Las Vegas Raiders vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2026 Preseason Opener

The Las Vegas Raiders kick off their 2026 NFL preseason schedule on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, hosting the Arizona Cardinals for their first summer matchup, according to local reporting from KSNV.

Thursday’s opening contest at Allegiant Stadium marks the official start of a demanding three-game preseason slate for the Raiders. Fans and analysts look to this initial outing for early evaluations of roster depth, positional battles, and new additions before the regular season begins in September. Preseason games offer coaching staffs a controlled environment to test playbook adjustments and evaluate younger players fighting for final roster spots.

Opening the exhibition schedule at home gives the Raiders a familiar setting to test game-day operations. According to KSNV, the matchup against Arizona serves as the first major test for the franchise’s summer preparations. Following this opening fixture, teams across the league typically use the remaining August weeks to scale playing time for starters and finalize cuts ahead of the 53-man roster deadline.