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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET. The preseason game will be played at Paycor Stadium and is listed for the Bengals Preseason TV Network. If you are outside the Bengals’ local broadcast area, the main official live-stream option is NFL+. If you are in or near the Cincinnati market, check local listings first; an antenna may provide the game free if the local affiliate is available over the air.
You do not need NFL Sunday Ticket for this matchup. Sunday Ticket is aimed at out-of-market Sunday-afternoon regular-season games, not this Saturday preseason broadcast.
Game details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals |
| Date | Saturday, August 22, 2026 |
| Start time | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Venue | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati |
| Scheduled TV designation | Bengals Preseason TV Network |
| Main out-of-market streaming option | NFL+ |
Because this is a preseason game, it should not be treated like a typical Sunday-afternoon NFL game on a regional CBS or FOX broadcast. The NFL’s preseason viewing information specifically includes Bears-Bengals among the games available through NFL+, while noting that local blackout restrictions may apply.
What channel is Bears vs. Bengals on?
The game is scheduled for the Bengals Preseason TV Network. That is the official network designation listed in the Bengals’ schedule information.
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The Bengals have not yet published a complete, game-specific 2026 affiliate list in the official schedule materials reviewed. That means it would be premature to promise a particular station in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, or another regional market. Local preseason distribution can vary by market and by season.
Before game day, search your local listings for the Bengals Preseason TV Network or Bengals preseason coverage. Check the listings again shortly before kickoff because the final station information may be added later. If you are outside the Bengals’ regional broadcast area, the local network designation may not be available through your television provider.
How to watch Bears vs. Bengals free
Option 1: Use an antenna if a local affiliate carries the game
A digital antenna is the strongest legitimate free-TV option, but it is not a nationwide solution. It will work only if a reachable over-the-air station in your area carries the Bengals Preseason TV Network broadcast.
To try this option:
- Check local television listings for the August 22 Bengals preseason game.
- Confirm that the listed station is an over-the-air broadcast station rather than a cable-only channel.
- Connect an indoor HDTV antenna to your television or compatible tuner.
- Run the television’s channel scan or rescan function.
- Test the station before kickoff and reposition the antenna if reception is weak.
Reception depends on your distance from the transmitter, terrain, building materials, antenna placement, and the station carrying the broadcast. Viewers farther from the relevant transmitter or in areas with obstructions may need an outdoor antenna, but the correct choice cannot be confirmed without knowing the local affiliate and transmitter location.
An antenna does not create a free nationwide stream of the game. If your local station does not carry the broadcast, or if you cannot receive it, you will need another viewing method.
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Option 2: Follow free NFL coverage without the live telecast
The NFL Channel is free and provides ongoing NFL programming, real-time coverage, and game-day updates. However, it is not a substitute for the live Bears-Bengals broadcast. The NFL says the channel does not carry live NFL games.
Use the NFL Channel if you want news, analysis, scores, and updates rather than the actual game video.
How to stream Bears vs. Bengals without cable
NFL+ is the primary official streaming option
For viewers outside the Bengals’ local broadcast market, NFL+ live preseason stream access is the most direct official option. NFL preseason guidance says live out-of-market preseason games are available through NFL+, subject to location-based restrictions and blackouts.
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- Does not have cable or satellite television;
- Lives outside the Bengals’ local broadcast area;
- Wants to watch the game live rather than receive updates;
- Can use a supported device and is willing to subscribe to NFL+.
Viewers inside the Bengals’ local broadcast market may encounter a local blackout on the NFL+ stream. In that situation, the local Bengals Preseason TV Network affiliate is the first option to check.
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Supported devices
NFL’s published device information includes web browsers, the NFL app on phones and tablets, Apple TV, Android TV or Google TV, Fire TV, Roku, Xbox Series consoles, and selected smart TVs. Device availability can vary by platform, operating system, and region, so install or update the NFL app before game day rather than waiting until kickoff.
Do you need NFL+ Premium?
Not merely to watch the live out-of-market preseason stream. NFL+ Premium adds features such as RedZone and full, condensed, and All-22 replays, but the dossier’s official NFL+ information does not indicate that Premium is required for the basic live preseason access described here.
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Choose the least expensive NFL+ tier that provides the live preseason access available in your location. Confirm the current plan details and blackout rules during signup, since pricing, packaging, and availability can change before August 2026.
Is NFL Sunday Ticket needed for this game?
No. Do not purchase NFL Sunday Ticket specifically to watch Bears-Bengals.
NFL Sunday Ticket is designed for live out-of-market Sunday-afternoon regular-season games that are not shown on a subscriber’s local CBS or FOX station. The 2026 service description distinguishes that package from preseason access and indicates that access begins with the regular season.
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A YouTube TV subscription may still make sense if you want a broader live-TV package for other programming, but adding Sunday Ticket is not the targeted solution for this Saturday preseason matchup. Buying YouTube TV plus Sunday Ticket solely for Bears-Bengals would be unnecessarily expensive and could leave you with the wrong access.
Best viewing method by location
| Where you live | Best first option | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati or the surrounding Bengals broadcast market | Check the local Bengals Preseason TV Network affiliate | Local blackout rules on NFL+ and whether the affiliate is available over the air |
| Another regional market that carries the Bengals network | Check local listings and use an antenna if the station is broadcast over the air | The complete 2026 affiliate list has not yet been confirmed in the reviewed materials |
| Outside the Bengals’ local market | NFL+ | Out-of-market availability and location-based blackout restrictions |
| Only interested in updates | NFL Channel or other official NFL coverage | NFL Channel does not show the live game |
Game-day checklist
- Confirm the kickoff time in your time zone. The scheduled start is 7:00 p.m. ET.
- Check the Bengals’ current schedule information and your local TV listings for the affiliate name and channel.
- If using an antenna, rescan your television or tuner after connecting it.
- If using NFL+, sign in and update the NFL app before game day.
- Test your internet connection and streaming device before kickoff.
- Expect a possible NFL+ local blackout if you are in the Bengals’ broadcast area.
- Do not assume NFL Sunday Ticket includes this preseason game.
What has not been confirmed yet
The available official schedule materials confirm the game, time, venue, and Bengals Preseason TV Network designation. They do not yet confirm every 2026 affiliate in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, or other nearby markets. They also do not confirm whether a specific affiliate will offer a free authenticated or unauthenticated stream on its website or app.
For that reason, avoid relying on an old Bengals affiliate list or assuming that a station that carried a previous preseason game will carry this one. The most reliable approach is to check for a current 2026 announcement from the Bengals or the relevant local station as the date approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Bears vs. Bengals in 2026?
The preseason game is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET. It will be played at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
Can I watch Bears vs. Bengals free with an antenna?
Possibly, if you are in a market where a reachable over-the-air affiliate carries the Bengals Preseason TV Network broadcast. An antenna does not provide a universal nationwide feed, and the complete 2026 affiliate list has not yet been confirmed.
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Can I watch the game live on the NFL Channel?
No. The NFL Channel is free and offers NFL programming, coverage, and updates, but it does not carry live NFL games.
Will NFL+ show Bears vs. Bengals?
NFL+ is the official live-stream option for out-of-market preseason games, subject to location-based blackout restrictions. Viewers in the Bengals’ local broadcast area may need to use the local Bengals Preseason TV Network affiliate instead.
Do I need NFL Sunday Ticket for Bears vs. Bengals?
No. Sunday Ticket is intended for out-of-market Sunday-afternoon regular-season games. It is not the appropriate product for this Saturday preseason matchup.
The Bottom Line
The simplest answer: Bears-Bengals starts at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 22, 2026, and is scheduled for the Bengals Preseason TV Network. In the Bengals’ local market, check the affiliate and try an antenna if it is an over-the-air station. Outside that market, use NFL+ for the live out-of-market preseason stream, subject to blackouts. NFL Sunday Ticket is not required.
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