Lions set 2026 preseason dates

The Detroit Lions have now filled in the last missing logistics around their 2026 preseason slate. The team said May 19 that dates and kickoff times are set for all three exhibition games, turning the earlier list of opponents into a complete August schedule. The update came days after the NFL’s regular-season release and alongside fresh team-site coverage breaking down the broader 2026 calendar. For Lions fans, the immediate takeaway is straightforward: the opponents were already known, and now the exact windows are set. ### Which preseason games did Detroit lock in? The Lions said May 19 that they will open the preseason at the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. ET. Detroit then hosts the Washington Commanders on Saturday, Aug. 22, at noon ET in its only home preseason game. The Lions close the exhibition schedule at the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m. ET. Lions Wire, in a May 20 report, said the team’s preseason post also included television details for the schedule. The club’s own announcement framed the slate as a three-game August run finalized after the regular-season schedule was released the previous week. (detroitlions.com) ### Why are there three games, not four? The NFL’s current preseason format gives most teams three exhibition games because the regular season is 17 games. Detroit’s official 2026 preseason announcement lists three opponents — Cincinnati, Washington and Indianapolis — and the team’s historical schedule page carries the same three-game preseason structure for 2026. (lionswire.usatoday.com) The Lions had already identified those opponents during schedule-release week. What changed on May 19 was the addition of exact dates and kickoff times. ### What stands out about this year’s August setup? Detroit’s only home preseason game is the middle one, against Washington on Aug. 22 at Ford Field. (detroitlions.com) The other two are on the road, with the Lions opening in Cincinnati and ending in Indianapolis. Dan Campbell said earlier this offseason that he does not plan to hold joint practices this year, a change from each of the previous four seasons. (lionswire.usatoday.com) In the team’s May 19 story, Campbell said the sessions had begun to feel “counterproductive” and that Detroit could get more done by staying focused on its own work. (detroitlions.com) ### How does this fit into the larger 2026 Lions calendar? Detroit’s regular season begins Sept. 13 at home against the New Orleans Saints, according to the team’s May 14 schedule release. The Lions also have four currently scheduled primetime games, a Week 10 game against the New England Patriots in Munich, and a Thanksgiving matchup Nov. 26 against the Chicago Bears. (detroitlions.com) Tim Twentyman’s May 20 “By the numbers” post on the team site highlighted several markers from that schedule, including Detroit’s four primetime games and the Nov. 15 international game in Germany. The post said 2026 will be the third time the franchise has played an international regular-season game. ### Where can fans check the official details now? (detroitlions.com) DetroitLions.com carries both the May 19 preseason announcement and the team’s full 2026 schedule page. The club’s news page also links to the May 20 “By the numbers” item for the regular season. The next fixed dates on Detroit’s calendar are the preseason opener at Cincinnati on Aug. 13, the home exhibition against Washington on Aug. 22 and the preseason finale at Indianapolis on Aug. 29. (detroitlions.com 1) (detroitlions.com 2)