After dramatically clinching the NFC South title last season and snapping an eight-year playoff drought, the Carolina Panthers enter the spring of 2026 with genuine momentum. Bryce Young is coming off a career-best year and signed through 2027, Tetairoa McMillan brought home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and a former No. 59 is headed to Canton this August. With the offseason now in full swing, there’s plenty for Panthers fans to circle on the calendar between now and kickoff. Here’s your guide to the dates that matter most.
Offseason Workouts: OTAs and Minicamp
The Panthers were among the first teams in the league to open their facility this spring, with Phase One of the offseason program beginning on April 20 at Bank of America Stadium. The next stretch is where the on-field work picks up.
According to the team’s official schedule, Carolina’s organized team activities (OTAs) will run on May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, and June 4. These voluntary workouts give head coach Dave Canales and his staff a chance to integrate new free agents and draftees into the system. Mandatory minicamp follows on June 9-11, when the full roster gathers for the most football-like work permitted before training camp.
Rookies report a bit earlier. Per the NFL’s announcement, rookie football development programs may begin on May 11, with rookie minicamps slated for the first full weekend in May for most clubs.
The 2026 NFL Schedule Release
While the Panthers’ opponents are already locked in, the order, dates, and kickoff times are not. That changes in mid-May.
According to ESPN reporting cited by CBS Sports, the league is targeting Wednesday, May 13, or Thursday, May 14, for the full schedule release. The NFL has favored Wednesdays in the past two years (the 2025 schedule dropped on May 14), so May 13 is the leading candidate. Expect the customary primetime reveal show on NFL Network.
A few details about Carolina’s slate are already confirmed. The Panthers will play nine home games in 2026 thanks to playing in the Hall of Fame Game (more on that below). Home opponents include divisional rivals Atlanta, New Orleans, and Tampa Bay, as well as Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Denver, and Seattle. Road trips include Cleveland, Green Bay, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, in addition to the divisional away games.
The regular season league-wide kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, when the defending Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks host the NFL Kickoff Game.
Training Camp and the Hall of Fame Game
Because the Panthers are playing in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, training camp will start earlier than usual. Specific report dates have not been released yet, but Carolina’s team site notes the schedule will be moved up to accommodate the extra preseason week.
The Hall of Fame Game itself is set for Thursday, August 6, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, with the Panthers facing the Arizona Cardinals. It marks the first time Carolina has played in the league’s first preseason game since the franchise’s inaugural season in 1995.
Luke Kuechly’s Enshrinement in Canton
The marquee non-game date of the summer is Saturday, August 8, when Luke Kuechly is officially enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2026. Kuechly was elected in his second year of eligibility, joining Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri, and senior candidate Roger Craig.
Kuechly becomes the third Panthers legend in five years to be inducted, following Sam Mills and Julius Peppers. In a statement following his selection, owners David and Nicole Tepper called him “the consummate teammate” and “a great ambassador for both the game and the Carolinas.” Expect a heavy Panthers presence in Canton that weekend, and don’t be surprised if the Hall of Fame Game sidelines double as a reunion.
Player Movements That Have Already Shaped the Roster
While much of the offseason news is in the rearview mirror, it’s worth recapping the moves that will define the 2026 Panthers:
- Bryce Young’s contract was extended through 2027, with the team announcing the move in January following his career-best season.
- Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd signed on March 12, headlining a defense-focused free agency.
- Wide receiver John Metchie signed on March 16.
- Quarterback Andy Dalton was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on March 24 for a 2027 seventh-round pick.
- Veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore announced his retirement earlier this offseason.
General manager Dan Morgan made it clear his focus this spring was fortifying the defense, and the moves reflect that priority.
The 2026 Draft Class
Carolina’s seven-player draft class drew strong reviews from national outlets, including a rare A-plus grade from Pro Football Focus. The headliners:
The Panthers used the No. 19 overall pick on Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, who provides important insurance for left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (coming off a ruptured patellar tendon). In the second round at No. 49 (acquired in a trade with Minnesota), Carolina took Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter, a run-stuffer to pair with Derrick Brown. Day 2 also brought wide receiver Chris Brazzell, a 6-foot-4 downfield threat to complement McMillan and Jalen Coker.
The middle and late rounds delivered strong value. Center Sam Hecht out of Kansas State arrived in the fifth round at No. 144, where he’ll compete with Luke Fortner for snaps. Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley, also a fifth-round pick, posted the highest PFF grade of the entire draft class at 85.9. Carolina closed out the draft by selecting Miami (Ohio) linebacker Jackson Kuwatch at No. 227.
OTAs and minicamp will be the first chance to see how this group fits in.
The 2026 Regular Season
Once the schedule lands in May, the regular season itself begins the week of September 9. The league season runs through January 10, 2027, with the playoffs starting January 16 and Super Bowl LXI scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Carolina will face a tougher path than last year as a result of winning the division. The Panthers play a first-place schedule in 2026, and according to projections cited around the schedule release, they enter the year with the ninth-toughest strength of schedule in the league at a .528 opponent winning percentage. NFC South games will once again decide the division, but conference crossovers against the AFC North and NFC North bring real bite.
Quick-Reference Calendar
For ease of reference, here are the dates Panthers fans should keep handy:
- May 11: Rookie football development program window opens
- May 13 or 14 (expected): 2026 NFL schedule release
- May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4: Panthers OTAs
- June 9-11: Mandatory veteran minicamp
- Mid-July (TBA): Training camp opens (early start due to Hall of Fame Game)
- August 6: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game vs. Arizona Cardinals in Canton
- August 8: Luke Kuechly enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- September 9: NFL regular season opens league-wide
Final Word
Between Kuechly’s bust being unveiled in Canton, a young roster bolstered by an A-plus draft class, and a defending NFC South champion looking to repeat, 2026 has a chance to be the most meaningful Panthers calendar year in nearly a decade. The next six weeks bring offseason workouts and the long-awaited schedule release. After that, it’s a sprint to Canton, then to kickoff. #KeepPounding
