It is officially the 2026 offseason, and the "Steel City" draft in Pittsburgh is officially in the books. The energy in the Queen City is reaching a boiling point. After a 2025 campaign defined by "what ifs" and injury-riddled heartbreaks, the Cincinnati Bengals emerged from the draft weekend with a clear message: the window isn't just open; they’re trying to kick the door down.
This is a season of redemption for the "Who Dey" nation. While Zac Taylor enters his seventh season at the helm, the focus remains squarely on a healthy Joe Burrow, who looks to reclaim his throne atop the AFC. After a 2025 season that saw the defense struggle and the star QB sidelined for over half the year, Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin used the 2026 draft capital to trade for elite veteran help and reload a secondary that desperately needed it.
How to Get Bengals Tickets for the 2026 Season
Paycor Stadium (The Jungle) is preparing for a massive surge in demand as fans anticipate a fully healthy roster. With the schedule release set for this Thursday, May 14, you’ll need to move fast.
- Official On-Sale: Single-game tickets go live on Ticketmaster almost immediately following the NFL's official schedule release on May 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
- The "Jungle" Priority: Season ticket holders have already begun their renewal process, meaning remaining single-game inventory will be the most sought-after in the Taylor era.
- Mobile Entry: Paycor Stadium is a mobile-only venue. You must use the Bengals App or your mobile wallet to enter; screenshots are no longer valid for entry.
- Secondary Market: For the high-stakes divisional clashes against the Steelers or Ravens, check StubHub, the official fan-to-fan marketplace of the Bengals.
Cincinnati Bengals Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Venue | Time (ET) | Network |
1 | Sept 13 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Paycor Stadium | 1:00 PM | FOX |
2 | Sept 20 | @ Houston Texans | NRG Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
3 | Sept 27 | @ Pittsburgh Steelers | Acrisure Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
4 | Oct 4 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Paycor Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
5 | Oct 11 | @ Miami Dolphins | Hard Rock Stadium | 1:00 PM | FOX |
6 | — | BYE WEEK | — | — | — |
7 | Oct 25 | @ Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
8 | Nov 1 | Tennessee Titans | Paycor Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
9 | Nov 8 | @ Atlanta Falcons | Bernabéu Stadium (Madrid) | 9:30 AM | NFL Network |
10 | Nov 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers (SNF) | Paycor Stadium | 8:20 PM | NBC |
11 | Nov 23 | @ Washington Commanders (MNF) | Northwest Stadium | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
12 | Nov 29 | New Orleans Saints | Paycor Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
13 | Dec 6 | @ Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Browns Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
14 | Dec 13 | Kansas City Chiefs | Paycor Stadium | 4:25 PM | FOX |
15 | Dec 20 | @ Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium | 1:00 PM | FOX |
16 | Dec 27 | @ Indianapolis Colts | Lucas Oil Stadium | TBD | TBD |
17 | Dec 31 | Baltimore Ravens (TNF) | Paycor Stadium | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
18 | Jan 10 | Cleveland Browns | Paycor Stadium | TBD | TBD |
How to Watch the Bengals in 2026
- Local/National:CBS (WKRC-TV) remains the primary home for the Bengals. FOX will carry the NFC South matchups, while NBC will host the highly anticipated Sunday Night Football returns.
- Thursday Night:Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for all TNF games.
- Holiday Special: Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday. Netflix will exclusively stream the NFL's holiday games this year.
- Best Choice for Local Fans:Fubo covers all local Cincinnati affiliates (WKRC, WXIX, WLWT) and the NFL Network.
- Pro Tip: If you're a member of a "Bengals Backers" bar outside of Ohio, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is the only way to see every Burrow-to-Chase connection. If you're traveling, use NordVPN set to Cincinnati to access your local WKRC/CBS stream via your mobile apps.
The "Steel City" Draft: Bengals 2026 Highlights
The Bengals executed an unconventional but aggressive strategy in Pittsburgh, trading away their No. 10 overall pick to land All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Without a first-rounder, they focused Day 2 on building defensive depth.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | School |
Trade | — | Dexter Lawrence | DT | Veteran (from Giants) |
2 | 41 | Cashius Howell | DE | Texas A&M |
3 | 72 | Tacario Davis | CB | Washington |
4 | 128 | Connor Lew | C | Auburn |
4 | 140 | Colbie Young | WR |
Draft Analysis:
- The Blockbuster Veteran: By trading for Dexter Lawrence, the Bengals immediately fixed their defensive interior. Lawrence brings a championship pedigree to a unit that ranked last in the NFL in 2025.
- The Sack Artist:Cashius Howell (#41) was a value steal on Day 2. Coming off an 11.5-sack season at Texas A&M, he provides the immediate pass-rush rotation help that Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard have been asking for.
- The Secondary Length:Tacario Davis (#72) brings elite length (6'4") to a secondary that struggled with large receivers in 2025. He is expected to compete for a starting spot during training camp in July.
Cincinnati Bengals: 2025 Season Recap
The 2025 campaign was a hard-fought battle characterized by high-scoring offensive showcases and incredibly tight divisional outcomes. Navigating an absolute meat-grinder of an AFC North division landscape, the Bengals finished the regular season with a gritty 9–8 record. While narrowly missing the postseason cutoff on a tiebreaker, the foundation is set for a massive bounce-back campaign utilizing their highly favorable 2026 schedule placement.
Phase | Detail | Result | Context |
W1–W18 | Regular Season | 9–8 | 3rd in AFC North |
Season Highlight | vs. Cleveland Browns | W, 34–31 | Offensive Shootout |
Team Leader | Joe Burrow | 4,200 Pass Yds / 32 TDs | Pro Bowl Level |
Postseason | N/A | DNQ | Lost Tiebreaker |