Raiders open preseason Aug 13 vs Cardinals

The Las Vegas Raiders set their 2026 preseason opener for Thursday, Aug. 13, against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium, the team said on May 21. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Pacific, according to the Raiders’ official preseason release and team schedule page. (raiders.com) The announcement finalized Las Vegas’ three-game exhibition slate after the broader NFL schedule release earlier in the week. Raiders Wire separately reported the opener on May 22. ### When do the Raiders start preseason play? Thursday, Aug. 13, is the date the Raiders will open preseason play, and the opponent is Arizona at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (raiders.com) The team’s official release listed the game as a home opener for the exhibition schedule and set kickoff for 5 p.m. PT. The Cardinals matchup is the first of three preseason games for Las Vegas. The Raiders’ schedule page shows the club then travels to face the Houston Texans on Aug. 20 before returning home to play the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 27. ### What else is on the Raiders’ preseason schedule? (raiders.com) Aug. 20 brings the Raiders’ only preseason road game, with Las Vegas scheduled to play at Houston’s NRG Stadium at 5 p.m. PT. The official team schedule lists ESPN as the broadcast outlet for that game. Aug. 27 closes the preseason, with San Francisco visiting Allegiant Stadium for another 5 p.m. PT kickoff. (raiders.com) The Raiders said both home preseason games — against Arizona and San Francisco — will be broadcast locally on FOX5 Vegas. ### Why did the Cardinals opener stand out in the team release? (raiders.com) The Raiders’ earlier preseason-opponents post said Las Vegas would open at home against Arizona for the second straight year in the preseason. That team item also noted the Cardinals won last year’s preseason meeting 20-10. (raiders.com) The Allegiant Stadium events page also lists the Aug. 13 game as “Raiders vs. Cardinals - Preseason Week 1,” matching the team schedule and release. ### Where did the team publish the finalized dates and times? (raiders.com) May 21 was the date on the Raiders’ official article announcing that “dates and times” for the 2026 preseason slate were set. The same details appear on the club’s 2026 schedule page, which includes opponents, kickoff times, venue information and local radio listings. Raiders Wire’s May 22 report matched the team posting, saying Las Vegas would kick off preseason against Arizona at Allegiant Stadium on Aug. 13. (raiders.com) The outlet said the full preseason schedule had been officially released. (allegiantstadium.com) ### What comes after the preseason opener? Sept. 13 is the date of the Raiders’ regular-season opener, with Las Vegas scheduled to host the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium at 1:25 p.m. PDT, according to the official team schedule. That means the Cardinals game on Aug. 13 will be the first live game setting for Las Vegas before the club moves through Houston and San Francisco in the rest of the preseason. (raiders.com 1) (raiders.com 2) (raiderswire.usatoday.com)