James Brooks Ring of Honor, White Stripe Debut & Crucial Catch Part of the List of Cincinnati Bengals Game Themes 2026!
Welcome to the Bengals’ official 2026 promotional schedule reveal! The NFL franchise is aiming to break its 4-year playoff drought dating back to 2022. In fact, the team wants to win a postseason game for the first time since the 2022 Divisional Round. But before those playoff talks begin, Cincinnati has officially announced its 2026 game themes schedule that focuses on fan favorite events and in-game entertainment. New themes this season include the James Brooks & Bob Trumpy Ring of Honor Ceremony, Orange Opener, and White Stripe Mania.
Paycor Stadium will begin the 2026 home schedule with two preseason matchups against the Lions (Aug. 13) and Bears (Aug. 22). The promo slate will begin in September with the Orange Takeover on Sept. 13 vs. Buccaneers. Next, the sole October home matchup will focus on cancer screening awareness via Crucial Catch (Oct. 4). The Bengals will play a total of two games at Paycor Stadium from September until a very busy November.
Speaking of November, Cincinnati will host three fan-favorite events: Ring of Honor (Nov. 1), White Bengal Showdown (Nov. 15), and My Cause, My Cleats (Nov. 29). RB James Brooks and TE Bob Trumpy will join the other Bengals ROH inductees such as Boomer Esiason, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Dave Lapham, and more. The team has two game themes in store for December: Stripe the Jungle with Orange & Black (Dec. 13) and the new White Stripe (Dec. 31). Finally, the Bengals will finish the regular season home schedule in January with the Fan Appreciation Matinee (Jan. 10).
For complete information in terms of each game’s kick-off times and opponents, please refer to the list below!
Cincinnati Bengals Promotional Schedule 2026 by Month
August 2026
Preseason #1
- The Who Dey squad plans to open 2026 play against one of the top rosters in the NFC Conference.
- Date: Thursday, August 13
- Kick-Off: 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time
- Opponent: Detroit Lions
Preseason #2
- The preseason finale will see the hometown team face-off against the defending NFC North Division champions.
- Date: Saturday, August 22
- Kick-Off: 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time
- Opponent: Chicago Bears
September 2026
Home Opener & Orange Takeover
- Paycor Stadium will host a special pregame ceremony for the 2026 Cincinnati Bengals roster.
- All fans are encouraged to wear their orange jerseys and other clothing as part of Open in Orange.
- Date: Sunday, September 13
- Kick-Off: 1:00 P.M. Eastern Time
- Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
October 2026
Crucial Catch Matinee
- The NFL club wants to showcase the importance of fighting cancer and screening awareness via Crucial Catch.
- In a special halftime ceremony, cancer survivors will be invited onto the field to honor their bravery and battle though life-threatening illnesses.
- Date: Sunday, October 4
- Kick-Off: 1:00 P.M. Eastern Time
- Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
November 2026
Bengals Ring of Honor
- Cincinnati will induct two new members into the team’s Ring of Honor: 2-Time Pro-Bowl TE Bob Trumpy (1968-1977) and 4-Time Pro-Bowl RB James Brooks (1984-1991). Trumpy will receive the honor posthumously since he passed away last November.
- Date: Sunday, November 1
- Kick-Off: 1:00 P.M. Eastern Time
- Opponent: Tennessee Titans
White Bengal Showdown
- All fans are encouraged to wear white t-shirts and other apparel as the players don their all-white uniforms.
- Date: Sunday, November 15
- Kick-Off: 1:00 P.M. Eastern Time
- Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
My Cause, My Cleats
- The football players from both teams are going to wear exclusive cleats that show their non-profit charities. Examples include the Joe Burrow Foundation (QB Joe Burrow), Shows 4 the Shoeless (K Evan McPherson), Breakthrough T1D (OT Orlando Brown Jr.), and more.
- Date: Sunday, November 29
- Kick-Off: 1:00 P.M. Eastern Time
- Opponent: New Orleans Saints
December 2026
Stripe the Jungle
- Certain seating sections inside Paycor Stadium will alternate between orange and black, making the “stripe” illusion on game day.
- All ticket holders should wear either orange or black jerseys and pants as part of the annual event. For information on what color to wear for your seats, please refer to this link here.
- Date: Sunday, December 13
- Kick-Off: 4:25 P.M. Eastern Time
- Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
White Stripe Battle & New Year’s Eve
- New for 2026, the Bengals are creating a sequel for the “Stripe the Jungle” theme. Instead of orange and black, Paycor Stadium will have seating sections for white and black.
- Depending on their assigned seats, fans can wear either white or black clothes to fit the White Stripe illusion. For details of which seating sections are white or black, please check out this link here.
- Date: Thursday, December 31
- Kick-Off: 8:15 P.M. Eastern Time
- Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
January 2027
Fan Appreciation
- This home finale plans to recognize the new and longtime members of the Who Dey Nation.
- Date: Sunday, January 10
- Kick-Off: 1:00 P.M. Eastern Time
- Opponent: Cleveland Browns
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