So, you’re sitting on the couch, flipping through channels, and you see a bunch of guys in pads smashing into each other. The stadium is packed, the energy is electric, and everyone is screaming about the "playoffs." Naturally, the question pops up: is the super bowl on right now?
The short answer is no. Honestly, if it were the Super Bowl, your phone would probably be exploding with group chat notifications and your neighbor would be firing up a grill large enough to be seen from space. Today is Sunday, January 18, 2026, which means we are officially in the thick of the NFL Divisional Round.
It’s arguably the best weekend of football in the entire year, but it isn't the Big Game just yet. We still have a few more hurdles before we crown a champion at Levi’s Stadium.
Why today feels like the Super Bowl (but isn't)
Right now, you're watching the elite eight. The Wild Card round already weeded out the "just happy to be here" teams, and today’s matchups determine who moves on to the Conference Championships.
Earlier today, we saw the New England Patriots take care of business against the Houston Texans with a 28-16 win at Gillette Stadium. If you're looking at your TV this second, you're likely seeing the Los Angeles Rams taking on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. That game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC. It’s a massive game with massive stakes, which is why the production value looks so high—it's easy to get confused.
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Here is the deal: the NFL playoffs are a slow burn.
- Wild Card Weekend: Happened last week (Jan 10-12).
- Divisional Round: That is today, January 18.
- Conference Championships: Scheduled for next Sunday, January 25.
- The Pro Bowl Games: Tuesday, February 3 (a weird mid-week shift this year).
- Super Bowl LX: The actual date you’re looking for is February 8, 2026.
When is the actual Super Bowl 60?
If you're trying to plan a party or just need to know when to buy the expensive chips, mark your calendar for Sunday, February 8, 2026.
The game is heading back to the West Coast this year. Specifically, it’ll be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. That’s the home of the San Francisco 49ers. It’s the second time the venue has hosted, the last time being a decade ago for Super Bowl 50 when Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset.
Kickoff is traditionally set for 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. local PT). NBC is the network handling the broadcast this year, so you’ll see Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth on the call. If you’ve cut the cord, you’ll be streaming it on Peacock.
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The Bad Bunny factor and halftime hype
One of the reasons people keep asking "is the super bowl on right now" is because of the sheer amount of entertainment news dropping.
The NFL officially confirmed that Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show. Since he’s basically the biggest artist on the planet, his fans have been buzzing for weeks. There were even some rumors about him showing up at playoff games, but you won't see the full spectacle until February 8.
The league is also leaning hard into the "Bay Area" theme. The logo features the Golden Gate Bridge and redwood trees, and there’s a whole concert series called BAHC Live! featuring Chris Stapleton the night before the game. It’s a whole production that makes the entire month of January feel like one giant lead-up.
Who is actually going to be in the game?
Since it's January 18, we don't know the teams yet. That's the beauty of today's games.
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In the AFC, the Denver Broncos are already waiting in the wings after beating the Buffalo Bills in an overtime thriller yesterday. They will face the Patriots next week. Over in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks destroyed the 49ers yesterday (41-6, yikes), and they’ll play whoever wins this Rams vs. Bears game currently on your screen.
Basically, we are three games away from knowing the final two.
How to watch the rest of the road to the Super Bowl
If you want to stay caught up so you aren't surprised by the scoreboards again, here is where you need to look:
- Next Sunday (Jan 25): The AFC Championship starts at 3:05 p.m. ET on CBS. The NFC Championship follows at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Super Bowl Sunday (Feb 8): Turn on NBC at 6:30 p.m. ET.
If you are currently watching the Rams and Bears, just enjoy it. It’s high-stakes, win-or-go-home football. It might not be the Super Bowl, but for the fans in Chicago and LA right now, it feels exactly like it.
To stay ready for the actual big game, you should check your streaming logins for Peacock or make sure your digital antenna is positioned correctly for NBC. Prices for Super Bowl tickets at Levi's Stadium are already hitting record highs on the secondary market, so if you're planning to go in person, you'll want to start monitoring those listings on sites like On Location or Ticketmaster immediately.