Timing is everything. If you're hosting a party and the wings aren't out by the time the coin flips, you've basically failed the Sunday assignment. Honestly, every year people scramble to figure out exactly when the whistle blows because the "start time" listed on TV guides is usually just a suggestion for when the pre-game chatter begins.
For 2026, things are getting back to a bit of a classic rhythm. Super Bowl LX is set to kick off at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Since the game is being played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, those on the West Coast get that rare "afternoon football" vibe with a local start time of 3:30 p.m. PT. It’s the second time the 49ers' home turf has hosted the Big Game, and if it’s anything like Super Bowl 50 back in 2016, the tech-heavy atmosphere of Silicon Valley is going to be everywhere.
Super Bowl LX Kickoff Times Across the Country
Let’s be real: nobody wants to be the person asking "did I miss it?" while the national anthem is already wrapping up. The NFL is nothing if not consistent with their window. While the "official" broadcast starts hours earlier, the actual foot-to-ball moment is almost always pinned to that 6:30 p.m. Eastern window.
Here is how that looks for your specific time zone:
- Eastern Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Central Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Mountain Time: 4:30 p.m.
- Pacific Time: 3:30 p.m. (Local time in Santa Clara)
If you’re watching from across the pond in the UK, you’re looking at an 11:30 p.m. start, while most of Central Europe will be brewing coffee for a 12:30 a.m. Monday morning kickoff. It’s a commitment, for sure.
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Why the Start Time Actually Matters This Year
You’ve probably noticed the NFL has shifted its schedule slightly over the last few years. Ever since they added that 17th regular-season game, the Super Bowl has permanently moved to the second Sunday in February. This year is particularly weird because the game overlaps with the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Because NBC holds the rights to both the Super Bowl and the Olympics in 2026, they are creating a sort of "Super Season" of sports. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth are expected to be the voices in the booth, which is a bit of a shift for fans used to the rotation, but it keeps things feeling "prestige."
Don't Forget the Halftime Show
Even if you don't care about a first-down conversion, you’re probably tuning in for the show. This year, the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show is featuring Bad Bunny.
Predicting the exact second the halftime show starts is a bit of a guessing game because it depends on how many penalties and timeouts the first half eats up. Generally, if the game starts at 6:30 p.m. ET, the first half usually wraps up around 8:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. That’s when the stage crews—those absolute magicians—rush the field to set up for the Puerto Rican superstar.
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How to Watch and Stream Without a Headache
If you're still paying for cable, just find NBC. Simple. But for the rest of us cord-cutters, you've got options that won't break the bank (at least for one month).
Peacock is the primary streaming home for the game this year. Unlike some other apps, Peacock actually gives you the full NBC broadcast, commercials and all. If you’re trying to save even more, NFL+ is an option, but there’s a catch: it’s usually restricted to mobile devices like phones and tablets. Don't try to cast it to your 75-inch TV five minutes before kickoff; it probably won't let you.
Other reliable spots to catch the game:
- YouTube TV / Hulu + Live TV: Great if you already have them, though a bit pricey for a one-off.
- Telemundo: If you want the Spanish-language broadcast.
- The "Old School" Way: A digital antenna. Honestly, for about $25, you can get NBC in HD for free, forever. It’s the most underrated move in sports watching.
Actionable Tips for Super Bowl Sunday
To make sure your viewing experience doesn't go sideways, keep these three things in mind. First, check your internet connection at least an hour before. Streaming the most-watched event of the year puts a massive strain on servers, and you don't want to be the person watching a spinning buffer wheel while everyone else is tweeting about a touchdown.
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Second, if you're using a free trial for a service like YouTube TV or Fubo, set a calendar reminder to cancel it on Monday. They count on you forgetting.
Third, the pre-game ceremonies—including the national anthem performed by Charlie Puth this year—usually start around 6:00 p.m. ET. If you want to see the flyover and the coin toss, that’s your real "be in your seat" time.
Get the snacks ready early. Once that 6:30 p.m. ET clock hits, the rest of the world basically stops for four hours.