NFLUpdated Jun 14, 2026
How to Watch the NFL 2026 Season in Germany
Every way to watch the 2026 NFL season in Germany — RTL and NITRO show games free-to-air every week, RTL+ streams an extra game, and DAZN is the home of NFL Game Pass with every game. Real prices in EUR and the cheapest plan.
By Matchcast Editorial · Published
Broadcasters
4
Free options
Yes
Coverage
Global
The short answer
To watch the NFL in Germany in 2026: RTL and NITRO are the exclusive free-to-air home of the NFL and show games free every game-day — typically up to three games per week, plus the season opener, the playoffs and the Super Bowl, all at no cost. RTL+ streams an additional game each week. For every single game, DAZN is the German home of NFL Game Pass, included with a DAZN subscription. So Germany is one of the better NFL markets for free coverage: the marquee games are free on RTL, and DAZN covers everything else.
RTL and NITRO: free-to-air NFL every week
RTL and its sister channel NITRO are the exclusive free-TV home of the NFL in Germany for the 2026 season. Each game-day, RTL broadcasts NFL games free-to-air — typically up to three games per week across the main RTL channel and NITRO — at no cost to anyone with a TV or the free RTL stream. RTL also carries the marquee events: the season opener, the playoff games and the Super Bowl, all free.
This makes Germany one of the strongest free NFL markets in Europe. A German fan who only wants the headline games — a Sunday national game, the playoffs, the Super Bowl — can follow the entire 2026 NFL season for €0 on free television. RTL's German-language studio coverage, with its established NFL presentation team, runs the pre-game, in-game and post-game analysis around the live games.
The free RTL and NITRO coverage is available anywhere in Germany via the standard free-TV platforms and the free RTL streaming option, requiring only a free registration on the streaming side.
RTL+: the extra streamed game
RTL+ — RTL's streaming service — carries an additional NFL game each week beyond the free-to-air RTL and NITRO broadcasts, and also provides the live streams of the RTL and NITRO channels for fans who prefer to watch on a phone, tablet or smart TV rather than on a television set.
For a fan who wants a little more than the free-to-air slate but does not need every single game, RTL+ adds that extra weekly game plus the convenience of streaming the free RTL/NITRO games on mobile devices. RTL+ is sold as a monthly streaming subscription with tiers that include the live-sport content.
The combination of free RTL/NITRO games plus the RTL+ extra game covers a substantial portion of the week's NFL action without needing the all-games DAZN route — a good middle option for the moderately committed German NFL fan.
DAZN and NFL Game Pass: every game
For the fan who wants every NFL game — not just the free RTL slate — DAZN is the German home of NFL Game Pass. NFL Game Pass on DAZN provides full access to all NFL games, and on game-days DAZN runs the dedicated German NFL coverage including the Sunday afternoon programming. A DAZN subscription is how a German fan follows a specific out-of-market team week to week, or watches the full Sunday slate rather than only the games RTL selects.
DAZN in Germany is sold on monthly and annual plans across its tiers, with NFL Game Pass content carried within the DAZN service. The exact tier that includes NFL Game Pass and its monthly price should be checked on DAZN's German site at sign-up, as DAZN periodically revises its German tier structure and pricing.
For a German NFL fan, the decision is straightforward: RTL/NITRO (free) for the marquee games, RTL+ for one extra game a week, and DAZN/NFL Game Pass when you want every game and full out-of-market access.
Is the NFL free to watch in Germany?
Yes, to a meaningful extent — more so than in most countries. RTL and NITRO show NFL games free-to-air every game-day during the 2026 season, typically up to three games per week, plus the season opener, the playoffs and the Super Bowl. A German fan happy with the headline games can follow the whole season for €0.
What is not free is comprehensive, every-game access. The full Sunday slate, out-of-market games and following a specific team week to week require DAZN/NFL Game Pass. RTL+ sits in between, adding one extra streamed game a week for a modest streaming subscription.
The German NFL market's free-TV strength is unusual: the Super Bowl and playoffs being free-to-air on RTL is a genuine advantage over markets like the UK, where the marquee games sit behind a paywall. For most casual German NFL fans, RTL covers the season at no cost.
Cost summary and the German NFL kickoff times
The free route: RTL and NITRO carry up to three games a week plus the season opener, playoffs and Super Bowl, free-to-air, for €0. This covers the marquee NFL season for a casual fan at no cost.
The middle route: add RTL+ for an extra streamed game each week and mobile streaming of the free channels, for a modest monthly streaming subscription.
The comprehensive route: DAZN/NFL Game Pass for every game and full out-of-market access — the choice for a fan following a specific team or wanting the full Sunday slate; check DAZN's German site for the current tier and price.
On timing, the NFL's US kickoff windows translate to evening and night slots in Germany (CET): the 1:00 p.m. ET Sunday early window = 7:00 p.m. CET, the 4:25 p.m. ET window = 10:25 p.m. CET, and Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET = 2:20 a.m. CET Monday. The Sunday early window in particular is a civil evening slot, which has helped build Germany's substantial and growing NFL audience — reinforced by the regular NFL games played in Germany.
NFL Broadcasters
- VisitRTLFreeRTLNITRO
Exclusive free-to-air NFL home in Germany for 2026 — RTL and NITRO show up to three games per week free, plus the season opener, the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Available free across Germany via standard free-TV and the free RTL stream. Germany's marquee NFL games are free.
- VisitRTL+Streaming
RTL's streaming service — carries one additional NFL game each week beyond the free RTL/NITRO slate, plus live streams of the RTL and NITRO channels for mobile and smart-TV viewing. A streaming subscription with live-sport tiers.
- VisitDAZNStreaming
The German home of NFL Game Pass — full access to every NFL game, with dedicated German Sunday NFL coverage on game-days. The route to the full Sunday slate, out-of-market games and following a specific team. Check DAZN's German site for the current NFL Game Pass tier and price.
- VisitNFL Game PassStreaming
The NFL's all-games product, carried in Germany via DAZN — every regular-season game, the playoffs and the Super Bowl, plus on-demand replays and the condensed-game format. Accessed through a DAZN subscription in the German market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch the NFL for free in Germany?
Yes, to a large extent. RTL and NITRO show NFL games free-to-air every game-day in 2026 — typically up to three games a week — plus the season opener, the playoffs and the Super Bowl, all free. A German fan happy with the headline games can follow the whole season for €0. Comprehensive every-game access requires DAZN/NFL Game Pass.
What channel shows the NFL in Germany?
RTL and NITRO are the exclusive free-to-air home of the NFL in Germany, showing games every week plus the playoffs and Super Bowl. RTL+ streams an extra game each week. For every game, DAZN is the German home of NFL Game Pass.
Is the Super Bowl free to watch in Germany?
Yes. RTL broadcasts the Super Bowl live and free-to-air in Germany, along with the playoff games and the season opener. This is a notable advantage of the German NFL market — the marquee games are free, unlike in several other European countries where the Super Bowl sits behind a paywall.
How do I watch every NFL game in Germany?
Through DAZN, the German home of NFL Game Pass. While RTL and NITRO show up to three free games a week and RTL+ adds one more, full access to every game — including the complete Sunday slate and out-of-market games — comes via NFL Game Pass on a DAZN subscription. Check DAZN's German site for the current tier and price.
What time do NFL games start in Germany?
US kickoff windows translate to evening and night slots in Germany (CET): the 1:00 p.m. ET Sunday early window = 7:00 p.m. CET, the 4:25 p.m. ET window = 10:25 p.m. CET, and Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET = 2:20 a.m. CET Monday. The Sunday early-evening window is a civil slot that has helped grow Germany's NFL audience.