Rider Nation, circle those calendars — the Canadian Football League has unveiled its 2026 schedule, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are staring down one of the most unique, fan-friendly slates we’ve seen in years. From matinee-heavy kickoff times to a long-awaited return to Saskatoon, the path to defending the Grey Cup just got a whole lot more exciting.
For the first time since 1991, the Green and White are packing their bags and heading north for a true Saskatchewan homecoming. The Riders will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon on Saturday, May 23 at 7 p.m. ET, marking the first CFL action in the Bridge City in 35 years.
It’s a nod to the Riders’ provincial footprint and a treat for fans who haven’t seen live CFL action in their backyard for decades.
Tickets for this game will be sold separately from season packages, with pre-sale details coming later.
The Riders begin their Grey Cup defence after a Week 1 bye, a little extra time to polish the rings, rest the legs, and let anticipation build.
A Week 2 Saturday showdown on June 13 at Mosaic Stadium against the B.C. Lions will officially launch the 2026 campaign, and if that matchup feels familiar, it should. It’s the same Lions squad the Riders beat to punch their ticket to the 112th Grey Cup before ultimately knocking off Montreal 25–17 for the franchise’s fifth championship.
The Club has promised a full-scale celebration to honour the 2025 champions, with more details to follow as the calendar turns to 2026. But one thing’s sure: Mosaic will be rocking.
Rider Nation loves its home games, and 2026 delivers the goods. Saskatchewan will host 10 regular-season home games, one more than the usual nine, as the Toronto Argonauts will play at Mosaic Stadium on June 26.
Season Ticket Members will receive all 10 regular-season home dates plus a potential home playoff game. The Saskatoon pre-season contest remains a stand-alone ticket.
The home schedule breaks down like this:
- Four Saturday games — Weeks 2, 13, 20 and 21
- Two Friday games — Weeks 10 and 18
- Two Sunday games, including the 61st Labour Day Classic on September 6
- One Thursday night tilt in Week 8
All told, the CFL has loaded 2026 with 23 regular-season games across the league, kicking off at 4 p.m. local or earlier, part of a renewed commitment to family-friendly football.
Diving further into the Riders' schedule, Saskatchewan opens the pre-season on the road in Calgary on Monday, May 18, before returning home for Training Camp and the Saskatoon game.
The 2026 slate is also kinder on the legs: only four weeks feature fewer than seven days’ rest, and the Riders get additional breathers with bye weeks in Weeks 7 and 16.
And if you’re wondering about a Grey Cup rematch, you will have to wait, as the Riders play their two games with Montreal on back-to-back weeks, October 12 and 17.
