A new era kicks off in Orchard Park as the Bills debut their state-of-the-art stadium against the Lions during a high-stakes, primetime Thursday night showdown.
We now know when the Buffalo Bills will open their brand-new stadium for the 2026 season.
The NFL and the team announced on Monday night that the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium will take place in Week 2 in primetime. The game will air on Thursday, September 17, on Prime Video (and local networks in Buffalo) against the Detroit Lions.
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The Bills' home opener being in primetime isn't that unexpected. Throughout the offseason, the Bills have been public about their desire to open the new building with a primetime game. The only questions were when and against whom?
Detroit might not have been the first guess by many, but it makes sense when you look at the history of the franchise.
Before the Bills were founded, original owner Ralph C. Wilson was a minority owner in the Lions. He grew up in Detroit, rooted for the Lions as a kid, and earned his wealth doing business in Michigan.
When he founded the Bills in 1960, they wore a look similar to the Detroit Lions. It wasn't until its third season that Buffalo adopted their red, white, and blue color scheme to go with the standing Bison logo.
The rest of the 2026 Buffalo Bills schedule will be announced on Thursday, May 14. With it being revealed that Week 2 will be the team's home opener, it's also been confirmed that the Bills will be on the road for Week 1. It'll be the first time Buffalo starts the season on the road since 2023, when it played in New Jersey against the New York Jets.
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