Panthers to face Cardinals in 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton
The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals kick off the 2026 NFL preseason in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, with Carson Beck and Kenny Pickett named as the starting quarterbacks.
The 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game features the Carolina Panthers against the Arizona Cardinals on a Thursday night at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The game opens the NFL preseason during Hall of Fame induction weekend, with Carson Beck and Kenny Pickett named as starting quarterbacks.
The Carolina Panthers will face the Arizona Cardinals in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on a Thursday night, opening the league's preseason. Carson Beck has been named the Cardinals' starting quarterback, in what reports describe as his NFL debut, while msn.com reports the Panthers will start Kenny Pickett, chosen over Bryce Young. The Hall of Fame Game is an annual exhibition held at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame building, and timed to the weekend's induction ceremonies. The tradition dates to August 1962. According to nfl.com, festivities for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 are taking place in Canton during the week of the game. The matchup matters now because it offers the first live look at two quarterbacks in new or uncertain roles, and it signals that the NFL season is underway in earnest. Television coverage is set to begin at 7 PM ET on NBC, streaming on Peacock, according to reports, and prediction markets are already pricing the contest.
Panthers and Cardinals to open the 2026 NFL preseason in Canton
The 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game will pit the Carolina Panthers against the Arizona Cardinals on a Thursday night, serving as the curtain-raiser for the league's preseason.
The matchup takes place in Canton, Ohio, according to msn.com, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, which sits adjacent to the Hall of Fame building itself. The game anchors the weekend of the Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies, with festivities for the Class of 2026 unfolding in Canton during the week of the game, according to nfl.com.
The Hall of Fame Game is an annual exhibition that, according to covers.com, opens the NFL preseason each year. The exact calendar date of the 2026 edition has not been confirmed, nor has the kickoff time. What is set is the pairing: two teams with questions under centre, meeting under the lights in northeast Ohio to begin the long road toward the regular season.
Beck and Pickett get the starting nods at quarterback
Both teams will hand their offenses to new faces under center. The Arizona Cardinals have named Carson Beck their starting quarterback for the game, and the appearance will reportedly mark his NFL debut, according to reports. The assignment gives Beck an early opportunity to run an NFL offense in game conditions, even if only in an exhibition setting.
On the other side, msn.com reports that Kenny Pickett will start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, having been named the starter over Bryce Young for the matchup. The reasoning behind that decision has not been explained, and it remains unclear whether the choice says anything about the Panthers' regular-season depth chart or simply reflects how the team wants to manage its quarterbacks in the preseason opener.
The pairing means the Canton showcase will feature two quarterbacks with something to prove, albeit in very different circumstances — one taking his first NFL snaps, the other getting a nod ahead of the team's established starter.
A Canton tradition dating back to 1962
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game has been a fixture of the NFL calendar since August 1962, when the first edition was played in Canton, Ohio. It has been held annually ever since, serving as the traditional curtain-raiser for the preseason.
The game takes place at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, which sits adjacent to the Hall of Fame building itself, and is timed to coincide with the weekend of the Hall's induction ceremonies. That pairing of exhibition football and enshrinement has made Canton the centre of the sport's world each summer.
According to nfl.com, festivities for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 are taking place in Canton during the week of the game, continuing a tradition now more than six decades old.
First Hall of Fame Game played
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game is held each year in Canton, Ohio, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, coinciding with the Hall of Fame induction weekend.
Festivities for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 take place in Canton, Ohio.
Carson Beck is named the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback for the game, which will be his NFL debut.
Kenny Pickett is named the Panthers' starting quarterback for the game, chosen over Bryce Young.
The Carolina Panthers face the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, opening the NFL preseason.
Television coverage begins on NBC and streams on Peacock.
Discussion is underway about whether Rob Gronkowski and Adrian Peterson will be first-ballot Hall of Famers in the Class of 2027.
How to watch, and the prediction markets circling the game
Fans looking to tune in reportedly have two options. According to reports, television coverage of the game is set to air on NBC and stream on Peacock, with coverage beginning at 7 PM ET on Thursday night. The kickoff time itself has not been confirmed.
Prediction markets are also taking notice. According to covers.com, Kalshi is offering market probabilities on the 2026 Hall of Fame Game, though the specific odds have not been disclosed. Separately, al.com reports that Kalshi is running a sign-up promotion for new users: a trading bonus ranging from $15 to $500 for those who trade $25 using the referral code NJCOM. Per al.com, the promotion applies to a range of markets, including the NFL Hall of Fame Game and other sporting events such as Cardinals versus Yankees. The game is one of the first NFL matchups of the year available on the platform, arriving months before the regular season begins.
Frequently asked questions
Who is playing in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game?
The 2026 Hall of Fame Game matches the Carolina Panthers against the Arizona Cardinals. The game is played in Canton, Ohio, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame building. It takes place during the weekend of the Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies, with festivities for the Class of 2026 taking place in Canton during the week of the game, according to nfl.com.
When is the 2026 Hall of Fame Game?
The 2026 Hall of Fame Game is scheduled for a Thursday night, though the exact calendar date has not been confirmed. The game is held each year in Canton, Ohio, coinciding with the Pro Football Hall of Fame's induction weekend. It marks the start of the NFL preseason, a tradition that dates back to the first Hall of Fame Game played in August 1962.
Who is starting at quarterback in the Hall of Fame Game?
Carson Beck has been named the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback for the game, and reports suggest it will mark his NFL debut. For Carolina, Kenny Pickett will start at quarterback, having been named the starter over Bryce Young, according to msn.com. It is not yet known whether the decision reflects the Panthers' regular-season depth chart.
How can I watch the Hall of Fame Game on TV?
Television coverage of the game is set to air on NBC and stream on Peacock, with coverage beginning at 7 PM ET, according to reports. The kickoff time of the game itself has not been stated. The game opens the NFL preseason and is played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, during the Hall of Fame's induction weekend.
Can I bet on the Hall of Fame Game with Kalshi?
Yes. Kalshi prediction market probabilities are available for the 2026 Hall of Fame Game, according to covers.com, though the specific probabilities have not been stated. According to al.com, Kalshi offers a sign-up trading bonus ranging from $15 to $500 for new users who trade $25 using referral code NJCOM, a promotion that applies to markets including the NFL Hall of Fame Game.
Compiled from reporting by 8 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
