CFL unveils sweeping rule changes for 2026 and 2027 seasons

The Canadian Football League on Monday announced a set of sweeping changes to the field of play, scoring rules and game-day operations that will roll out in two phases across the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The league said the moves are designed to increase entertainment value for fans while preserving the core elements of Canadian football, including the three-down system and 12-player lineup.

In 2026, the CFL will introduce a new single-point scoring provision tied to specific return plays and kneels. A single point will be awarded when a returner cannot bring a punt, field goal or kickoff out of the end zone or when a return ends with the returner taking a knee in the end zone. At the same time, the league will no longer award a point for missed field goals that go wide of the goalposts or for punts or kickoffs that travel through the back or sides of the end zone without being touched. The changes are part of a broader effort to make the kicking game less punitive and to shorten the degrees of freedom that previously benefited return specialists.

The 2026 changes also include moving team benches to the opposite sides of the field and instituting a 35-second play clock that starts once the previous play has ended. The league underscored that these adjustments are intended to speed up play and improve the pace of games, while emphasizing that the sport will remain deeply Canadian. “These changes are about increasing entertainment, while supporting and maintaining the traditions of our game, such as three downs, 12 players on the field, the waggle and much more,” the CFL said in a statement. The CFL stressed that no further major changes are planned beyond those already announced for 2026.

The following year, the CFL will implement changes to the field itself and to the goalposts, along with adjustments to drive starts and kicking distances. The field will be reduced in size, though the league said the 65-yard width will remain unchanged. End zones will retain their 20-yard depth, and the goalposts will be moved to the back of the end zone to remove obstructions near the goal line and to enhance viewing for both in-stadium spectators and television audiences. In addition, offenses will start drives 10 yards closer to the opponents’ end zone, and field goals will be moved back by five yards. The league noted that these changes, like the 2026 rule tweaks, are aimed at increasing scoring opportunities and making play-calling more aggressive on third down, while preserving the distinctive shape and traditions of Canadian football.

The CFL emphasized that the 65-yard-wide field will continue to accommodate its historically large end zones and the distinctive kicking game that differentiates the league from its North American counterparts. Officials, broadcasters, players and teams will begin preparing for the phased changes in advance of the 2026 season, with a longer-term adjustment in 2027 designed to alter strategic decisions across the field of play.

In describing the two-year roadmap, the CFL highlighted its intention to balance innovation with tradition. The league noted that rule changes have occurred in the past, citing historical shifts such as the forward-pass rule before 1929 and variations in divisional formats, and said it remains committed to evolving for the benefit of fans and the sport’s long-term health. The league added that it will continue to monitor how the new rules affect the pace of play, scoring dynamics and broadcast presentation as the two-phase rollout proceeds.

Fans and teams will get a sense of the changes as the 2026 season approaches. The league has indicated that the integrated set of adjustments is designed to heighten on-field action, improve the spectator experience, and preserve the entertaining, fast-paced style that has defined Canadian football for generations. Below are the images from recent CFL action that illustrate the league’s ongoing engagement with fans and the sport’s appeal across venues and markets.