You’ve got the wings marinating. The beer is chilling. Maybe you even dropped a small fortune on a new 4K TV because, honestly, seeing the sweat on a linebacker's forehead feels like a necessary part of the experience. But then the panic hits. You’re staring at a dozen different websites and they all give you different "start" times. Is it 6:30? Is it 3:30?
The short answer: Super Bowl LX starts at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
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If you’re on the West Coast, that’s 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time (PT). Since the game is happening at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, those lucky enough to be in the stands will be baking in the afternoon sun while the rest of the country is settling into their evening routines.
But here’s the thing. If you actually tune in at 6:30 p.m. on the dot, you’re going to miss the national anthem, the coin toss, and that weirdly tense moment where everyone tries to figure out if the flyover was perfectly timed.
Why the "Start Time" is Kinda a Lie
The NFL is a well-oiled marketing machine. When they say the game starts at 6:30, they mean that's when the ball finally hits the kicker's foot. If you want the full experience—the emotional montages, the celebrity sightings in the luxury boxes, and the general hype—you need to be on your couch way earlier.
NBC is handling the broadcast this year. They’ll likely start their pre-game coverage as early as 12:00 p.m. ET. Do you need to watch six and a half hours of retired quarterbacks talking about "who wants it more"? Probably not. But the "official" kickoff window is narrow.
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The Real Schedule (Eastern Time)
- 6:00 PM: This is the "get your plate and sit down" window. The pageantry starts here.
- 6:15 PM: Expect the National Anthem (this year featuring Charlie Puth) and "America the Beautiful" (performed by Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones).
- 6:30 PM: Kickoff. For real this time.
- 8:15 PM - 8:30 PM: The Halftime Show begins.
The Bad Bunny Factor: When is Halftime?
Let's be real. Half the people at your party aren't there for the third-down conversions. They’re there for Bad Bunny.
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show is arguably the biggest musical event of 2026. Because football is unpredictable—penalties, injury timeouts, or a sudden defensive struggle—there is no "exact" second the music starts. However, based on decades of data, the first half usually wraps up about 90 to 100 minutes after kickoff.
Expect the Puerto Rican superstar to take the stage somewhere between 8:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. ET. If the game is a "defensive masterpiece" (which is code for "boring and slow"), it might lean toward the later side. If it's a high-scoring track meet, it could be earlier. Don't go to the kitchen to refill the dip at 8:00 p.m. You're playing a dangerous game if you do.
How to Actually Watch (Without the Cable Bill)
NBC has the rights this year, which is great news if you have a pair of bunny ears (an HD antenna) and live near a major city. It's free, high-definition, and has zero lag.
If you’re a cord-cutter, you’ve got options, but some are better than others:
- Peacock: This is the "official" streaming home. It’s usually the most stable, but remember that streaming always has a delay. Your neighbor with cable will scream "TOUCHDOWN" about 30 seconds before you see it.
- NFL+: Good for mobile, but honestly, who wants to watch the Super Bowl on a 6-inch screen?
- YouTube TV / Hulu + Live TV / Fubo: These are basically cable-lite. They work great, but they’re getting pricey.
A Quick Word on 4K
NBC is expected to broadcast the game in "upscaled" 4K. It’s not "true" 4K from the camera to your screen, but it’s the best the NFL offers. To get it, you usually need the 4K add-on for YouTube TV or a specific tier of Peacock. Is it worth it? If you have an 85-inch screen, yeah. If you’re watching on a laptop, don’t bother.
The International Struggle: Super Bowl Start Times Worldwide
If you're reading this from London or Tokyo, I’m sorry. You’re in for a long night (or a very weird morning).
- London (GMT): Kickoff is at 11:30 p.m. The game won't end until around 3:00 a.m. Monday. Hope you took the day off.
- Berlin/Paris (CET): You’re looking at a 12:30 a.m. start on Monday morning.
- Mexico City (CST): A much more reasonable 5:30 p.m. start.
- Tokyo (JST): 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning. Watching the Super Bowl with breakfast sushi is a vibe, honestly.
Common Misconceptions About the Big Game
People always assume the Super Bowl is the longest game of the year. It actually isn't—at least not in terms of play clock. But the "event" is massive.
A regular season NFL game takes about 3 hours and 12 minutes. The Super Bowl averages closer to 3 hours and 45 minutes. Why? Because the commercials are longer (and more expensive, at roughly $7 million for 30 seconds) and the halftime show is a full-blown concert production that requires a literal stage to be built and dismantled on the grass in minutes.
Also, don't expect the game to be played in San Francisco. It's at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. That’s about 40 miles south of the city. If you’re a tourist heading to the Wharf thinking you can walk to the stadium, you’re going to have a very expensive Uber ride ahead of you.
Your Super Bowl Game Plan
To make sure you don't miss a single snap (or commercial), here is exactly how you should structure your Sunday:
- Check your signal at 5:00 PM: Don't wait until 6:29 to find out your Peacock app needs an update or your antenna is acting up.
- Synchronize your food: The "hot" food should be ready by 6:10 p.m. This gives you time to plate everything before the National Anthem.
- Silence the group chat: If you’re watching on a stream, the lag will ruin the surprises. Put your phone face down.
The Super Bowl is more than just a game; it's the one time a year everyone is watching the same thing at the same time. Whether you're there for the elite athleticism, Bad Bunny's setlist, or just the high-budget commercials, 6:30 p.m. ET is your "X" on the map.
Next Steps for Your Party Prep:
- Verify your local NBC affiliate to ensure you have the correct channel.
- Download the Peacock or NFL+ app now and log in to avoid "password panic" at kickoff.
- Set a "Halftime Alert" for 8:10 p.m. ET so you don't miss the start of the performance.