So, here we are again. The playoffs are heating up, the brackets are getting messy, and everyone is asking the exact same thing: what time for super bowl 2026? It sounds like a simple question, right? But if you’ve ever tried to sync up a buffalo wing delivery with the national anthem while living in a different time zone, you know it’s actually a high-stakes logistics puzzle.
This year is a big one. It’s the 60th anniversary—Super Bowl LX—and the NFL is heading back to the West Coast. Specifically, we're looking at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Because the game is being played in the Pacific Time Zone, the timing might feel a little "off" if you’re used to the East Coast rhythm, but the NFL sticking to its traditional kickoff window.
The Official Kickoff: What Time for Super Bowl LX?
The 2026 Super Bowl is officially scheduled to kick off at 6:30 PM ET on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
Now, "kickoff" is a loose term in the world of professional football broadcasting. If you tune in exactly at 6:30 PM, you’re probably going to see the tail end of the coin toss or the final notes of the National Anthem. If you want to see the actual first boot of the ball, you’ve got a tiny bit of breathing room, but not much.
Depending on where you're sitting, here is how that translates:
- Pacific Time (Local): 3:30 PM. This is great for the folks in California; you get a day-game feel that transitions into a night-time party.
- Mountain Time: 4:30 PM.
- Central Time: 5:30 PM. The perfect "dinner is served" time.
- Eastern Time: 6:30 PM. The classic prime-time slot.
Honestly, if you’re hosting a party, tell people to show up at least two hours early. The pre-game hype is half the fun, and this year, the musical lineup is actually looking pretty wild.
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Where to Watch: NBC Takes the Reins
If you were looking for the game on FOX or CBS like last year, you’re going to be staring at a blank screen or a sitcom rerun. For 2026, NBC has the broadcast rights. This is part of that massive four-year rotation the NFL does between the big networks.
You’ve basically got three ways to catch the action:
- Old School Cable/Antenna: Just find your local NBC affiliate. If you’ve got a digital antenna, you’ll likely get the game in crisp 1080p (and maybe upscaled 4K in certain markets) for free.
- Streaming: Peacock is the home for the Super Bowl this year. If you’re a subscriber, you can stream the game live there. The NFL+ app is also an option for those who want to watch on their phones or tablets, though that’s usually a more solitary experience.
- Spanish Language: Telemundo is handling the exclusive Spanish broadcast, which always brings a different level of energy to the commentary.
Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth are the ones in the booth this year. Love him or hate him, Collinsworth’s "PFF-style" deep dives usually add some interesting nuance to the broadcast, especially with the high-tech replays NBC likes to use.
The Halftime Show: Bad Bunny and the 90-Minute Mark
One of the most common questions after "what time for super bowl?" is "when does the halftime show start?"
It’s never an exact science because, well, football happens. Penalties, timeouts, and incomplete passes can stretch the first half. However, usually, you’re looking at about 90 to 100 minutes after kickoff. That puts the Bad Bunny halftime show somewhere around 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET.
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Choosing Bad Bunny was a massive move by the NFL and Roc Nation. He’s the first solo Latin artist to headline the show, and coming off his 2025 streaming dominance, the expectations are through the roof. Rumor has it he’s planning a massive tribute to Puerto Rican culture. Also, don't be surprised if J Balvin or Cardi B make a "surprise" appearance—it’s sort of a Super Bowl tradition at this point.
The Pre-Game Music
Don't sleep on the opening acts this year. Green Day is actually performing a special "hometown" set during the opening ceremonies to honor past MVPs. Since they’re East Bay legends, the energy in Levi's Stadium is going to be electric before the game even starts. Charlie Puth is slated for the National Anthem, and Brandi Carlile is doing "America the Beautiful." Basically, the music starts way before that 6:30 PM kickoff.
Why the 2026 Date is Weirdly Busy
You might notice something different about the sports calendar this February. Super Bowl LX is actually happening right in the middle of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
This is why NBC is so aggressive with their coverage this year. They are essentially running a "Super Month" of sports. You’ve got the Super Bowl on Feb 8, the Olympics running concurrently, and the NBA All-Star Game right on the heels of the Lombardi Trophy presentation. If you’re a sports fan, your couch is going to see a lot of use this month.
Because of this "mega-event" crossover, NBC is reportedly charging upwards of $7 million for a 30-second commercial. Expect the ads to be even more cinematic (and probably more star-studded) than usual to compete with the Olympic hype.
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Planning Your Super Bowl Sunday
If you're trying to figure out your schedule, here’s the realistic flow of the day.
Early afternoon is for the "Super Bowl Experience" coverage—lots of talking heads and human interest stories. By 5:00 PM ET, the "official" pre-game show starts. This is when the players are on the field warming up and the celebrities start showing up in the suites.
Pro tip: If you are ordering pizza or wings through a delivery app, place your order for a 5:00 PM delivery. If you wait until 6:00 PM, you’re going to be eating your wings during the third quarter because the kitchens get absolutely slammed right at kickoff.
Quick Summary of Details:
- Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026.
- Venue: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA.
- TV: NBC / Telemundo.
- Stream: Peacock / NFL+.
- Kickoff: 6:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM PT.
- National Anthem: Charlie Puth.
- Halftime: Bad Bunny.
To make sure you don't miss a second of the action, check your local NBC signal or log into your Peacock account at least 30 minutes before kickoff to handle any last-minute app updates or login issues. If you're watching outside the US, fans in the UK can catch it on Channel 5 starting at 11:30 PM, while Canadian viewers should head over to CTV or TSN at the standard 6:30 PM ET slot.