With many CFL teams already at or approaching 13 games played, the playoff picture is beginning to take shape. Ottawa, Hamilton and Calgary are among the on the outside looking in with their playoff hopes almost pretty much over.
With the regular season moving quickly, it is never too early to start looking ahead.
There are plenty of important dates coming up on the CFL calendar, and before we know it, the Grey Cup will be here and the offseason will officially begin.
The Final Weeks of the 2026 CFL Regular Season
Do Keep in mind that the follow time and dates will be Eastern Standard Time Zone.
Week 16
Week 16 features several important matchups as teams continue their push toward the playoffs.
- Montreal @ Hamilton — Friday, 7:30 p.m. — Hall of Fame Game
- Edmonton @ Toronto — Saturday, 3:00 p.m. — WWE Theme Game
- Ottawa @ Calgary — Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
The Hamilton-Montreal matchup will also feature the CFL Hall of Fame Game, as the newest class of inductees is officially welcomed into the Hall.
Week 17
The schedule continues with another important slate of games:
- Toronto @ Winnipeg — September 25, 8:00 p.m.
- Saskatchewan @ BC — September 25, 10:30 p.m.
- Calgary @ Ottawa — September 26, 3:00 p.m.
- Hamilton @ Edmonton — September 26
Calgary and Ottawa will meet for the second time in a back-to-back stretch, while Hamilton heads west to take on Edmonton.
Week 18
- Hamilton @ Ottawa — October 2, 7:00 p.m.
- Calgary @ Saskatchewan — October 2, 9:30 p.m.
- BC @ Toronto — October 3, 3:00 p.m.
- Winnipeg @ Montreal — October 3, 7:00 p.m.
At this point in the season, every game becomes increasingly important as teams fight for playoff positioning and, in some cases, playoff survival.
Week 19
- Edmonton @ Hamilton — October 9, 7:00 p.m.
- Ottawa @ BC — October 9, 10:00 p.m.
- Calgary @ Winnipeg — October 10, 7:00 p.m.
- Saskatchewan @ Montreal — October 12, 1:00 p.m.
Week 20
- Toronto @ Ottawa — October 16, 7:00 p.m.
- Winnipeg @ Edmonton — October 16, 9:30 p.m.
- Montreal @ Saskatchewan — October 17, 3:00 p.m.
- BC @ Calgary — October 17, 7:00 p.m.
Week 21
The final week of the regular season arrives October 23-24:
- Montreal @ Toronto — October 23, 7:00 p.m.
- Winnipeg @ BC — October 23, 10:00 p.m.
- Ottawa @ Hamilton — October 24, 3:00 p.m.
- Edmonton @ Saskatchewan — October 24, 3:00 p.m.
CFL Playoff Schedule
Once the regular season is complete, the playoff race will move into its final stages.
CFL Division Semi-Finals
October 31 — 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
CFL Division Finals
November 7 — 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
113th Grey Cup
November 15 — 5:00 p.m.
And just like that, the 2026 CFL season will be over.
That is the reason for looking ahead now. Everything is going to move incredibly quickly, and before fans know it, the offseason will be upon us.
The Offseason Begins
After the Grey Cup on November 15, the winning team will finally get the opportunity to celebrate its championship. Players will get some well-earned rest while proudly taking the Grey Cup across the country.
For the other eight teams, however, the work immediately turns toward the 2027 season.
From November 16 through January 31, teams will have plenty of decisions to make. Front offices and scouting departments will evaluate their current rosters, determine which players they want to bring back and identify players who could become free agents.
The next major step comes with the 2027 CFL tampering window, which is scheduled to run from January 31 through February 7.
That will lead into one of the biggest events of the CFL offseason: Free Agency on February 10th.
At Hamilton Sports Central, we will once again be covering CFL Free Agent Day for a third season, breaking down the signings and keeping track of where players land across the league.
CFL Draft and Rookie Camps
The offseason will move quickly from free agency into draft preparation.
The CFL Draft Combine is scheduled to take place during the week of March 15-19 in Calgary, giving prospects an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of CFL scouts and teams.
The CFL Rookie Draft is scheduled for April 13, followed by the CFL Global Draft on April 14.
Then, only days later, teams will begin bringing their newest players into camp.
Rookie Camp: April 21-23
Main Camp Begins: April 24
That means teams will have very little time between the draft and getting their prospects onto the field.
Looking Ahead to the 2027 CFL Season
While the official 2027 schedule has not yet been released, we can make some educated guesses based on the typical CFL calendar.
The preseason could potentially begin around the April 30-May 1 weekend, with the first preseason week traditionally featuring a limited number of games.
Week 2 of the preseason could fall around May 3-8, with approximately four games taking place around May 7-8.
The final preseason week would likely fall around May 10-15, with final roster cuts potentially taking place around May 15-16.
That would give teams the opportunity to begin preparing for the regular season the following week.
Based on that projected timeline, the 2027 CFL regular season could begin around the Victoria Day long weekend, May 22-24.
Of course, these dates are projections until the official CFL schedule is released.
The Road to the 114th Grey Cup
The 2027 season will have another major milestone waiting at the end of the road.
The 114th Grey Cup will be played in Regina in 2027, giving the Saskatchewan capital the opportunity to host the CFL’s championship game.
Based on the projected calendar, the final weeks of the regular season could fall around mid-to-late October, with elimination games potentially taking place around October 23.
The CFL Semi-Finals could then take place around October 30, followed by the Conference Finals before the Grey Cup.
Once again, these dates are projections based on the current CFL calendar and previous scheduling patterns. The official 2027 schedule will ultimately determine the exact dates.
Do keep in mind the following chart for the new playoff Format next year:
1st and 2nd in West along with 6th overall and 7th overall in the standings start out West, while 1st and 2nd in the East also are joined in the play ins by 5th overall and 8th overall next year. Only Last Place team doesn’t make Playoffs.
More Than Just Rosters Will Change
There is also plenty of work to be done away from the playing field.
Coaching staffs could look very different heading into 2027. Teams will evaluate their head coaches, offensive coordinators, defensive coordinators, special teams coordinators and position coaches throughout the offseason.
Some coaching changes could be announced before training camp, while others may happen much earlier.
There are also expected to be CFL field changes heading into next season, meaning teams and stadium operations will have work to do during the offseason to prepare their facilities for the changes.
That is another major storyline that should not be overlooked as we move toward 2027.
The Countdown Starts Now
It may feel like the 2026 CFL season has plenty of football left to play, but the calendar moves quickly.
The playoff race will be decided. The Grey Cup champion will be crowned. Then, almost immediately, teams will begin preparing for the next season.
Free agency, the draft, rookie camps, main camps, preseason games and roster cuts will all come in a matter of months.
Before we know it, the 2027 CFL season will be here.
Stay up to date with all of the latest CFL offseason news, roster moves, coaching changes, free-agent signings and more with The Analyst Desk and Hamilton Sports Central.
Because, as we always say at The Analyst Desk:
Every day is Game Day.
