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NFL Key dates 2026
February
February 17th
February 23rd to March 2nd
Franchise or Transitional tagging period begins
NFL Scouting Combine takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
March
March 3rd
March 9th to
March 11th
March 11th
March 29th to April 1st
Franchise or Transitional tagging period ends at 8:00pm GMT
Between 5:00pm GMT on the 9th of March and 7:59pm GMT on the 11th of March clubs are permitted to contact and enter contract negotiations with certified agents of players who will be free agents
The 2026 league year and free agency signing period begins at 8:00pm GMT. Players can also now be traded between clubs again.
Annual League Meeting takes place in Phoenix, Arizona
April
April 6th
April 17th
April 23th to April 25th
Teams with a new head coach hired after the end of the 2025 regular season can begin offseason workout programs
Teams with a returning head coaches can begin offseason workout programs
2026 NFL Draft takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
MAY
May 1st
May 1st to 4th or May 8th to 11th
Mid May (TBC)
May 13th to May 17th
May 19th to May 20th
Deadline for teams to exercise the fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2023 Draft
Clubs can hold their three-day post-Draft rookie minicamps from Friday to Sunday or Saturday to Monday on either of the two weekends following the draft
2026 NFL Schedule Release
NFLPA Rookie Premier in Los Angeles, California
Spring League Meeting takes place in Orlando, Florida
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