NFL confirms return to Madrid's Bernabéu in 2026 multi-year deal
The NFL has signed a multi-year agreement to bring American football back to the Santiago Bernabéu after last season's successful debut at the Madrid venue.
American football is heading back to the Spanish capital after last season’s sellout success, with the NFL confirming a multi-year agreement to stage regular season games at the Santiago Bernabéu starting in 2026.
Madrid love affair continues
After the roaring success of last November’s clash between Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders, which saw 78,610 fans pack into the Bernabéu, the NFL has wasted no time in securing a return to what Commissioner Roger Goodell described as “perhaps the best stadium in the world”.
The league has struck a multi-year partnership with Madrid City Council, the Community of Madrid and Real Madrid, ensuring American football will become a regular fixture in the Spanish sporting calendar.
Rafa De Los Santos, NFL Director in Spain, revealed on Radio MARCA: “Next year we’ll have NFL at the Santiago Bernabéu again. We’ll very likely repeat in 2027.”
Teams and dates still under wraps
Fans eager to know which franchises will feature in the 2026 Madrid game will need to exercise some patience. The participating teams and exact date remain under wraps for now, with announcements expected during spring when the NFL finalises its calendar.
De Los Santos explained the significance of Madrid securing one of the NFL’s limited international fixtures, calling it “a tremendously important milestone, not just for Madrid but for all of Spain”.
Spain’s growing NFL market
The timing of the announcement is no coincidence, coming during Super Bowl week. Spain has become an increasingly important market for the NFL, boasting around 11 million fans according to league figures.
The country’s NFL connection is set to deepen further through:
- Expansion of NFL Flag programs (non-contact version) in schools across Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza
- Collaboration with the Spanish American Football Federation (FEFA)
- Continued marketing rights for Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins in Spain
Real Madrid’s sporting vision
Real Madrid’s Director of Institutional Relations, Emilio Butragueño, expressed pride in the partnership, highlighting how the transformed Bernabéu is helping unite “millions of fans across all continents” through different sports.
The renovated stadium’s flexibility continues to pay dividends for the club, with American football now joining the venue’s growing portfolio of non-football events - proper job for the Madridistas, that.