There are three days you can look forward to every year, your birthday, Christmas (if you celebrate), and the CFL schedule release.
The 2026 edition is officially here, and naturally, certain games stand out.
While the Labour Day Weekend contests are always must-see television, they won’t be included here, given that they are always fun matchups to tune in to.
The spotlight instead will be on five other games that have been circled ahead of the kickoff on June 4, 2026.
Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Thursday, June 4, 7:30 ET / Week 1
The season’s kickoff is exactly where we’ll start, as the Alouettes and Tiger-Cats battle is the most intriguing game slated for Week 1, and for good reason.
By the time this game rolls around, it will have been nearly seven months since Montreal downed Hamilton in a thrilling Eastern Final matchup, in the same building where that playoff meeting took place.
As it stands, these two are clearly the best two squads in the East Division, and when quarterback Davis Alexander is on your screen, you are going to have a good time watching football.
BC Lions at Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saturday, June 13, 7:00 ET / Week 2
One week later, the Western Final rematch between the Lions and Roughriders takes place, also in the same building that the Roughriders sent Nathan Rourke and the BC Lions home in.
It will also be the season’s debut for both teams, which means Saskatchewan’s banner raising will take place, which should be a fun one if you’re a Riders fan.
There will be star power on both sides, including reigning Grey Cup MVP Trevor Harris and arguably the greatest Canadian quarterback ever in Rourke.
What more is there to say?
Toronto Argonauts at Ottawa Redblacks
Saturday, June 20, 1:00 ET / Week 3
The hits keep on coming, as the “Ryan Dinwiddie bowl” hits the airwaves in Week 3.
Dinwiddie left the Double Blue for the nation’s capital this offseason, signing a three-year deal to become the Redblacks’ general manager, head coach, and offensive coordinator.
The 45-year-old brings his two Grey Cup rings and Coach of the Year award to the Redblacks, as he’ll try to turn the ship around in Ottawa, a team that has gone 27-76-1 over the last six seasons.
Both squads are looking to return to the top of the division, and this will be a big game in determining that.
All of Week 15
Saturday, Sep. 12, 1:00 ET – 10:00 ET / Week 15
This one is kind of cheating, but with four fantastic matchups all in one day, how could you pick just one?
If you’re a CFL fan, book off Sep. 12, as it will be the first quadruple header the league has put together since the mid-90s.
The day begins with Dinwiddie’s return to Toronto at 1:00 ET in the Redblacks and Argonauts’ second matchup of the year, followed by the Banjo Bowl between the Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 4:00 ET.
Then comes the second half of the battle of Alberta home-and-home as the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks due battle at 7:00 ET, before two of the league’s most exciting, young pivots are pitted against each other as Alexander and the Alouettes travel to take on Rourke and the Lions at 10:00 ET.
What a day and what a slate of games.
Saskatchewan Roughriders at Montreal Alouettes
Monday, Oct. 12, 1:00 ET / Week 19
There aren’t many more things on this planet that go better together than Thanksgiving and football. Add the fact that it’s a Grey Cup rematch, and you have potentially the best game of the year on your hands.
It will be the first time the 112th championship contenders will rematch, and it will come with three weeks left remaining, as both teams will surely be in playoff pushes.