How To Watch the Cincinnati Bengals in 2026 Without Cable

Fifteen of the 17 Cincinnati Bengals games this season have a network assigned, and 12 of those are on CBS, FOX, or NBC. The other three sit behind paid streaming — the Madrid game on NFL Network, a Monday night game on ESPN, and a Thursday night game on Prime Video. If you’re watching from outside Ohio, you’ll also need NFL Sunday Ticket. This guide covers both — and what each one costs.

The Bengals open 2026 trying to put a lost season behind them. Cincinnati went 6–11, its worst finish since 2020, and missed the playoffs for a third straight year after Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in Week 2 and the team went 1–8 without him. Zac Taylor returns for an eighth season, with Ja’Marr Chase coming off a first-team All-Pro year.

What channels do you need to watch the Cincinnati Bengals?

Every scheduled Cincinnati Bengals regular season game in 2026 airs on CBS, FOX, NBC, NFL Network, ESPN, or Prime Video — seven games on CBS, four on FOX, and one on NBC. The three premium games are Week 9 against Atlanta on NFL Network, Week 11 at Washington on ESPN, and Week 17 against Baltimore on Prime Video. Week 16 at Indianapolis and Week 18 against Cleveland have not been assigned a network yet.

Two games fall outside the usual Sunday window. The Bengals host Atlanta at the Bernabéu in Madrid in Week 9, kicking off at 9:30 a.m. ET, and play Baltimore on New Year’s Eve, Thursday December 31, on Prime Video.

Here’s the full schedule with the channel for each game.

Game (All times Eastern)	Opponent	Channel
Preseason Week 1: Aug. 13 (final, 16–14 W)	Detroit Lions	Bengals Preseason TV Network (FOX19)
Preseason Week 2: Aug. 22 at 7:00 p.m.	Chicago Bears	Bengals Preseason TV Network (FOX19)
Preseason Week 3: Aug. 28 at 8:00 p.m.	@ Philadelphia Eagles	CBS
Week 1, Game 1: Sep. 13 at 1:00 p.m.	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	FOX
Week 2, Game 2: Sep. 20 at 1:00 p.m.	@ Houston Texans	CBS
Week 3, Game 3: Sep. 27 at 1:00 p.m.	@ Pittsburgh Steelers	CBS
Week 4, Game 4: Oct. 4 at 1:00 p.m.	Jacksonville Jaguars	CBS
Week 5, Game 5: Oct. 11 at 1:00 p.m.	@ Miami Dolphins	FOX
Week 6: BYE WEEK	—	—
Week 7, Game 6: Oct. 25 at 1:00 p.m.	@ Baltimore Ravens	CBS
Week 8, Game 7: Nov. 1 at 1:00 p.m.	Tennessee Titans	CBS
Week 9, Game 8: Nov. 8 at 9:30 a.m. (Madrid)	Atlanta Falcons	NFL Network
Week 10, Game 9: Nov. 15 at 8:20 p.m.	Pittsburgh Steelers	NBC
Week 11, Game 10: Nov. 23 at 8:15 p.m.	@ Washington Commanders	ESPN
Week 12, Game 11: Nov. 29 at 1:00 p.m.	New Orleans Saints	CBS
Week 13, Game 12: Dec. 6 at 1:00 p.m.	@ Cleveland Browns	CBS
Week 14, Game 13: Dec. 13 at 4:25 p.m.	Kansas City Chiefs	FOX
Week 15, Game 14: Dec. 20 at 1:00 p.m.	@ Carolina Panthers	FOX
Week 16, Game 15: Date TBD	@ Indianapolis Colts	TBD
Week 17, Game 16: Dec. 31 at 8:15 p.m.	Baltimore Ravens	Prime Video
Week 18, Game 17: Date TBD	Cleveland Browns	TBD

What it costs to watch every Cincinnati Bengals game

The Bengals play three “premium” games this season — one on NFL Network, one on ESPN, and one on Prime Video — and covering all three costs $139.88 for the season, or $34.97 if you subscribe and cancel around each game. Every other scheduled game is on CBS, FOX, or NBC.

Premium games are the ones whose broadcast rights have been bought by streaming platforms: Monday and Thursday night matchups, international games, and holiday matchups.

Where you’re watching	What you need	Cost for the 2026-2027 season
In the Cincinnati market, with cable or live TV already	NFL Network / NFL+, ESPN Select, and Prime Video for the three premium games — your existing service carries CBS, FOX, and NBC	$139.88 (or $34.97 subscribing and cancelling around each game)
In the Cincinnati market, starting from scratch	A live TV streaming service carrying local CBS, FOX, and NBC (Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or DIRECTV Stream), plus NFL Network / NFL+, ESPN Select, and Prime Video	$411–$500 for the season, depending on service
Outside the Cincinnati market	NFL Sunday Ticket via YouTube TV, plus NFL Network / NFL+, ESPN Select, and Prime Video	$749.83 for new subscribers $932.83 for returning subscribers

Sunday afternoon games are assigned by region, so CBS and FOX show different matchups depending on where you live. If you’re outside Ohio, your local channels will usually be carrying another team, which is why out-of-market fans need Sunday Ticket to get every Bengals game.

Watching out-of-market games

The NFL makes it challenging to watch your favorite team if you don't live close to its home market. If you're a Cincinnati Bengals fan outside Ohio, here are two ways to watch out-of-market games:

How to stream Cincinnati Bengals games

Watching the Cincinnati Bengals with YouTube TV

Watching the Cincinnati Bengals with Hulu

Watching the Cincinnati Bengals with Fubo

Watching the Cincinnati Bengals with DIRECTV Stream

Bottom line

If you’re in the Cincinnati market, most of the season costs you nothing beyond the TV service you already have — 12 of the 15 scheduled games are on CBS, FOX, or NBC. The three exceptions are the Madrid game on NFL Network, Week 11 on ESPN, and the New Year’s Eve game on Prime Video.

Outside Ohio, your local CBS and FOX affiliates will be carrying other teams most Sundays, so NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV is the only way to get every game.

Weeks 16 and 18 still don’t have networks assigned, and the NFL can move games into prime time late in the season, so it’s worth checking back before those weeks.

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