How to watch Monday Night Football in 2026: channels, schedule and the cheapest legal ways
Updated October 22, 2026. US only, before tax. Schedule and prices checked Oct 22, 2026 (10:11-10:13 UTC) on ESPN, NFL.com and each service's own site. Prices as of Oct 22, 2026; prices, offers, channel lineups and the NFL schedule (flex games) change. Check before you sign up. If something isn't on an official page, we say so instead of guessing.
This week: Cowboys at Eagles, Monday, Oct 26, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC
The Dallas Cowboys play the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. ESPN's schedule lists the game on ESPN and ABC (ESPN NFL schedule (weekly pages, Weeks 7-18), checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11-10:13 UTC); NFL.com lists ESPN (NFL.com schedule (this week), checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC).
Cheapest legal way: this game is on ABC, so you can watch it over the air with an antenna on your local ABC station, if you can receive it, with no subscription. Check the FCC DTV Reception Maps for your address. For ESPN-only games, the lowest monthly price we found was Sling Essentials at $19.99 a month (Sling, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC).
Watch free first: an antenna for the ABC games
ABC is a broadcast network. As of ESPN's schedule on Oct 22, 2026, four of the remaining Monday games are on ABC as well as ESPN: Oct 26, Nov 9, Dec 7 and Dec 21. For those games, an antenna on your local ABC station costs nothing a month once you have the antenna.
Reception depends on where you live. Enter your address in the FCC DTV Reception Maps tool to see which stations are predicted there (checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC). The FCC says its signal calculations "assume an outdoor antenna 30 feet above ground level" and that "actual reception quality may vary significantly for viewers using an indoor antenna." If you can't get your ABC station, the ABC games are also on ESPN.
2026 Monday Night Football schedule and channels
Every remaining Monday game is at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT).
| Week | Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV | Free with an antenna? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Mon, Oct 26 | Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | Yes (ABC), if you get your local station |
| 8 | Mon, Nov 2 | Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | No (ESPN only) |
| 9 | Mon, Nov 9 | Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | Yes (ABC), if you get your local station |
| 10 | Mon, Nov 16 | Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | No (ESPN only) |
| 11 | Mon, Nov 23 | Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | No (ESPN only) |
| 12 | Mon, Nov 30 | Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | No (ESPN only) |
| 13 | Mon, Dec 7 | Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | Yes (ABC), if you get your local station |
| 14 | Mon, Dec 14 | Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | No (ESPN only) |
| 15 | Mon, Dec 21 | New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC | Yes (ABC), if you get your local station |
| 16 | Mon, Dec 28 | New York Giants at Detroit Lions | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | No (ESPN only) |
| 17 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | No (ESPN only) |
Schedule as of Oct 22, 2026, 10:11-10:13 UTC, from the ESPN NFL schedule (weekly pages, Weeks 7-18); TV is the network ESPN lists for each game. ESPN's schedule shows one Monday game each week. Late-season games can move: NFL.com says some Week 16 and Week 17 matchups will be scheduled later, and some of those could be played on Monday night (NFL.com prime-time schedule and flex rules, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC). Check ESPN or NFL.com on game day.
Cheapest ways to watch Monday Night Football, compared
Prices as of Oct 22, 2026. Each price was checked on the service's own page on Oct 22, 2026 at the UTC time shown, before tax, for new customers signing up directly. Offers end on the dates shown and can change sooner. Lineups vary by ZIP code.
| Option | Price | Trial or offer shown | ESPN? | ABC (local)? | Source (checked) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antenna (over the air) | $0 a month once you have an antenna (antenna not included) | None needed | No | Yes, on ABC game dates, if you can receive your local ABC station. Check the FCC map for your address | FCC DTV Reception Maps (10:11 UTC) |
| Sling Essentials | $19.99 a month | None shown | Yes. Sling: "ESPN & more" | Not listed for Essentials (Sling lists FOX and NBC; locals only in select markets) | Sling (10:11 UTC) |
| ESPN Unlimited (direct) | $31.99 a month or $319.99 a year | None shown | Yes. ESPN: "NFL (includes Monday Night Football and NFL Network)" | ESPN lists "ESPN on ABC" among the networks included | ESPN Fan Support: plans and prices (10:11 UTC) |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited bundle | From $35.99 a month | None shown | Yes (ESPN Unlimited) | As ESPN Unlimited | ESPN plans page (10:11 UTC) |
| ESPN, FOX One bundle | $39.99 a month (terms apply) | None shown | Yes (ESPN Unlimited) | As ESPN Unlimited | ESPN plans page (10:11 UTC) |
| YouTube TV Sports + News | $71.99 a month; new users pay $49.99 a month for the first 5 months (offer ends Nov 16, 2026) | 5-day free trial shown | Not confirmed on the YouTube TV pages we checked. Check the lineup for your ZIP code | YouTube TV says it "includes local channels." Check the lineup for your ZIP code | YouTube TV plans (10:11 UTC) |
| YouTube TV (main plan) | $82.99 a month; new users pay $59.99 a month for the first 2 months (offer ends Nov 16, 2026) | 5-day free trial shown | Not confirmed on the YouTube TV pages we checked. Check the lineup for your ZIP code | YouTube TV says it "includes local channels." Check the lineup for your ZIP code | YouTube TV plans (10:11 UTC) |
| Fubo Pro | $88.99 a month; $63.99 for the first month. A regional sports fee may apply ($3.99 to $16.99 a month) | Free trial offered (length not stated on the page) | Yes. Fubo: "ESPN Unlimited included" | Fubo lists ABC on the plan. Check the lineup for your ZIP code | Fubo plans (10:11 UTC) |
| DIRECTV Stream Entertainment | $89.99 a month; $59.99 for the first month with required fees | 5-day free trial. 1 month of DIRECTV Sports Pack included, then $14.99 a month unless you cancel | Yes. DIRECTV: "including ESPN Unlimited Plan" | Not confirmed on the page we checked. Check the lineup for your ZIP code | DIRECTV Stream packages (10:11 UTC) |
| Hulu + Live TV (with ads; includes Disney+ and ESPN Select) | $99.99 a month; $49.99 for the first month (offer ends 9:00 a.m. PT, Oct 26, 2026, the morning of the Cowboys-Eagles game) | None confirmed on the page we checked | Yes. Hulu: "100+ live TV channels like ABC and ESPN" | Yes, Hulu names ABC. Check the lineup for your ZIP code | Hulu + Live TV (10:11 UTC) |
Links are plain links to each company's own site, not affiliate links. For how trials renew, see our free trials page.
Cheapest legal ways, ranked
- ABC games (Oct 26, Nov 9, Dec 7, Dec 21): an antenna on your local ABC station, $0 a month, if you can receive it.
- Every game on ESPN: Sling Essentials, $19.99 a month, the lowest monthly price we found on official pages on Oct 22, 2026. Next is ESPN Unlimited direct at $31.99 a month or $319.99 a year (ESPN Fan Support: plans and prices, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC).
- ESPN plus FOX: the ESPN, FOX One bundle is $39.99 a month (ESPN plans page, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC).
- A full live TV service: YouTube TV, Fubo, DIRECTV Stream or Hulu + Live TV run from $49.99 a month (YouTube TV Sports + News, new users) to $99.99 a month (Hulu + Live TV) at the prices above, before any regional sports fee. Confirm ESPN and your ABC station in your ZIP code's lineup first.
Is Monday Night Football on ESPN Unlimited, Sling or Hulu?
ESPN Unlimited: yes. ESPN's plans page lists "NFL (includes Monday Night Football and NFL Network)" under ESPN Unlimited, and its list of included networks has "ESPN on ABC" (ESPN plans page, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC). ESPN's help center lists Unlimited at $31.99 a month or $319.99 a year, and ESPN Select at $13.99 a month or $139.99 a year (ESPN Fan Support: plans and prices, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC). We didn't find Monday Night Football listed for Select, so we don't count Select as a way to watch.
Sling: Sling lists Essentials ($19.99 a month) as "ESPN & more" (Sling, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC), and its ESPN page points ESPN fans to Essentials (Sling: ESPN, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC). Sling says some local channels, including ABC, "are only available in select markets," and it doesn't list ABC for Essentials. We didn't confirm ESPN on Sling's other plans, so they aren't in the table.
Hulu + Live TV: Hulu says you can "watch your favorite NFL teams on ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, and NFL Network." The plan's name includes ESPN Select, but Hulu says its Live TV plans also include access to additional ESPN Unlimited content in the ESPN app (Hulu + Live TV, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC). Its $49.99 first-month offer ends at 9:00 a.m. PT on Oct 26, 2026.
YouTube TV: we couldn't confirm ESPN on the YouTube TV plan pages we checked; the channel list depends on your ZIP code (YouTube TV plans, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC). YouTube TV also shows a lower-priced Sports Plan, but its own page lists two different prices for it, so we don't show one.
Searching for a free stream? The legal free option is an antenna for the ABC games. We don't link unofficial streams. ESPN Unlimited also carries the NBA; see how to watch the NBA 2026-27. For ESPN and live TV price changes this year, see streaming price increases 2026.
📬 The Weekly Lows: a free weekly email
The 5 best deals we checked that week, every Friday.
We post deals 20%+ below the usual price, checked against other stores' public prices, and label affiliate links. Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy
FAQ
What channel is Monday Night Football on this week?
ESPN and ABC. The Dallas Cowboys play the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, Oct 26, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. ESPN's schedule lists ESPN and ABC; NFL.com lists ESPN (both checked Oct 22, 2026).
Is Monday Night Football on ABC every week?
No. As of ESPN's schedule on Oct 22, 2026, ABC also carries four of the remaining Monday games: Oct 26, Nov 9, Dec 7 and Dec 21. The other Monday games are on ESPN only.
Can I watch Monday Night Football for free?
Legally, yes for the ABC games, with an antenna, if you can receive your local ABC station. The FCC's DTV reception maps show which stations are predicted at your address. ESPN-only games need a pay service. Some services that list ESPN advertise free trials, such as DIRECTV Stream (5 days) and Fubo (length not stated), as of Oct 22, 2026.
What's the cheapest way to watch ESPN without cable?
The lowest monthly price we found on official pages on Oct 22, 2026, was Sling Essentials at $19.99 a month, which Sling lists with ESPN. ESPN Unlimited direct from ESPN was $31.99 a month or $319.99 a year. Prices change, so check before you sign up.
Does ESPN Unlimited include Monday Night Football?
Yes. ESPN's plans page lists "NFL (includes Monday Night Football and NFL Network)" under ESPN Unlimited ($31.99 a month or $319.99 a year, checked Oct 22, 2026).
Is ESPN Select enough for Monday Night Football?
We don't count on it. ESPN lists Monday Night Football under ESPN Unlimited, and we didn't find it listed for ESPN Select ($13.99 a month) on ESPN's pages, so we don't list Select as a way to watch.
Is Monday Night Football on YouTube TV?
We couldn't confirm ESPN on the YouTube TV plan pages we checked on Oct 22, 2026; the channel list depends on your ZIP code. YouTube TV says its plans include local channels, which is where ABC games would be. Check the lineup for your ZIP code before you sign up.
When is the last Monday Night Football game of the 2026 regular season?
Monday, Jan 4, 2027: the Houston Texans at the Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, per ESPN's schedule (checked Oct 22, 2026). Week 18 has no Monday game; NFL.com says three Week 18 games are on Saturday, two of them on ESPN/ABC, with matchups set after Week 17.
Sources
- ESPN NFL schedule (weekly pages, Weeks 7-18), checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11-10:13 UTC
- NFL.com schedule (this week), checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC
- NFL.com prime-time schedule and flex rules, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC
- FCC DTV Reception Maps, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC
- ESPN Fan Support: plans and prices, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC
- ESPN plans page, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC
- Sling, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC
- Sling: ESPN, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC
- YouTube TV plans, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC
- Fubo plans, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC
- DIRECTV Stream packages, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC
- Hulu + Live TV, checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:11 UTC