout expands.
Monday Night Football games kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET during the 2026 regular season. The schedule includes 17 games from September 14 through January 4, 2027.
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| 1 | September 14 | Broncos @ Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC |
| 2 | September 21 | Giants @ Rams | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC |
| 3 | September 28 | Eagles @ Bears | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC |
| 4 | October 5 | Falcons @ Saints | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 5 | October 12 | Bills @ Rams | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC |
| 6 | October 19 | Commanders @ 49ers | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC |
| 7 | October 26 | Cowboys @ Eagles | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC |
| 8 | November 2 | Bears @ Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 9 | November 9 | Bills @ Vikings | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC |
| 10 | November 16 | Chargers @ Ravens | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 11 | November 23 | Bengals @ Commanders | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 12 | November 30 | Panthers @ Buccaneers | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 13 | December 7 | Cowboys @ Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC |
| 14 | December 14 | Steelers @ Jaguars | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 15 | December 21 | Patriots @ Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC |
| 16 | December 28 | Giants @ Lions | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 17 | January 4, 2027 | Texans @ Packers | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
NFL scheduling is subject to change later in the season, so check the schedule before kickoff for any updates.
Use our directory below to catch all NFL games across the country this season.
NFL viewing options vary by country. NFL Game Pass International through DAZN is available in more than 200 markets outside the U.S. and provides live and on-demand access to every NFL game, including Monday Night Football, although some regional blackout restrictions apply.
Local broadcasters may also carry MNF depending on where you live, so check the NFL's international viewing options and your local TV listings before subscribing.
If you're traveling, your usual streaming service may not be available or may offer different content because of regional licensing.
A virtual private network (VPN) can mask your IP address and connect you to a server in another location. A VPN doesn't guarantee access to a particular streaming service, so check your service's terms and availability before you travel.
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ESPN is the main home of Monday Night Football in 2026, and you don't need a cable package to watch every game. Sling Essentials is a lower-cost option for watching ESPN on a TV at $19.99/mo, while ESPN Unlimited gives you direct access to ESPN and its broader network lineup for $31.99/mo.
NFL+ is even cheaper at $6.99/mo if you're comfortable watching live games on a phone or tablet. You can also watch the 10 games simulcast on ABC free over the air if you receive your local ABC station.
Check the 2026 Monday Night Football schedule above to see whether each week's game airs on ESPN only or on both ESPN and ABC.
No. An ESPN Select subscription, which includes ESPN+ content, doesn't give you the full ESPN network needed to watch every Monday Night Football game. To stream ESPN directly without a TV provider, you'll need ESPN Unlimited. ESPN Unlimited costs $31.99/mo and includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, and other ESPN networks and content.
Some games, yes. Ten of the 17 Monday Night Football games during the 2026 regular season are simulcast on ABC. If you can receive your local ABC station with an antenna, you can watch those games without a streaming subscription. The other seven MNF games are exclusive to ESPN.
Yes. NFL+ includes live local and primetime NFL games, including Monday Night Football, for $6.99/mo or $49.99/yr. However, live local and primetime games are limited to phones and tablets and can't be cast to a TV while they're live.
No. ABC is simulcasting 10 of the 17 Monday Night Football games during the 2026 regular season. The remaining seven games are available exclusively on ESPN.
Monday Night Football games on the 2026 regular-season schedule kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT). The season runs from September 14, 2026, through January 4, 2027.
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