2026 NFL Rio Game Travel Packages: Tickets, Hotels & Flights

The NFL Rio 2026 matchup is the first regular-season NFL event ever played in Brazil's most iconic city. The Dallas Cowboys have been confirmed as a participating team for the 2026 NFL Rio event, announced by the league on February 5, 2026 as part of a record nine international matchups for the 2026 season. The 2026 NFL Rio event will be played at the iconic Maracanã Stadium, the largest stadium in Brazil. For fans planning a Brazil travel trip this fall, the 2026 NFL Rio event is one of the most historically significant sporting events of the year, and demand for 2026 NFL Rio travel packages is already building.

Brazil travel packages and Rio NFL travel packages for the NFL Rio 2026 event are some of the trips Elite Sports Tours sees the most early interest in on the international calendar. The reason is the timing gap. The league announced the Dallas Cowboys as a participating team on February 5, 2026. The opponent for the Dallas Cowboys Rio matchup, the exact date, and the kickoff time will not be confirmed until the full 2026 schedule is released between Tuesday May 12 and Thursday May 14. General-public NFL Rio tickets will follow the schedule release. Hotels in Rio de Janeiro for any potential weekend are already moving in price, and flights from North America to Brazil for the early-fall window are doing the same. Fans who lock in 2026 NFL Rio travel packages early through Elite Sports Tours, where tickets, hotel, and flights are bundled into one booking, secure the trip before the rest of the market is competing for the same Brazil inventory.

The NFL Rio Game 2026: What's Confirmed and What's Coming

Here's what's known about the NFL Rio 2026 event as of late April 2026. The league announced the 2026 NFL Rio event and the Dallas Cowboys as a participating team on February 5, 2026. The event will be played at Maracanã Stadium, the largest stadium in Brazil. The Dallas Cowboys opponent has not been officially confirmed by the league or by the team. The exact date of the event has not been officially confirmed. Brazil General Manager Luis Martinez said welcoming the Dallas Cowboys to Brazil for the first NFL event in the city is a powerful milestone in the continued growth of the sport worldwide. Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones cited the team's existing fanbase in Brazil as part of the reason for embracing the trip.

The opponent, date, and kickoff time will be announced when the full 2026 schedule is released. That schedule release is set for the week of May 12 to May 14, 2026. Brazil events have historically been scheduled for the first Friday of September (the 2024 Packers–Eagles matchup and the 2025 Chiefs–Chargers matchup were both played on the first Friday of September at Neo Química Arena). The exact 2026 NFL Rio date will be confirmed at the schedule release. General-public NFL Rio tickets will follow the schedule release. Public ticket sale timing will be announced by the league.

That gap between the Dallas Cowboys team announcement in February and the public NFL Rio tickets sale window is exactly where Elite Sports Tours comes in. The platform secures NFL Rio tickets inventory through official allocation channels, and bundles tickets with central hotel options and flights from major North American departure cities into a single Brazil travel booking. Fans who book Rio NFL travel packages in April or May get tickets locked in before the public sale opens, plus better combined pricing on hotel and flights before local inventory tightens over the summer. 2026 NFL Rio travel packages are one of the few ways to fully commit to the trip before the league has even confirmed the Dallas Cowboys opponent.

Maracanã Stadium NFL Event: What to Know

The Maracanã Stadium NFL event is the first NFL event ever played at the Maracanã. The Maracanã is the largest stadium in Brazil and one of the most iconic football venues in the world, having hosted the 1950 FIFA World Cup Final, the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final, and the 2016 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony and closing ceremonies. The Maracanã is the home of multiple Brazilian football clubs, including Flamengo and Fluminense, and has long been considered a global temple of football. The 2026 NFL Rio event at the Maracanã continues the venue's tradition of hosting historic global sporting events.

The Maracanã is located in the north zone of Rio de Janeiro, accessible from the south-zone tourist neighborhoods (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Botafogo, Flamengo) by Metro Line 2 (Maracanã station directly outside the stadium), or by SuperVia commuter rail. Most fans staying in the south zone reach the Maracanã in 25 to 40 minutes door to door on the Metro. The exact configuration capacity for the upcoming Maracanã Stadium NFL event will be confirmed closer to the event, but the venue's historic capacity, combined with international demand for the first Brazil regular-season matchup outside São Paulo, has the event positioned to be one of the most-attended sporting events in Brazil in 2026.

Dallas Cowboys Rio Game: A Return to International Play

The 2026 Dallas Cowboys Rio matchup is the franchise's third regular-season international appearance and the first in more than ten years. The Dallas Cowboys previously played at Wembley Stadium on November 9, 2014 (a 31–17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars). The 2026 Dallas Cowboys Rio event marks the team's first international appearance since 2014 and the first Dallas Cowboys trip to Brazil. The Dallas Cowboys are widely regarded as the most valuable franchise in pro football and one of the most globally recognized brands in sports, which positions the 2026 NFL Rio event as one of the most globally watched fixtures of the season.

For the Dallas Cowboys, the Brazil trip ties into a broader connection. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones cited the team's existing fanbase in Brazil and his own business presence in the country as part of the rationale for embracing the trip. Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, a former soccer player, has spoken about Maracanã Stadium as a soccer mecca and the personal significance of playing there. The Dallas Cowboys opponent for the Rio matchup will be confirmed at the May schedule release, and that opponent will be drawn from the eight Dallas Cowboys scheduled home opponents on the 2026 schedule.

NFL Brazil Game 2026: A Multi-Year Commitment

The NFL Brazil 2026 event is the third regular-season NFL appearance ever played in Brazil and the first played outside São Paulo. The first NFL Brazil event was the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles vs Green Bay Packers matchup at Neo Química Arena. The second NFL Brazil event was the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers matchup, also at the same venue. The 2026 NFL Brazil event marks the league's first move into a second Brazilian city and confirms a multi-year commitment to the country, with at least three regular-season Brazil events scheduled over the next five years.

The growth of the league in Brazil has been one of its fastest international expansion stories. Brazil is home to more than 36 million NFL fans, making it one of the league's largest global markets. NFL Flag, the league's youth development initiative, now engages thousands of young players across Brazil. Commissioner Roger Goodell has cited the success of the prior São Paulo matchups as the foundation for expanding into a new Brazilian host city and strengthening the league’s presence in South America. Beyond the 2026 NFL Brazil event, the multi-year commitment means fans planning Rio NFL travel packages can expect Brazil to remain a consistent part of the international calendar for the next several seasons.

NFL Rio Tickets: When and How to Buy

NFL Rio tickets for the 2026 NFL Rio event will go through a phased sale process. Detailed ticket sale logistics, including official sale dates and the platform handling sales, will be announced after the 2026 schedule release in mid-May. Dallas Cowboys season ticket holders are also expected to receive priority access to NFL Rio tickets, with details to be confirmed by the team. The general-public NFL Rio tickets sale through standard channels will follow the schedule release in mid-May 2026, with timing and platform details to be announced by the NFL.

For most out-of-town fans flying into Rio de Janeiro, the public NFL Rio tickets sale window is not the most effective planning approach. By the time NFL Rio tickets reach general sale, hotel availability in the city for the relevant weekend is already tightening, and flight pricing into Galeão International Airport from North America is moving up. The reason fans secure Rio NFL travel packages through Elite Sports Tours is that the platform sources NFL Rio tickets inventory through allocation channels in advance, then bundles tickets with hotel and flights into a single booking. The full Brazil trip is confirmed before the public NFL Rio tickets sale opens.

Hotels: Where to Stay for the 2026 Game

A hotel for the 2026 NFL Rio event depends on which neighborhood fans want to base out of for the rest of the Brazil trip. The city is built around its famous south-zone beach neighborhoods, where the vast majority of international visitors stay. The most popular hotel areas for the 2026 NFL Rio event are Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Botafogo, and Flamengo. Each of these south-zone hotel neighborhoods offers a different mix of beach access, restaurants, and nightlife. From any of these areas, fans can reach Maracanã Stadium in 25 to 40 minutes by Metro Line 1 transferring to Line 2 at Estácio station, or by taxi or rideshare in similar time depending on traffic.

For fans prioritizing transit access to the Maracanã, a hotel in Copacabana or Ipanema offers the best combination of Metro access (Line 1 connects directly via a single transfer), beach access, and the south-zone restaurant scene. A hotel in Leblon offers a similar Metro path with a more upscale dining and beach atmosphere. The Elite Sports Tours bundled approach is built around this. The platform pairs the right hotel with NFL Rio tickets and flights in a single booking, and Rio NFL travel packages include that hotel selection as part of the trip plan. Fans do not need to research Metro lines and hotel locations separately.

Why Brazil NFL Travel Packages Sell Out Early

A hotel for the 2026 NFL Rio event depends on which neighborhood fans want to base out of for the rest of the Brazil trip. The city is built around its famous south-zone beach neighborhoods, where the vast majority of international visitors stay. The most popular hotel areas for the 2026 NFL Rio event are Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Botafogo, and Flamengo. Each of these south-zone hotel neighborhoods offers a different mix of beach access, restaurants, and nightlife. From any of these areas, fans can reach Maracanã Stadium in 25 to 40 minutes by Metro Line 1 transferring to Line 2 at Estácio station, or by taxi or rideshare in similar time depending on traffic.

For fans prioritizing transit access to the Maracanã, a hotel in Copacabana or Ipanema offers the best combination of Metro access (Line 1 connects directly via a single transfer), beach access, and the south-zone restaurant scene. A hotel in Leblon offers a similar Metro path with a more upscale dining and beach atmosphere. The Elite Sports Tours bundled approach is built around this. The platform pairs the right hotel with NFL Rio tickets and flights in a single booking, and Rio NFL travel packages include that hotel selection as part of the trip plan. Fans do not need to research Metro lines and hotel locations separately

Plan Your 2026 NFL Rio Trip with Elite Sports Tours

‍Once fans decide to attend the 2026 NFL Rio game, the next step is making sure the rest of the trip is built around that decision. The difference between a smooth international weekend and a stressful one usually comes down to where the hotel is located relative to Rio’s south-zone neighborhoods, how transportation to Maracanã Stadium is handled, and whether tickets, flights, and accommodations were planned together or booked separately over time.

For fans traveling from North America, this is where booking through Elite Sports Tours becomes the most efficient approach rather than a premium add-on. When tickets, a centrally located hotel in areas like Copacabana or Ipanema, and flight options are structured together from the start, the trip is aligned around the game before pricing moves and availability tightens. Instead of trying to piece together logistics after securing tickets, everything is coordinated in advance with the right balance between stadium access and time to experience Rio.

Fans looking to plan the trip this way can explore NFL International Game Travel Packages, where tickets, hotel, and flight options are bundled into a single booking built specifically around the 2026 NFL Rio game.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 NFL Rio event?

The exact date has not been officially confirmed by the league or the Dallas Cowboys. The date will be confirmed when the full 2026 NFL schedule is released between Tuesday May 12 and Thursday May 14, 2026. Brazil events have historically been played on the first Friday of September, including recent matchups in São Paulo. The exact 2026 NFL Rio date will be confirmed at the May schedule release.

Who are the Dallas Cowboys playing in Rio in 2026?

The Dallas Cowboys opponent for the 2026 NFL Rio event has not been officially confirmed. The league announced the Dallas Cowboys as a participating team on February 5, 2026, but has not yet confirmed the opposing team. The opponent will be finalized when the full 2026 schedule is released in mid-May 2026 and will be drawn from the Cowboys’ scheduled home opponents.

Where is the 2026 NFL Rio event being played?

The event will be played at Maracanã Stadium in Brazil. The Maracanã is the largest stadium in Brazil and one of the most iconic football venues in the world, having hosted multiple global events including FIFA World Cup finals and the Olympic ceremonies. This marks the first NFL event ever held at the Maracanã and the first regular-season appearance outside São Paulo.

How do I get NFL Rio tickets for 2026?

NFL Rio tickets will follow a phased release after the May 2026 schedule announcement. Dallas Cowboys season ticket holders are expected to receive priority access. General-public NFL Rio tickets will be released shortly after through standard league channels. For fans planning ahead, Rio NFL travel packages through Elite Sports Tours secure tickets through allocation channels and bundle them with hotel and flights into a single booking.

How much do NFL Rio tickets cost for 2026?

NFL Rio tickets pricing has not yet been publicly announced and will be confirmed after the May 2026 schedule release. Pricing will vary by seating tier at the Maracanã, with premium lower-bowl and club sections at the top end, and upper-bowl seating at more accessible levels. The most direct way to secure pricing is through 2026 NFL Rio travel packages that bundle tickets, hotel, and flights into one total.

What is the best hotel area for the 2026 NFL Rio event?

The best hotel areas are in the south-zone beach neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Botafogo, and Flamengo. These areas offer the strongest combination of beach access, restaurants, nightlife, and Metro connectivity to the Maracanã. Rio NFL travel packages typically include a centrally located hotel in one of these neighborhoods for ease of access and overall trip planning.

How do I get from Copacabana or Ipanema to the Maracanã?

The Maracanã is located in the north zone of Rio de Janeiro. From Copacabana, Ipanema, or Leblon, fans can take Metro Line 1 to Estácio station, then transfer to Line 2 to Maracanã station, which is directly outside the stadium. Most trips take 25 to 40 minutes door to door. Taxi and rideshare options offer similar travel times depending on traffic conditions.

Why book a 2026 NFL Rio travel package instead of booking separately?

The three main challenges are timing, NFL Rio tickets access, and coordination. Hotels in Brazil and flights from North America begin tightening as soon as the Dallas Cowboys announcement is made, while NFL Rio tickets are not released to the public until later. By the time tickets reach general sale, the best hotel inventory and flight pricing are often gone. Booking a travel package secures tickets early, pairs them with the right hotel and flights, and locks in the full Brazil trip in one transaction.

Do I need a visa to attend the 2026 NFL Rio event?

Brazil’s visa requirements for North American passport holders are subject to change. As of April 2026, US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders require an electronic visa (e-visa) for tourism entry. Travelers should confirm requirements directly with official sources before departure, as entry rules and processing timelines may change.

Have the Dallas Cowboys played international events before?

Yes, but not frequently in recent years. The 2026 NFL Rio event will be the Dallas Cowboys’ third regular-season international appearance. The team last played internationally at Wembley Stadium in London in 2014. The 2026 Brazil event marks their first international appearance in over a decade and their first in Brazil.

Explore Other 2026 NFL International Series Destinations

Fans planning around the 2026 NFL International Series often compare multiple cities before locking in a trip, since each destination offers a completely different experience tied to stadium location, surrounding neighborhoods, and overall travel appeal. From first-time host cities to established international markets, exploring each option helps determine which trip aligns best with how you want to structure your weekend around the game.

• 2026 NFL Melbourne Game Travel Packages – A long-haul destination built around a historic first NFL game in Australia, with a full weekend anchored by the scale and atmosphere of the MCG.
• 2026 NFL Madrid Game Travel Packages – A premium European trip combining the NFL's expansion into Spain with a stadium setting in the heart of one of Europe's most walkable and vibrant cities.
• 2026 NFL Paris Game Travel Packages – A first-time NFL destination where the game becomes part of a broader Paris itinerary built around central neighborhoods, dining, and landmark attractions.
• 2026 NFL London Games Travel Packages – The most established international NFL market, offering multiple games, multiple stadiums, and the flexibility to build a full football-focused weekend.
• 2026 NFL Mexico City Game Travel Packages – A high-energy atmosphere at Estadio Azteca paired with centrally located hotel options in neighborhoods like Polanco and Reforma.
• 2026 NFL Munich Game Travel Packages – One of the strongest European NFL atmospheres, with efficient transit and a compact city layout that makes game-day logistics straightforward.
• 2026 NFL Rio Game Travel Packages – A landmark South American debut, combining the NFL with Rio's beach neighborhoods and a game experience at Maracanã Stadium.

Editorial Note & Travel Expertise

Elite Sports Tours has been planning international sports travel for fans for years, and the 2026 NFL Rio event stands out as one of the most compelling travel opportunities of the 2026 season. It marks the first regular-season NFL appearance ever played in the city, the return of the Dallas Cowboys to international play for the first time in more than a decade, and the first Dallas Cowboys appearance in Brazil. It also marks the first time Maracanã Stadium will host the NFL in its storied history.

For fans who have been waiting for the right moment to plan a Brazil trip that combines live NFL action with a true destination weekend in one of the world’s great cities, this is that opportunity. The Brazil travel specialists at Elite Sports Tours can help put together the right combination of NFL Rio tickets, hotel options, and flights, with Rio NFL travel packages designed to bring the full trip together in one booking.

Travel Information Disclaimer

The information in this guide reflects the 2026 NFL Rio event as announced by the NFL on February 5, 2026, including the confirmed participating team (Dallas Cowboys), the confirmed venue (Maracanã Stadium), and the schedule release window of May 12 to 14, 2026. The Dallas Cowboys opponent, exact event date, kickoff time, NFL Rio tickets pricing, hotel rates, and flight availability remain subject to confirmation and may change as the 2026 season approaches.

Fans should confirm current details with Elite Sports Tours before finalizing any Brazil trip. Brazil e-visa, visa, and entry requirements are also subject to change and should be verified directly with official government sources before travel. Bundled 2026 NFL Rio travel packages availability through Elite Sports Tours reflects the most current information at the time of booking.

Updated April 2026