The Packers vs Bears rivalry is one of the most recognizable matchups in professional football. It brings together two historic NFC North franchises, passionate fan bases, and a tradition that stretches back more than a century. Every meeting carries extra meaning, whether the teams are fighting for the division, trying to improve their playoff position, or simply looking to claim bragging rights.
The 2026 NFL season gives fans two opportunities to watch this classic rivalry. The first meeting is scheduled for October 11 at Lambeau Field, while the second comes on Christmas Day at Soldier Field. The holiday matchup is particularly notable because it gives the rivalry a national standalone stage.
With both organizations looking toward the future, the 2026 meetings could become important moments in the NFC North race. Here is what makes Packers vs Bears so compelling and what fans should know about the upcoming games.
Packers vs Bears: One of Football’s Oldest Rivalries
Packers vs Bears: The history behind Packers vs Bears is difficult to match. The two franchises have been competing against each other for generations, making their rivalry much more than an ordinary divisional matchup. Players, coaches, and quarterbacks have changed repeatedly, but the intensity surrounding the games has remained.
Green Bay enters 2026 with a remarkable overall advantage in the series. The Packers have recorded 109 victories against Chicago in regular-season and playoff competition, the most wins one NFL team has recorded against another. Green Bay has also dominated the matchup in recent years, winning 12 of the last 14 meetings according to the Packers’ official schedule announcement.
That recent dominance, however, does not make the rivalry predictable. Chicago has its own proud history and a fan base that expects the Bears to compete whenever these teams meet. Rivalry games can also produce unexpected results because familiarity works both ways: each coaching staff knows the opponent well, and players understand the importance of executing in critical situations.
The 2025 season demonstrated that point. The teams met multiple times, including a playoff matchup, giving the rivalry an unusually prominent role in the NFC postseason picture. NFL.com noted that the playoff meeting marked the 213th game between the franchises, highlighting just how extensive this series has become.
The Two 2026 Matchups
Packers vs Bears: The first Packers vs Bears game of the 2026 regular season is scheduled for Sunday, October 11, at Lambeau Field. The game is set for 3:25 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally on FOX. Chicago will travel to Green Bay for the first chapter of the regular-season rivalry.
Playing at Lambeau Field gives Green Bay an important home-field advantage. The Packers have been particularly successful against Chicago in Green Bay, winning nine of the last 10 meetings there and 15 of the last 18. The Packers have also outscored the Bears 500-289 across the last 18 home games in the series.
The second meeting is even more unusual. Green Bay will travel to Chicago on Friday, December 25, for a Christmas Day game at Soldier Field. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT, with the game airing on Netflix. It will be the first Christmas meeting between the Packers and Bears at Soldier Field.
The Christmas game should provide a memorable atmosphere. Soldier Field is one of the most historic venues in the NFL, and combining the stadium’s tradition with a Packers-Bears matchup gives the game plenty of significance. It will also arrive late in the season, when every division game can have major consequences.
Why the 2026 Rivalry Could Be Important
The NFC North is traditionally one of football’s most competitive divisions, and divisional games can have an outsized impact on the standings. Because the Packers and Bears meet twice, the results could influence playoff positioning as well as the division race.
Green Bay’s 2026 schedule includes several difficult opponents. The Packers will face the NFC North rivals twice while also playing teams from the NFC South and AFC East. Their schedule includes games against clubs such as the Cowboys, Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, Rams, and Texans. The Packers are scheduled for nine home games and eight road games, with six games initially designated for prime-time windows.
Chicago also has a challenging schedule. The Bears will face their NFC North opponents twice and have games against teams including the Eagles, Jets, Falcons, Patriots, Seahawks, Bills, and Dolphins. Chicago is scheduled for five prime-time games plus two standalone games, giving the team several nationally visible opportunities during the season.
That makes the two Packers vs Bears games especially valuable. A win could provide more than a single mark in the standings. It could help determine tiebreakers, confidence, and momentum as the season develops.
Quarterback Play Could Shape the Games
As with most NFL matchups, quarterback performance will likely be one of the biggest factors. Green Bay’s Jordan Love enters another season as the centerpiece of the Packers’ offense, while Chicago’s Caleb Williams continues to develop as the Bears’ franchise quarterback.
Williams had an important individual milestone during the 2025 season, breaking the Bears’ single-season franchise passing record previously held by Erik Kramer. Chicago will hope that continued development translates into stronger offensive performances in 2026.
Love, meanwhile, has already experienced considerable success against Chicago. Packers coach Matt LaFleur has built an impressive record in the rivalry, and Green Bay’s offensive consistency has been a major reason for its recent advantage.
Still, individual quarterback numbers do not tell the whole story. Protection, running-game efficiency, turnovers, defensive pressure, and third-down execution can all determine the outcome. In a rivalry game, one mistake can change the entire direction of a contest.
What Makes the Rivalry So Special
Packers vs Bears stands apart because of its combination of history and geography. Green Bay and Chicago are relatively close compared with many NFL rivalries, and both teams have been part of the league’s story for generations.
The rivalry has also survived numerous changes in the sport. Offensive systems have evolved, rules have changed, stadiums have changed, and generations of players have come and gone. Yet the basic competition remains the same: Green Bay wants to beat Chicago, and Chicago wants to beat Green Bay.
That continuity gives the games an emotional quality that is difficult to manufacture. Fans often grow up watching the rivalry with family members, creating traditions that continue from one generation to the next. A Packers-Bears game can matter even when neither team is having its best season.
The history is also reflected in the numbers. Green Bay’s official 2026 schedule information notes that the Packers have won 26 of the last 33 meetings against Chicago at Soldier Field, including 14 of the last 17. At the same time, several recent games in Chicago have been close, with 11 of the last 15 decided by single digits.
That combination is important. Green Bay has enjoyed considerable success, but playing in Chicago remains a different challenge, especially when the game arrives late in the season.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Showdowns
The October matchup at Lambeau Field will provide the first major test between the teams. It comes during Week 5, meaning both clubs should still be establishing their identities. A strong start could give either team an early advantage in the NFC North.
The Christmas Day matchup could have even greater importance. By Week 16, the playoff picture should be much clearer, and divisional games often become increasingly valuable as the postseason approaches.
For Chicago, beating Green Bay at Soldier Field on Christmas would be an opportunity to create a memorable moment for its fans. For Green Bay, winning on the road against its oldest rival would reinforce its recent control of the series.
And because the two games are separated by more than two months, fans will have plenty of time to watch how each team develops before the second meeting.
Final Thoughts on Packers vs Bears
The Packers vs Bears rivalry remains one of the defining matchups in the NFL. Its appeal comes from decades of history, passionate supporters, iconic stadiums, and the competitive importance of NFC North football.
The 2026 season adds another interesting chapter with two very different meetings: an October afternoon at Lambeau Field and a Christmas Day showdown at Soldier Field. Green Bay enters the season with a strong recent record against Chicago, but the Bears have an opportunity to change the direction of the rivalry.
Ultimately, that uncertainty is what makes this matchup so entertaining. Records and statistics provide context, but rivalry games are decided on the field. With two meetings scheduled in 2026, Packers and Bears fans have plenty to look forward to as these historic franchises prepare to write another chapter in their long-running story.
