When does the Grey Cup Playoffs Start? 2026 CFL Playoffs Schedule: Dates, Times and Matchups
The CFL Playoffs are fast approaching, with just three weeks remaining in the Canadian Football League regular season before the race for the Grey Cup begins. The Grey Cup Playoffs will officially get underway on Saturday, October 31, with the Eastern and Western Semi-Finals opening the postseason.
The Toronto Argonauts are already scheduled to host the Eastern Semi-Final at BMO Field. The Western Semi-Final will follow later that day in afternoon, that will determined based on the final regular-season standings.
The CFL Playoffs Schedule 2026 will continue one week later with the Eastern and Western Finals on Saturday, November 7. Montreal has already secured the top position in the East Division and will host the Eastern Final at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.
The Grey Cup Playoffs will then culminate with the 113th Grey Cup at Calgary’s in Mid-November on. The championship game is scheduled on Sunday and will determine the 2026 CFL champion.
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When Do the CFL Playoffs Begin?
The CFL Playoffs begin on Saturday, October 31, with both Division Semi-Finals scheduled for the same day.
The Eastern Semi-Final will kick off at 1 p.m. ET in Toronto, while the Western Semi-Final is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET.
The Grey Cup Playoffs will then move into the conference-style finals the following weekend, with both Division Finals scheduled for November 7.
CFL Playoffs 2026: Grey Cup Playoffs Dates
Here are the key postseason dates to remember:
- October 31: Eastern Semi-Final —
- October 31: Western Semi-Final —
- November 7: Eastern Final —
- November 7: Western Final —
- November 15: 113th Grey Cup Time — 6:00 p.m. ET
The CFL Playoffs will determine the two teams that reach the championship, while the Grey Cup Playoffs schedule provides the complete postseason route from the Division Semi-Finals to the Grey Cup.
CFL Playoffs: 2026 Grey Cup Playoffs Schedule, Dates, Times.
The CFL Playoffs will feature five postseason games across three dates, beginning with the Division Semi-Finals on October 31 and concluding with the Grey Cup on November 15.
The complete Grey Cup Playoffs schedule is as follows:
Saturday, October 31
Eastern Semi-Final
1:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. CT / 11:00 a.m. MT / 10:00 a.m. PT
Western Semi-Final
4:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. CT / 2:30 p.m. MT / 1:30 p.m. PT
Saturday, November 7
Eastern Final
3:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. CT / 2:00 p.m. MT / 1:00 p.m. PT
Western Final
6:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT / 5:30 p.m. MT / 4:30 p.m. PT
Sunday, November 15
113th Grey Cup
6:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. PT
Eastern Semi-Final
The Toronto Argonauts will host the Eastern Semi-Final at BMO Field on October 31.
Toronto is guaranteed to host the game, while its opponent will be determined by the final standings and playoff qualification in the East and West divisions. The matchup will begin at 1 p.m. ET.
The winner will advance to the Eastern Final, where Montreal is already confirmed as the host.
Western Semi-Final
The Western Semi-Final will take place later on October 31, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET.
The matchup and host venue will depend on the final Western Division standings after the remaining three weeks of the regular season.
The winner of the Western Semi-Final will advance to the Western Final on November 7.
Montreal Hosts the Eastern Final
Montreal has already secured the top position in the East Division, guaranteeing the Alouettes home-field advantage in the Eastern Final.
The Eastern Final will be played on Saturday, November 7, at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
Montreal’s top seed means the team will have a direct path to the Eastern Final without having to play in the opening round of the CFL Playoffs.
The winner of the Eastern Semi-Final will travel to Montreal for a place in the Grey Cup.
Western Final Schedule
The Western Final is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, later on the same day as the Eastern Final.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET, with the game taking place at the home stadium of the higher-seeded team.
The Edmonton Elks currently occupy the top spot in the Western Division. If Edmonton maintains that position through the final three weeks of the regular season, the Elks would host the Western Final at Commonwealth Stadium.
When is the 113th Grey Cup Schedule? Date, Time, TV Info
The biggest game of the season will take place on Sunday, November 15, when the 113th Grey Cup comes to Calgary.
McMahon Stadium will host the championship game, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. MT.
The championship will bring together the winners of the Eastern and Western Finals, with the two teams competing for the CFL’s biggest prize.
The Grey Cup Playoffs will therefore conclude with one of the most anticipated games on the Canadian football calendar.
Where will the 113th CFL Grey Cup be played
McMahon Stadium, Calgary will host the Grey Cup for the sixth time in CFL history.
The city last hosted the championship in 2019, when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to end a 29-year championship drought.
113th Grey Cup 2026 Halftime Show and Entertainment Lineups.
The 113th Grey Cup will feature several entertainment events alongside the championship game.
The Bud Light Grey Cup Halftime Show will be headlined by Riley Green, while Sarah McLachlan is scheduled to perform the national anthem.
A special pre-game performance will feature Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, while the James Barker Band will perform during the SiriusXM Grey Cup Kickoff Show.
How the CFL Playoffs Format Will Lead to the Grey Cup
The postseason path is straightforward. The CFL Playoffs begin with four teams competing in the two Division Semi-Finals, with the winners advancing to their respective Division Finals.
Montreal has already secured a place in the Eastern Final, while the Western Division’s top seed will be determined during the final weeks of the regular season.
The winners of the Eastern and Western Finals will then meet in Calgary for the 113th Grey Cup.
For fans following the Grey Cup Playoffs, the three-week postseason journey will feature elimination games, Division Finals and ultimately the championship matchup.
Where to Watch the CFL Playoffs and Grey Cup live.
Fans across Canada will be able to follow the postseason through the CFL’s broadcast partners. Coverage of the Grey Cup will be available through TSN, CTV, RDS and Crave, while international viewers can follow the action through CFL+.
With the regular season entering its final three weeks, playoff races and seeding will continue to develop before the opening CFL Playoffs matchups are finalized.
Final Thoughts
The CFL Playoffs are set to begin October 31, starting a postseason journey that will determine the two teams competing for the 113th Grey Cup. Toronto will host the Eastern Semi-Final, while the Western Semi-Final follows later that day.
The Grey Cup Playoffs will continue with the Eastern and Western Finals on November 7 before the season reaches its conclusion in Calgary on November 15.
Once the CFL postseason begins, every game will carry championship implications as teams chase the Grey Cup.
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