The New England Patriots’ first preseason game on their latest released schedule is on Friday, August 8, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET vs. the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium.

Because the NFL has not yet released the detailed 2026 preseason slate, the next confirmed “first preseason game” on record for the Patriots is that August 8, 2025 matchup.

Quick Scoop: When is Patriots first preseason game?

Confirmed upcoming date

  • Date: August 8, 2025
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Opponent: Washington Commanders
  • Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
  • Type: Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.

Fans on forums are already referring to this Washington matchup as the first look at the new‑look Patriots in the 2025 preseason.

Context and latest news

  • The 2026 preseason framework (Hall of Fame Game July 30, preseason Week 1 around August 6) is set at league level, but individual team preseason schedules, including the Patriots’, are still “coming this spring.”
  • Ticket and schedule sites note that the 2026 regular season starts the weekend of September 8, with preseason games leading up to that, but they don’t list exact Patriots preseason opponents or dates yet.

So if you’re planning ahead right now , the most concrete “first preseason game” you can circle is still that August 8, 2025 home game vs. Washington.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.