You've got the wings marinating. The guest list is basically a "who’s who" of people you only see when there’s a trophy involved. But there is always that one nagging question that ruins the vibe every year: what time do the Super Bowl come on?
Seriously, it feels like we ask this every February. Maybe it's because the NFL loves to keep us guessing with pre-game shows that start before most people have even finished breakfast.
For Super Bowl LX (that's 60 for those of us who stopped paying attention to Roman numerals in third grade), the game is heading to the San Francisco Bay Area. Specifically, it's landing at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Because the game is on the West Coast this year, the timing feels a little different depending on where you're sitting.
The Official Kickoff Time (Save This)
The "official" start time for Super Bowl LX is 6:30 PM ET on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
But "official" in NFL speak is a bit of a loose term. You know how it goes. There’s the National Anthem (Charlie Puth is taking the mic this year, which should be interesting), the coin toss, and about twenty commercials for beer and AI software before a foot actually touches a ball.
If you're trying to figure out when to tell people to show up, here is the breakdown by time zone:
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- Eastern Time: 6:30 PM
- Central Time: 5:30 PM
- Mountain Time: 4:30 PM
- Pacific Time: 3:30 PM
If you’re watching from the West Coast, it’s basically a late lunch affair. If you’re in London or Berlin, honestly, just call out of work on Monday now. You're looking at an 11:30 PM GMT start, which means you won't be seeing the final whistle until roughly 3:00 AM.
Where Can You Actually Watch It?
NBC has the rights this year. They’re rotating the big game between the four major networks, and it's Mike Tirico’s turn to lead the broadcast alongside Cris Collinsworth.
If you’ve cut the cord, don’t panic. You don't need a clunky cable box. Peacock is going to be the main streaming home. If you have an NFL+ subscription, you can also catch it there, though that's usually limited to phone and tablet viewing.
For the Spanish-speaking audience, Telemundo is handling the broadcast.
I’ll be real with you—if you’re planning on streaming, make sure your Wi-Fi is up to the task. There is nothing worse than the "loading" circle appearing right as a quarterback launches a 50-yard bomb. A lot of people are going back to basics with an HD antenna. It’s free, it’s high-def, and there’s zero lag.
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The Halftime Show: When Does Bad Bunny Take the Stage?
Let's be honest. Half the people at your party aren't there for the third-down conversions. They’re there for the show.
This year, Bad Bunny is headlining. It’s a pretty massive deal—he’s the first solo Latino and Spanish-speaking artist to lead the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Since the game starts at 6:30 PM ET, you can generally expect the halftime show to kick off around 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET.
Football is unpredictable, though. If there are a lot of penalties or a long injury timeout, that window slides. If you only care about the music, start paying attention around the end of the second quarter, which is usually about 90 minutes after kickoff.
Why the 2026 Timing is a Little Weird
There’s a bit of a scheduling quirk this year. Super Bowl LX is happening right in the middle of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
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Because NBC owns the rights to both the Super Bowl and the Olympics, they’re basically turning that weekend into a massive sports marathon. You might see some Olympic coverage bleeding into the pre-game show. It’s a lot of content to digest, so maybe pace yourself on the chips and dip.
Pre-Game Coverage Starts Way Earlier Than You Think
If you’re the type who likes to soak in every single "expert" prediction, you can turn on the TV as early as 1:00 PM ET on NBC. They’ll have hours of interviews, human interest stories about the players' childhood pets, and deep dives into team stats.
NFL Network usually starts their "Total Access" style coverage even earlier—think 7:00 AM ET. That’s probably overkill for most of us, but hey, if you can’t sleep because of the excitement, the option is there.
Don't Forget the "Real" Start Time
While the clock says 6:30, the "real" start time for your party should be at least an hour earlier. You need time to argue about the spread, secure the best spot on the couch, and make sure the air fryer is working overtime.
Pro Tip: If you're using a streaming service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, log in 15 minutes early. These apps sometimes struggle with the massive surge of users right at kickoff, and you don't want to be the person stuck on the login screen while your neighbors are already cheering.
Checklist for Super Bowl Sunday 2026
- Double-check the channel: It's NBC/Peacock this year. Don't go looking for it on Fox or CBS like last time.
- Sync your clocks: If you're betting on the game, remember that "kickoff" usually happens about 10–12 minutes after the scheduled broadcast time.
- App Updates: Update your streaming apps on Saturday. You don't want to be waiting for a 400MB download at 6:29 PM.
- Local Blackouts: These are rare for the Super Bowl, but if you're using an app, make sure your location services are turned on so it can verify you're in a broadcast zone.
The San Francisco Bay Area is going to be electric for this one. Whether you're rooting for a dynasty to continue or hoping for a massive upset, at least now you know exactly when to be in front of the screen.
Actionable Next Steps: Confirm your NBC or Peacock login credentials at least 24 hours before the game to avoid technical delays. If you are using an over-the-air antenna, perform a channel scan on Saturday to ensure your signal strength is peaked for the 6:30 PM ET kickoff.