Madrid earned rave reviews for its first NFL hosting experience, and the league is heading back to the Spanish capital for round two in 2026.
## The Matchup
The Cincinnati Bengals face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid C.F. The game is part of Week 9 of the NFL’s regular season.
## Why Madrid Is Back So Quickly
Madrid’s 2025 debut was considered one of the more successful launches of a new international market, and the league wasted little time bringing the NFL back to the Bernabéu for a second consecutive year. The stadium’s recent renovation, which added a retractable roof and modern hospitality facilities, makes it one of the most well-equipped venues on the international schedule.
– Second consecutive year hosting an NFL regular-season game
– Played at the 80,000-plus capacity Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
– One of six European fixtures on the NFL’s 2026 international slate
## What Fans Should Know
Madrid’s central European location and strong flight connectivity make it one of the more accessible international games for fans travelling from elsewhere in Europe. Combined with the city’s football culture, NFL games at the Bernabéu tend to draw large crowds even among fans with limited previous exposure to American football.
For the rest of the continent’s fixtures, see our coverage of NFL London Games 2026 and NFL Paris’s 2026 debut. Our international games and host cities guide rounds up every fixture on the record nine-game slate, and new fans should start with our complete season guide.
## Final Word
Madrid’s quick return to the NFL calendar says a lot about how well the city’s first hosting experience went, and 2026 should be another strong showing.