{"id":498437,"date":"2026-02-25T11:24:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T11:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/498437\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T11:24:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T11:24:23","slug":"a-deeper-dive-into-the-blue-bombers-2026-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/498437\/","title":{"rendered":"A deeper dive into the Blue Bombers 2026 schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gather round the calendar Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans \u2014 you can now go ahead and lock-in your 2026 summer and fall evening and weekend plans, whether they include being live and in person to witness the action at Princess Auto Stadium or hunkered down in front of the tube or listening on the radio all around the planet.<\/p>\n

The Canadian Football League unveiled its 2026 schedule on Tuesday, and the Blue Bombers slate of games features the usual gems and oddities. Following a pair of preseason games \u2014 May 23rd in Saskatoon against the Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders and then May 29th with the B.C. Lions paying a visit to Winnipeg \u2014 the Blue Bombers will open the regular season on Friday, June 5th in Calgary against the Stampeders.<\/p>\n

The playoffs begin with the East and West Semifinals on Saturday, October 31st, followed by the divisional finals on November 7th with the 113th Grey Cup to be held Sunday, November 15th at McMahon Stadium in Calgary as the Blue Bombers look to get back to the championship after falling short in 2025 after five straight appearances.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here are a few notable nuggets from the Blue Bombers \u201926 schedule:<\/p>\n

Winnipeg\u2019s 10 home regular season dates \u2014 including an extra game vs. Toronto, more on that below \u2014 feature five Friday nights, three on Thursday evenings and two Saturday games \u2014 a matinee against the Roughriders in the annual Banjo Bowl on September 12th, and an evening visit from the Calgary Stampeders on October 10th during Thanksgiving weekend.
\nInterestingly, after playing in four back-to-back\/home-and-home matchups a year ago \u2014 a crazy total in a nine-team league \u2014 there is just one in 2026 and it\u2019s the annual Labour Day Classic-Banjo Bowl doubleheader with the Riders.
\nWinnipeg opened last season with a bye in the opening week and then played 11 straight games before getting another breather. This year the byes are more evenly spaced, coming in Weeks 3, 10 and 16.
\nWinnipeg will play seven of its 10 home games between Weeks 2 and 13 on the schedule \u2014 June 11th to August 28th \u2014 including a stretch of three straight at Princess Auto in late July\/mid-August, including its second bye week.
\nThe Blue Bombers will then finish with three of its final four games on the road, including visits to Edmonton and B.C. in the last two weeks of the regular season.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a more detailed look at the Blue Bombers slate of regular-season games, after the preseason contests against the Roughriders and Lions (all times Central):<\/p>\n

GAME 1 | at Calgary<\/p>\n

When:\u00a0Friday, June 5th, 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: The Blue Bombers will open on the road to start their season for the first time since a visit to Vancouver in 2019 and a 33-23 win over the B.C. Lions \u2014 a game in which Matt Nichols threw two TD passes to Drew Wolitarsky and a third to Darvin Adams while Andrew Harris rushed for 148 yards.<\/p>\n

Since then, the Blue Bombers opened their campaigns by hosting Hamilton in 2021 (19-6 win), Ottawa in 2022 (19-17 win), the Tiger-Cats again in 2023 (42-31 win), Montreal in 2024 (27-12 loss) and B.C. last year (34-20 win).<\/p>\n

Winnipeg has won its last three road season openers including the 2019 victory in Vancouver as well as a 43-40 OT decision in Saskatchewan in 2017 and a 30-26 win in Regina in 2015.<\/p>\n

GAME 2 | vs. Hamilton<\/p>\n

When: Thursday, June 11th, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: The Blue Bombers knocked off B.C. 34-20 in their home opener last season, a game in which Chris Streveler started for Zach Collaros and threw for 246 yards and three TDs \u2014 two to Nic Demski and the third to Keric Wheatfall.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg is 5-1 in its last six home season debuts and 6-5 in home openers since Mike O\u2019Shea became head coach in 2014.<\/p>\n

GAME 3 | vs. Edmonton<\/p>\n

When: Thursday, June 25th, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: The Blue Bombers had a 13-game winning streak against Edmonton snapped last October in a 25-20 loss in the Alberta capital, ending a run that had dated back to the 2018 regular-season finale when some starters were rested, and others had their snap counts limited with the playoffs looming.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg is currently on a seven-game home unbeaten streak vs. Edmonton that dates back to a home opener loss in 2018.<\/p>\n

GAME 4 | at Hamilton<\/p>\n

When: Sunday, July 5th, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: Since 2015 the Blue Bombers have a losing road record against four teams, going 6-7 in Saskatchewan, 4-8 in Calgary and 3-5 in both Hamilton and Toronto. Winnipeg is a solid 9-2 in Edmonton, 7-3 in B.C., 7-2 in Montreal and 6-2 in Ottawa since 2015.<\/p>\n

GAME 5 | vs Toronto<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

When: Friday, July 10th, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: The first of two visits by the Argonauts in 2026 because of the FIFA World Cup, running in Canada, Mexico and the United States from June 11-July 19. Rather than play home games in different locations around Toronto during the World Cup, the Argos decided to have their three \u2018home\u2019 games impacted by the World Cup played in Regina, Winnipeg and Hamilton during this stretch.<\/p>\n

The Lions are facing the same predicament yet opted to play their two home games conflicted by World Cup games at B.C. Place in Kelowna against Calgary and Edmonton in an event they are calling \u2018Touchdown Kelowna.\u2019<\/p>\n

GAME 6 | at Ottawa<\/p>\n

When: Sunday, July 19th, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: Winnipeg is 6-2 in its last eight trips to the nation\u2019s capital since 2016, including last year\u2019s bizzaro 26-18 victory in which Chris Streveler completed just three of eight pass attempts for 54 yards \u2014 the lowest passing total in a Blue Bombers win since a 19-12 decision in Hamilton in 1974 in which the club had just 15 yards passing.<\/p>\n

GAME 7 | vs Calgary<\/p>\n

When: Friday, July 24th, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: Winnipeg dropped all three contests against the Stampeders a year ago \u2014 the three games coming in a stretch from July 3-August 9. Those losses included a pair of 21-point maulings and a one-point defeat on a last second field goal.<\/p>\n

GAME 8 | vs B.C.<\/p>\n

When: Thursday, July 30th, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: Winnipeg stumbled a bit against the West last year, finishing with a 4-6 record against their division rivals \u2014 the first time since 2018 the club has not had a winning record against Saskatchewan, Edmonton, Calgary and B.C. combined. That said, in the last five years the Blue Bombers are still a sensational 45-16 against the West Division.<\/p>\n

GAME 9 | vs Ottawa<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

When: Friday, August 14th, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable:\u00a0The Blue Bombers return to action after their second bye week, having also taken a breather in Week 3. Winnipeg had won 12 straight games coming off a bye \u2014 including last year\u2019s victory over B.C. in June following a break in the season-opening week \u2014 but then dropped its next two after a bye with losses to Calgary in Week 7 and Edmonton in Week 18.<\/p>\n

That said, the Blue Bombers are still an impressive 19-6 after a bye week since 2015.<\/p>\n

GAME 10 | at Edmonton<\/p>\n

When: Friday, August 21st, 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: The Blue Bombers were winless in Alberta last season, dropping two games in Calgary and a third in Edmonton. That marked the first time they went without a \u2018W\u2019 in the province since losing in both cities in 2015.<\/p>\n

During a stretch from 2016-24 Winnipeg was 13-7 in games in Calgary and Edmonton.<\/p>\n

GAME 11 | vs. Montreal<\/p>\n

When: Friday, August 28th, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: The Blue Bombers led the CFL in attendance for the third straight season in 2024, averaging 31,196 fans per game. Since 2022, the Blue Bombers have had 27 crowds of 30,000 or more. That total is more than all the other teams combined.<\/p>\n

Game 12 | at Saskatchewan \u2013 The Labour Day Classic<\/p>\n

When: Sunday, September 6th, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable:\u00a0Winnipeg is 3-2 in its last five Labour Day Classics, including last year\u2019s dramatic 34-30 loss in which the club rallied from a two-touchdown deficit with 10 minutes remaining to pull to within 32-20, only to have a two-point convert attempt intercepted by Tevaughn Campbell and returned for a two-point safety.<\/p>\n

Zach Collaros threw for three touchdowns in that game and now has a 40-12 TD-to-interception ratio against Saskatchewan since becoming the Blue Bombers starter. Over that span, Winnipeg is 15-7 vs. its arch-rivals.<\/p>\n

GAME 13 | vs Saskatchewan \u2013 The Banjo Bowl<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

When: Saturday, September 12th, 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: The Blue Bombers are 8-2 in the last 10 Banjo Bowl games, including last year\u2019s 21-13 loss in which Collaros was injured in the third quarter with Winnipeg leading 13-12 after a high hit by Roughrider defender C.J. Reavis \u2014 a play in which he was later fined by the league, and which drew criticism from within the Saskatchewan camp.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg lost both ends of the Labour Day Classic\/Banjo Bowl doubleheader for the first time since 2018 after sweeping the series in three of the previous five years. Overall, there have been 12 sweeps in this series since the Banjo Bowl\u2019s inception in 2004 \u2014 seven by the Roughriders and five by Winnipeg.<\/p>\n

GAME 14 | vs. Toronto<\/p>\n

When: Friday, September 25th, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable:\u00a0Winnipeg has lost four of its last five against the Argos, including the defeat in the 2024 Grey Cup. The Blue Bombers lost 31-17 in Toronto last summer \u2014 the club\u2019s only meeting against their East Division rivals.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg is 7-6 in its last 13 games against Toronto since 2018.<\/p>\n

GAME 15 | at Montreal<\/p>\n

When: Saturday, October 3rd, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: The Blue Bombers have won four straight regular-season games in Montreal, including last year\u2019s 26-13 victory in August. Winnipeg is also a solid 8-3 in 11 regular season trips to Montreal since O\u2019Shea became boss.<\/p>\n

Worth noting here, of course, is the club\u2019s last visit to Quebec \u2014 in November for the Eastern Semi-Final as the crossover team \u2014 saw them fall 42-33 to the Alouettes.<\/p>\n

GAME 16 | vs. Calgary<\/p>\n

When: Saturday, October 10th, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable:\u00a0The Blue Bombers were a horrific 11-25 at home from 2013-16. Since then, the club has posted eight consecutive seasons of home winning records, going 56-14 over that span and winning Grey Cups in 2019 and 2021.<\/p>\n

That marks the second-best run at home in franchise history in terms of consecutive winning seasons. Over a nine-year span from 1980-88 Winnipeg posted home winning seasons every year, going 59-16 during that run and winning two Grey Cups, in 1984 and 1988.<\/p>\n

GAME 17 | at Edmonton<\/p>\n

When: Friday, October 16th, 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable: Brady Oliveira rushed 12 times for 117 yards in his lone game against the Elks last year \u2014 he missed an early season contest \u2014 upping his career 100-yard game total versus Edmonton to five.<\/p>\n

Since 2021 Oliveira has posted 21 career 100-yard rushing games \u2014 five each against Edmonton and Hamilton, three vs. Montreal, two vs. Calgary, Ottawa and Saskatchewan and one coming against both B.C. and Toronto.<\/p>\n

GAME 18 | at B.C.<\/p>\n

When: Friday, October 23, 9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Notable:\u00a0Winnipeg has won its last four trips to B.C. to face the Lions, including last year\u2019s 27-14 victory on June 21. The Blue Bombers are 7-3 in their last 10 against the Lions in Vancouver.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Gather round the calendar Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans \u2014 you can now go ahead and lock-in your 2026…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":498438,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":["post-498437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-canadian-football-league","tag-canadianfootballleague","tag-cfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/498437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=498437"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/498437\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/498438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=498437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=498437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=498437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}