The NFL has confirmed that it will return to Madrid with a multi-year commitment to play International Series games at the iconic Estadio Santiago Bernabéu from 2026.

The home of Real Madrid C.F staged the league’s first-ever regular season game in the Spanish capital in 2025, and its success has now led to a partnership with the club, as well as the city of Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid to reinforce Spain’s growing role in the NFL’s international expansion strategy.

“The 2025 NFL Madrid game at the Bernabéu was a pivotal moment for the sport in Spain, and we are delighted to confirm that we will return to play a regular season game in 2026 in a multi-year partnership,” said NFL Spain country manager Rafa De Los Santos. “This multi-year commitment to playing games in Madrid — a world-class global cultural and sporting destination — underlines our commitment to the market and enables us to continue to engage fans year-round and invest long-term in initiatives like NFL Flag and youth participation nationwide.”

Real Madrid director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueño added that the renewed agreement — while not yet publically realised in terms of length — builds on the momentum of the league’s Madrid debut.

“It is an honour and a privilege for Real Madrid to host the NFL once again at the Bernabéu stadium,” Butragueño said. “We experienced a historic first NFL Madrid game a few months ago, and this new agreement will allow the alliance between our club, the community of Madrid, the city council and the NFL to continue, strengthening the image of our capital and the Spanish brand around the world. The transformation of the Bernabéu stadium is a major boost for sport to continue to be a unifying force for millions of fans across all continents.”

Spain is a key growth market for the NFL, with an estimated 11 million fans nationwide. As part of its long-term strategy, the league will continue to invest in grassroots development through NFL Flag, its official youth flag football programme, as the non-contact version of the sport gears up for its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

NFL Flag launched in Spain in 2024 and is already reaching children in schools across Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza, with further expansion planned in partnership with the Federación Española de Fútbol Americano (FEFA).

The Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins — the latter having debuted in Madrid against the Washington Commanders this past season — currently hold marketing rights in Spain under the NFL’s Global Markets Programme.

The full matchup, date and kickoff time for the Madrid game will be announced when the 2026 NFL schedule is released this spring, as will further details of International Series fixtures in London, Munich, Paris and Melbourne.