2026 Patriots training camp guide: What to know if you go, what to watch for, and key dates

The start of training camp means only one thing: Football season is upon us.

Well, American football, that is.

After a thrilling summer in which Gillette Boston Stadium hosted seven World Cup matches, the pigskin returns to Foxborough.

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Here’s everything you need to need to know about Patriots training camp:

The Patriots will hold 13 days of public practices, including three joint practices, on July 25-28, July 30-Aug. 1, Aug. 3-4, Aug. 7, Aug. 11, and Aug. 19-20. All practices, except July 27, will begin at 10:15 a.m. On July 27, a walkthrough will begin at 10 a.m.

The Patriots will host a joint practice with the Colts on Aug. 11 and joint practices with the Eagles on Aug. 19-20, both ahead of preseason matchups.

A decade ago, we put together a guide on how to watch training camp like a pro. Here is an abbreviated version:

▪ Pick a low vantage point for individual drills, a high one for team drills.

▪ Memorize the roster and jersey numbers cold.

▪ Take note of the pairings and combinations.

▪ Grade the one-on-one battles, and be descriptive.

▪ Take note of the game situations.

▪ Listen to what the coaches are telling the players.

What does a Super Bowl rebound look like?

Nobody — and we mean nobody — expected the Patriots to reach the Super Bowl a season ago. A meager four wins for two straight seasons preceded Mike Vrabel’s arrival in Foxborough.

Then, the team caught fire and rattled off 14 wins.

New England won’t sneak up on anyone this season.Quarterback Drake Maye, fresh off a near-MVP campaign, has proven that he’s among the league’s elite. Milton Williams and Christian Gonzalez are among key cogs on a stingy defense that returns many contributors.

Will the taste of February’s defeat linger? And how does that motivate the group throughout the offseason?

How will A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs fare in New England?

The Patriots’ wide receivers room certainly got a makeover. Romeo Doubs inked a four-year, $68 million deal this offseason, a year after contributing 55 catches for 724 yards and six touchdowns with the Packers. He will slot in as the team’s No. 2 option, behind the much-publicized arrival of A.J. Brown.

Brown surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his four seasons with the Eagles and is one of the league’s best at catching contest balls over the top and beating man coverage, two things that Maye excels at.

Will the offense look different? Sure. But Maye and Co. should have every reason to be excited by the new faces on the outside.

How will the Patriots navigate a challenging early season schedule?

After the opener in Seattle, the road doesn’t get any easier. The Patriots face the Steelers in their home opener Sept. 20, before trips to Jacksonville and Buffalo.

Last season’s schedule was easier, thanks to a last-place finish in the AFC East two years ago. After winning the division, the Patriots draw the crème de la crème. The Patriots will log the fifth-most miles traveled this season, at a whopping 27,590.

The Patriots will again host a Pet Adoption Day, on Saturday, July 25, to support local shelter dogs and rescue dogs in need. “Join New England Patriots and the Pawtriots in finding dogs their forever home,” the team wrote in a release.

The event is in partnership with Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts, Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton, Potter League of Rhode Island, and Buddy and Friends Animal Rescue.

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• Aug. 6: Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Cardinals vs. Panthers, 8 p.m. (NBC, Peacock).
• Aug. 30: Active rosters must be reduced to 53 players. It will be the fourth year in which there will be only one cutdown date, with teams allowed to carry 90 players before getting to 53 two days after the conclusion of preseason action.
• Sept. 9: The regular season kicks off with a rematch of Super Bowl LX, when the Patriots visit the Seahawks in Seattle.

The Patriots play three preseason games, two at Gillette Stadium, all of which will be broadcast on WBZ.

• Aug. 13 vs. Colts, 7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 22 vs. Eagles, 7:00 p.m.
• Aug. 27 at Browns, 8:00 p.m.

▪ Parking and admission are free. Practices are on the fields behind Gillette Stadium. Gates open one hour prior to the start of practice and will close an hour after the conclusion of practice.

▪ The schedule is subject to change. Fans planning to attend should check Patriots.com for daily updates, or call the training camp hotline at 508-549-0001.

▪ When the Patriots practice indoors because of inclement weather or poor field conditions, practices will be closed to the public.

▪ There are concessions around the practice fields and the Fan Zone, as well as exhibits from the Patriots Hall of Fame. All concessions will be cashless. There will be appearances by Pat Patriot, Patriots cheerleaders, and Patriots alumni.

▪ Collapsible chairs, strollers, and outside food/beverages are allowed. Sunscreen, hats, and a pen or Sharpie are recommended for daily post-practice autograph sessions. Tailgating is prohibited.

▪ All fans entering the facility with a view of the practice fields will be screened with metal detectors and have all bags screened by security personnel. Fans are encouraged to use clear bags for speed of inspection.

▪ Prohibited items: animals (except service animals assisting those with disabilities), alcohol, beach balls, bullhorns and air horns, coolers, fireworks or pyrotechnics, helium balloons, illegal drugs or any other illegal substances, laser pens, noisemakers, video cameras, weapons of any kind (including knives), unmanned aircraft systems, remotely controlled model aircraft, selfie sticks, and GoPro cameras. Flags are allowed, but flagpoles cannot be more than 2 feet in length.

▪ From Boston and farther north: Take I-95 South to Exit 19. Follow Route 1 South approximately 3 miles to Gillette Stadium (on the left).

▪ From Cape Cod: Take I-495 North to Exit 36A. Follow Route 1 North about 4 miles to Gillette Stadium (on the right).

▪ From southern Connecticut and Rhode Island: Take I-95 North to I-495 North to Exit 36A. Follow Route 1 North about 4 miles to Gillette Stadium (on the right).

▪ From northern Connecticut, Vermont, and upstate New York: Take I-90 East to I-495 South to Exit 36A. Follow Route 1 North about 4 miles to Gillette Stadium (on the right).

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