Honestly, the NFL schedule can be a bit of a maze, especially once you factor in the Winter Olympics and the league's rotation of broadcast networks. If you're frantically checking the calendar to see what time is the Super Bowl, you aren't alone. It’s the one Sunday where the entire country basically agrees to stop what they're doing for five hours.
For Super Bowl LX, the magic number is 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
That’s the official start time for the broadcast on Sunday, February 8, 2026. If you are watching from the West Coast, you’re looking at a 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time kickoff. It’s going to be an afternoon affair in Santa Clara, California, where the sun will still be beating down on the field at Levi’s Stadium when the first whistle blows.
Why the 2026 timing is a little different
Most years, we’ve gotten used to the Super Bowl being the only show in town. But 2026 is weird. NBC is carrying the game this year, which is a massive deal because they’re also the home of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
Because NBC has both, they’ve basically turned February into a "Super Month." They are charging advertisers upwards of $7 million for a 30-second spot. That’s a lot of money for a beer commercial.
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The game itself is scheduled for Feb 8, which actually lands right in the middle of the Olympic schedule. This has happened before, but it always feels a bit hectic. You've basically got the world’s biggest football game sandwiched between downhill skiing and figure skating.
Breaking down the kickoff schedule
While the TV guide says 6:30 p.m. ET, we all know the ball doesn't actually fly through the air at 6:30 on the dot. There’s the National Anthem (sang this year by Charlie Puth), the coin toss, and about twenty minutes of hype videos.
Realistically, expect the actual kickoff to happen around 6:40 p.m. ET.
- Eastern Time (ET): 6:30 p.m.
- Central Time (CT): 5:30 p.m.
- Mountain Time (MT): 4:30 p.m.
- Pacific Time (PT): 3:30 p.m.
If you’re tuning in from London, you’re looking at an 11:30 p.m. start on Sunday night. For the fans in Berlin or Paris, it’s a 12:30 a.m. Monday morning kickoff. Basically, if you live in Europe, you're calling in sick on Monday.
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The Bad Bunny effect at Halftime
People often ask what time is the Super Bowl halftime show, because let’s be real—some people are only there for the music. Since the game usually takes about 90 minutes to get through the first two quarters, you can expect Bad Bunny to take the stage somewhere between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET.
This is a historic moment. Bad Bunny is the first solo Latin male artist to headline the show. The NFL is clearly leaning into the global vibe, especially with the World Cup coming to this same stadium just a few months later.
Where to watch and stream
Since it’s an NBC year, you have a few specific options.
- Cable/Satellite: Just find your local NBC affiliate.
- Streaming: Peacock will be the primary home for the digital stream.
- Spanish Language: Telemundo has the rights for the Spanish broadcast.
- Mobile: You can catch it on NFL+, though usually that’s restricted to phones and tablets.
Who is actually playing?
As of right now, we are in the heat of the playoffs. The divisional round is currently playing out, and the favorites have shifted wildly.
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The Seattle Seahawks have been the surprise powerhouse of the NFC, clinching the top seed. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills are the heavy hitters coming out of the AFC. The defending champion Philadelphia Eagles are already out of the running, having lost in the Wild Card round.
It’s anyone’s game at this point.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning a party or just trying to catch the game without missing the first score, here is exactly what you need to do:
- Set your Peacock login now. Don't wait until 6:25 p.m. to realize you forgot your password or need a system update.
- Schedule your food for 5:45 p.m. ET. You want the wings and pizza to arrive or be ready right before the pre-game ceremonies start so they are still hot when the game begins.
- Check your local listings for NBC. If you use an antenna, do a channel scan today to make sure your signal is clear in Santa Clara's time zone.
- Block off at least 4 hours. The average Super Bowl lasts about 3 hours and 45 minutes, meaning the trophy presentation usually wraps up around 10:15 p.m. ET.
Getting the timing right is half the battle. Now you just have to hope your team actually makes it to the finish line.