Cardinals to face Panthers in 2026 Hall of Fame Game to open NFL preseason

The Arizona Cardinals will face the Carolina Panthers in the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, the opening contest of the 2026 NFL preseason. The game will be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, adjacent to the Hall of Fame building itself. The Hall of Fame Game is an annual preseason exhibition held the weekend of the Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies. The tradition dates to August 1962, when the first game was played in Canton. Each year, two NFL teams open their preseason there as part of Enshrinement Week, which according to reports includes parades, festivals, fashion shows, and concerts around the ceremonies. The matchup matters now because it sets the stage for the entire 2026 season. According to reports, the Panthers have already released their first depth chart of the preseason, tickets are on sale, and DAZN will carry coverage of the game alongside other preseason fixtures. Prediction market platform Kalshi is also offering trading on the contest.

Cardinals and Panthers to open the 2026 preseason in Canton

The Arizona Cardinals will face the Carolina Panthers in the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, the annual exhibition that opens the NFL preseason. The game is played in Canton, Ohio, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, which sits adjacent to the Hall of Fame building, and it is held each year on the weekend of the Hall's induction ceremonies.

For both teams, the fixture serves as the first competitive action of the new campaign, giving coaches an early look at their rosters before the regular season begins. According to reports, the Panthers released their first depth chart of the 2026 preseason ahead of the game, offering an initial indication of where players stand in the pecking order heading into the opener.

The matchup continues a tradition that stretches back to August 1962, when the first Hall of Fame Game was played. Further details of the 2026 contest, including its exact date and kickoff time, have not been confirmed.

A Canton tradition dating back to 1962

The Hall of Fame Game is one of the oldest fixtures on the NFL calendar. It is an annual preseason exhibition, staged each year on the weekend of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies, and it traditionally serves as the league's first taste of live action after the offseason.

The setting is as much a part of the occasion as the football. The game is played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, which sits adjacent to the Hall of Fame building itself, placing the contest at the heart of the sport's most storied ground.

The tradition stretches back more than six decades. The first Hall of Fame Game was played in August 1962, and the event has remained a fixture of induction weekend ever since, pairing the celebration of the game's greats with the opening of a new season.

1. August 1962

   First Hall of Fame Game played

2. Annual (each year, held the weekend of H

   Ongoing tradition: the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game is an annual NFL preseason exhibition held during induction weekend in Canton, Ohio, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

3. 2026 (preseason, ahead of the game)

   Tickets go on sale for the Cardinals–Panthers Hall of Fame Game

4. 2026 (preseason, ahead of the game)

   Kalshi opens trading on the Hall of Fame Game and promotes a bonus code

5. 2026 (preseason, ahead of the game)

   Panthers release their first depth chart of the 2026 preseason

6. 2026 (Enshrinement Week)

   Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week takes place with parades, festivals, fashion shows, and concerts

7. 2026 (preseason opener)

   Arizona Cardinals face the Carolina Panthers in the Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, opening the 2026 NFL preseason, with coverage carried by DAZN

Enshrinement Week events around the game

The game sits at the centre of a wider celebration in Canton. According to reports, the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week will feature a programme of public events around the induction ceremonies, including parades, festivals, fashion shows and concerts. Specific dates for these events have not been announced.

The format follows the Hall's established pattern, in which the preseason game is staged during the same weekend as the enshrinement of new inductees. That pairing turns Canton into the focal point of the league's calendar for several days each summer, drawing fans to the city well before kickoff. Which players will be inducted as part of the 2026 class has not been stated in the reports consulted.

Tickets, broadcast coverage and prediction markets

Fans planning to attend the preseason opener in Canton can already make arrangements, with tickets for the Cardinals-Panthers matchup on sale, according to reports.

Those watching from elsewhere also have options. DAZN will carry coverage of the Hall of Fame Game alongside other 2026 NFL preseason fixtures, according to the streaming service.

The game is drawing interest beyond traditional viewership too. Prediction market platform Kalshi is offering trading on the contest, according to reports, and has promoted a code, ALCOM, that provides a bonus of up to $500 for trading on the game. The terms and expiration of that offer have not been detailed beyond the bonus amount.

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