You're probably already planning the wings. Maybe you've even started the group chat about which dip is superior (it's buffalo chicken, obviously). But if you are staring at your calendar trying to figure out exactly what time is the super bowl on sunday, you aren't alone. Timing the start of this game is basically an Olympic sport for fans who don't want to miss the national anthem but also don't want to sit through three hours of pre-game hype they've already heard.
The big game is happening on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
The Actual Kickoff Time and Countdown
Basically, the NFL loves a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff. It’s the sweet spot for the East Coast to finish dinner and the West Coast to start their afternoon party. This year is no different. If you’re at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California—where the game is actually being played—you’re looking at a 3:30 p.m. PT start.
Here is how the clock hits for everyone else:
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- Eastern Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Central Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Mountain Time: 4:30 p.m.
- Pacific Time: 3:30 p.m.
Honestly, don't expect the ball to be in the air at 6:30 on the dot. There are the flyovers, the coin toss, and the singing of the national anthem. This year, Charlie Puth is set to perform the anthem. If you want to see that, be on your couch by 6:20 p.m. ET. If you only care about the first play from scrimmage, you can probably squeeze in an extra ten minutes of grill time.
Where to Catch the Broadcast
NBC has the rights this year. They’re bringing in the heavy hitters: Mike Tirico on play-by-play and Cris Collinsworth in the booth. If you’ve cut the cord, Peacock is your go-to for streaming. They’ve been leaning hard into their sports coverage lately, so expect a 4K stream if your internet can handle the bandwidth.
Telemundo is handling the Spanish-language broadcast, which usually brings a level of energy that honestly makes the game more fun even if you aren't fluent.
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The Half-Time Hype: Bad Bunny Takes the Stage
The Apple Music Halftime Show is basically a mini-concert that happens to have a football game wrapped around it. This year is huge. Bad Bunny is the headliner. He’s the first Latin male artist to solo headline the show, and given his history of wild stage production, it’s going to be massive.
The halftime show usually starts about 90 minutes to two hours after kickoff. If everything goes smoothly and there aren't too many injury timeouts or "holding" calls, expect the lights to go down and the stage to roll out around 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET. It’s a tight 13-minute set, so don't go to the kitchen to refill your plate right then or you'll miss the whole thing.
Location Matters: Santa Clara and the Bay Area
This is the second time Levi’s Stadium has hosted, the first being Super Bowl 50 back in 2016. It’s technically in Santa Clara, which is about 45 miles south of San Francisco. If you're traveling there, it's basically Silicon Valley territory.
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The logo this year actually pays a lot of respect to the region. It’s got the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco skyline, and even some redwood trees worked into the Roman numerals. It’s a lot more colorful than some of the older, more corporate-looking logos we’ve seen in the past.
Watching Outside the States
The Super Bowl has become a weirdly global thing. Even if "American Football" isn't the primary sport in London or Berlin, people stay up late for this.
In the UK, the game kicks off at 11:30 p.m. GMT. It’s a late one. You can catch it on Sky Sports, DAZN, or for free on Channel 5. In Germany, it’s a midnight start on Monday morning on RTL. If you’re in Canada, it’s easier—CTV and TSN are carrying it at the same time as the US broadcast.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Sunday
- The 4K Factor: If you’re streaming on Peacock, check your settings early. NBC is expected to offer a 1080p feed upscaled to 4K. It’s crisp, but it can lag if your Wi-Fi is also being used by three other people in the house.
- Pre-Game Starts Early: If you're a die-hard, NFL Network starts their coverage at 7:00 a.m. ET. NBC usually starts their official pre-game show around 1:00 p.m. ET.
- The "Commercial" Strategy: If you're only in it for the ads, remember that companies are paying about $7 million for a 30-second spot this year. They usually start dropping the big ones right after the first quarter.
- The End Time: Most Super Bowls wrap up around 10:00 p.m. ET. That gives you just enough time to complain about the officiating on social media before you have to go to bed for work on Monday.
The best move is to get your setup ready by 6:00 p.m. ET. Check your cables, make sure the app is updated, and get the snacks on the table. Once 6:30 hits, the chaos begins.
To stay ahead of the game, verify your local NBC channel number or ensure your Peacock subscription is active at least 24 hours before kickoff to avoid login issues during the rush. If you’re hosting, aim to have the main course served by 6:15 p.m. so everyone is settled before the anthem.