Honestly, the hardest part of Super Bowl Sunday isn’t picking a winner or even perfecting your wing recipe. It’s the math. Every year, millions of us sit around asking the same thing: what time is kickoff on super bowl? If you’re on the East Coast, you’re looking at a late night. If you’re in California, it feels like a matinee.
For 2026, the NFL is heading back to the tech capital of the world. Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is the host, and the timing is actually pretty consistent with what we've seen over the last decade. But if you show up right at the official "start time," you're going to miss a lot. Or, more likely, you'll be sitting through thirty minutes of anthems and flyovers before a single foot touches a ball.
The Official Kickoff Time for Super Bowl LX
Let's get the big numbers out of the way first. Super Bowl LX is officially scheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2026.
The NFL almost always sticks to a 6:30 PM ET kickoff window. Since the game is in Santa Clara this year, that means the local fans in the stadium will be watching the opening kick at 3:30 PM PT. It's a bit weird for the West Coast folks—the sun will still be high in the sky when the game starts, which definitely changes the vibe of those high-priced stadium tailgates.
For everyone else, here is how the clock looks:
- Central Time: 5:30 PM
- Mountain Time: 4:30 PM
- Greenwich Mean Time (UK): 11:30 PM
- Central European Time: 12:30 AM (Monday morning)
Now, keep in mind that "kickoff" and "broadcast start" are two very different animals. NBC is handling the broadcast this year. They’ll likely start their pre-game coverage before most people are even awake. If you tune in at 6:30 PM ET sharp, you’ll probably catch the tail end of the National Anthem or the coin toss. The actual leather-on-toe moment usually happens around 6:34 or 6:35 PM ET.
Why the 6:30 PM ET Slot Never Changes
You might wonder why the league doesn't move the time around. It’s basically the "Goldilocks" zone of television advertising.
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If they started earlier, the West Coast would be at work or running errands. If they started later, the East Coast (where the densest population of viewers lives) would be heading to bed before the halftime show even starts. By sticking to 6:30 PM ET, the NFL ensures they hit the maximum number of eyeballs during the most expensive commercial slots.
This year is a bit special because of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. NBC is juggling both events. Because of that, they are leaning hard into a "Super Sunday" branding that ties the games together. If you're a sports junkie, you're basically going to be glued to your couch from sunrise until nearly midnight.
The Half-Time Factor: When Does Bad Bunny Take the Stage?
Knowing what time is kickoff on super bowl is only half the battle. The other half is timing your food run for the halftime show.
This year, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny is headlining. Given that a standard NFL half takes about 90 minutes to two hours with all the commercial breaks and replay reviews, you can expect the halftime show to start somewhere between 8:15 PM and 8:45 PM ET.
It’s never an exact science. A high-scoring game with lots of incomplete passes or penalties can push that back significantly. If the game turns into a defensive "three-and-out" slog, things might move faster. But generally, the two-hour mark from kickoff is your safest bet for the music to start.
The Pregame Lineup
Before the kickoff, we’ve got a pretty stacked musical card.
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- Charlie Puth is slated for the National Anthem.
- Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones are involved in the pre-game ceremonies.
- The "flyover" usually happens right as the final note of the anthem fades, which is typically around 6:28 PM ET.
Where to Watch the Game in 2026
If you’re not one of the lucky ones heading to Levi’s Stadium, you’ve got a few ways to catch the action. NBC is the primary home for Super Bowl LX. If you have a traditional cable package, just find your local NBC affiliate.
For the cord-cutters, Peacock is the primary streaming home. It’s worth noting that in previous years, some streaming services had a slight lag—sometimes up to 30 seconds. If you’re active on social media or in a group chat with friends who have cable, you might want to put your phone face down. There’s nothing worse than getting a "TOUCHDOWN!" text while your stream is still showing a third-down huddle.
- Telemundo: Will carry the Spanish-language broadcast.
- NFL+: Available for mobile and tablet streaming.
- International: DAZN and various local networks like Sky Sports (UK) or CTV (Canada) will handle the feed outside the US.
The Venue: Levi's Stadium Nuances
Levi's Stadium is a "smart" stadium, but it's also notorious for its sun exposure. Since the game starts at 3:30 PM local time, the first half is going to be very bright. This can actually affect the game—quarterbacks occasionally complain about the glare coming off the glass of the luxury suites during the late afternoon hours in Santa Clara.
The stadium has also undergone about $200 million in renovations leading up to this game and the 2026 World Cup. They’ve upgraded the Wi-Fi and the video boards, so if you’re actually there, the "tech" experience should be seamless. But for those of us at home, it just means the 4K broadcast is going to look incredibly crisp.
Common Misconceptions About the Start Time
A lot of people think the "Super Bowl" starts at 6:00 PM. That is usually when the "final" pre-game show starts. If you turn the TV on at 6:00, you’re going to see a lot of guys in suits talking about "momentum" and "key matchups."
Another myth is that the game always ends by 10:00 PM ET. It almost never does. Between the extended halftime show (which is about twice as long as a regular season halftime) and the heavy load of $7 million commercials, the game usually wraps up closer to 10:15 PM or 10:30 PM ET. If the game goes into overtime—which we've seen happen in some of the most iconic Super Bowls—you could be looking at an 11:00 PM finish.
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Plan Your Sunday Strategy
To make sure you don't miss a second of the action, here is the suggested timeline for your Super Bowl Sunday:
4:00 PM ET: Get the food prepped. If you're frying anything, do it now.
5:30 PM ET: Tune in to the pre-game. This is when they do the deep-dive features on the players' backgrounds.
6:15 PM ET: Everyone should be in their seats. The intros and "America the Beautiful" usually start around here.
6:30 PM ET: This is the official window. Expect the coin toss within minutes.
6:35 PM ET: The actual kickoff.
If you are betting on the game or playing in a "squares" pool, make sure your entries are in by 6:00 PM ET. Most hosts lock the pools once the broadcast officially begins to avoid any late-entry shenanigans.
Levi's Stadium is ready. Bad Bunny is ready. Now that you know exactly what time is kickoff on super bowl, you can make sure your wings are hot and your seat is claimed before the first whistle blows.
To stay ahead of the curve, ensure your streaming apps are updated at least 24 hours before Sunday to avoid those "mandatory update" screens right at 6:29 PM. If you're using an antenna, do a channel scan on Saturday morning to make sure your NBC signal is coming in strong despite any local weather. For those hosting, setting a "food is served" deadline for 6:00 PM ET ensures that the initial rush is over before the National Anthem begins.