Everything stops for the Big Game. It doesn't matter if you're a die-hard season ticket holder or just there for the seven-layer dip; the Super Bowl is the unofficial American holiday. But if you’re living in the Grand Canyon State, there’s always that one specific headache that crops up every single February.
What time is it actually on here?
Because Arizona is, well, Arizona, we don't play by the same rules as everyone else when it comes to clocks. We are the rebels of the time zone world. While the rest of the country is busy "springing forward" or "falling back," we just stay put. This creates a massive amount of confusion for the super bowl start time in az, especially when every commercial you see on NBC or Peacock is screaming about a 6:30 PM Eastern kickoff.
The Magic Number for Arizona Viewers
Let's get right to it. For Super Bowl LX, which is happening on Sunday, February 8, 2026, the game is being played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Since the game is on the West Coast, the timing feels a bit more natural for us than when it’s played in Miami or New Jersey.
The super bowl start time in az is officially 4:30 PM MST.
Put it in your calendar. Set a reminder on your phone. Tell your uncle who always shows up late. 4:30 PM is when the toe hits the leather.
👉 See also: LeBron James Without Beard: Why the King Rarely Goes Clean Shaven Anymore
Now, if you’re looking at your TV and seeing 3:30 PM, that’s because California is on Pacific Time. Arizona is currently on Mountain Standard Time. During the winter months, we are one hour ahead of the West Coast. So, while they are kicking off at 3:30 PM local time in Santa Clara, we are settling in at 4:30 PM here in Phoenix, Tucson, or Flagstaff.
Honestly, it’s the sweet spot. You aren't starting so early that it feels like a lunchtime game, but you aren't finishing so late that you’re a zombie at work on Monday morning. Usually, the game wraps up around 8:00 PM or 8:15 PM, leaving you just enough time to clean up the wing bones and process the inevitable heartbreak or triumph of your team.
Why Does Everyone Get This Confused?
Blame the lack of Daylight Saving Time.
Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation) stays on Standard Time year-round. This means half the year we are aligned with California, and the other half we are aligned with Denver. Since the Super Bowl always happens in February, we are always in that window where we are one hour ahead of the Pacific Time Zone.
If you see a national broadcast saying the game starts at 6:30 PM, just subtract two hours. That’s the "Arizona Math" we all have to master.
✨ Don't miss: When is Georgia's next game: The 2026 Bulldog schedule and what to expect
Where to Watch and What to Expect
NBC has the broadcast rights this year. This is a big deal because they are pulling out all the stops for Super Bowl 60. You've got Mike Tirico on the play-by-play and Cris Collinsworth in the booth. If you’re a cord-cutter, Peacock is your best friend. They’ll be streaming the whole thing live.
- Channel: NBC (Channel 12 in Phoenix/KPNX)
- Streaming: Peacock, NFL+, and various live TV streamers like YouTube TV or Fubo
- Spanish Broadcast: Telemundo
The pre-game festivities usually start way earlier—think 10:00 AM—but the actual "official" pre-game show that matters usually starts around 4:00 PM Arizona time. This is when you'll see Charlie Puth perform the National Anthem and the flyover that rattles the windows of the stadium.
The Bad Bunny Factor
Let’s talk about the Halftime Show. This year is historic. Bad Bunny is headlining, making him the first solo Latin male artist to take that stage.
If you are only tuning in for the music, you’ll want to be on your couch by roughly 6:00 PM or 6:15 PM AZ time. Halftime usually hits about 90 minutes to two hours after kickoff, depending on how many penalties the refs feel like calling and how many times the clock stops for those $7 million commercials.
Planning Your Super Bowl Sunday in AZ
If you're hosting, you've got to time the food right. If the super bowl start time in az is 4:30 PM, you want the main spread out by 4:15 PM.
🔗 Read more: Vince Carter Meme I Got One More: The Story Behind the Internet's Favorite Comeback
Why?
Because the first quarter is always high energy, and people tend to graze. By the time the second quarter rolls around, everyone is settled in. If you wait until the 4:30 PM kickoff to start the grill, you're going to miss the opening drive. Don't be that person.
Real Talk: The Schedule Breakdown (Arizona Time)
- 2:00 PM: Start the slow cooker. Get the ice in the cooler.
- 4:00 PM: National Anthem and "The Star-Spangled Banner."
- 4:30 PM: Kickoff. The actual start of the game.
- 6:15 PM: Roughly when Bad Bunny takes the stage.
- 8:00 PM: Game ends (if there's no overtime).
- 8:30 PM: Trophy presentation and post-game interviews.
Common Misconceptions About the Start Time
A lot of people think that because the Super Bowl is a "night game" in the East, it’s a night game for us too. It’s really not. By the time the game ends at 8:00 PM, it's barely even "late." This is the beauty of living in the Southwest. You get the whole spectacle and you can still get a decent night's sleep.
Another thing: don't trust your smart home devices blindly if they haven't updated their location settings. I’ve seen Alexa tell people the wrong time because it was pulling from a default Eastern Time server. Always double-check with a local news source or just remember the "Subtract Two" rule from the Eastern Time listed on the screen.
Actionable Tips for the Best Viewing Experience
If you want to ensure you don't miss a second of the action, here is exactly what you should do:
- Check your signal at 3:30 PM: Turn on the TV an hour before kickoff. Make sure your Peacock app isn't demanding a password update or that your cable box hasn't decided to reboot.
- Verify the channel: In Arizona, NBC is your home. If you're using an antenna, do a channel scan the day before.
- Sync your apps: If you're betting on the game or following a fantasy league, the "live" stream on Peacock can sometimes be 30 seconds behind the cable broadcast. Keep that in mind if you have friends texting you spoilers from a bar.
- Watch the clock: Remember that 4:30 PM MST is the hard start. If you’re traveling back from a hike or a grocery run, give yourself a buffer for that Sunday afternoon traffic.
The Super Bowl is more than just a game; it's a cultural marker. Getting the timing right is the first step to a stress-free Sunday. Whether the Cardinals ever make it back to the big stage or not, Arizona remains one of the best places to watch the game simply because of that 4:30 PM sweet spot. Enjoy the game, watch the commercials, and make sure those wings are ready before the coin toss.