If you’re already looking past the current NFL season and wondering where is the Super Bowl being played in 2026, you aren't alone. I get it. The planning for a Super Bowl trip is basically a full-time job if you want to do it right without losing your mind—or your entire savings account.
So, let's get right to it. Super Bowl LX (that's number 60 for the non-Romans out there) is heading to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Mark your calendars for February 8, 2026.
Honestly, it feels like just yesterday that Peyton Manning was riding off into the sunset after Super Bowl 50 at this same venue. But by the time kickoff rolls around in 2026, it will have been exactly a decade since the Lombardi Trophy was hoisted in the heart of Silicon Valley.
The Venue: Why Levi’s Stadium?
The NFL doesn't just pick these spots out of a hat. They have a very specific, unilateral selection process now. Gone are the days of cities "bidding" like they're at a silent auction. Now, the league basically taps a stadium on the shoulder and says, "You’re up. Show us a plan."
Levi’s Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers, was an easy choice for the 60th anniversary. It’s one of the most high-tech buildings in sports. It’s also "green" as can be, which fits the California vibe perfectly.
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Location Confusion: Santa Clara vs. San Francisco
Here is where it gets kinda tricky for people flying in from out of state.
While everyone calls it the "San Francisco Super Bowl," the game is actually played in Santa Clara. If you try to stay in downtown San Francisco and think you’re just going to "pop over" to the stadium on game day, you’re in for a rude awakening. We're talking about a 40-mile gap.
In heavy traffic? That’s a two-hour odyssey.
Most of the "official" festivities—the fan zones, the media center, the corporate glitz—will be centered around San Francisco (specifically the Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Gardens). But the actual gridiron action is way down south in the South Bay.
What’s the Vibe for Super Bowl LX?
The 2026 game is shaping up to be massive. Not just because it's a milestone year (the Big 6-0), but because the Bay Area is basically becoming the center of the sporting universe that year.
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- The World Cup Connection: San Francisco/Santa Clara is also a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup later that summer.
- The Pro Bowl Move: The NFL is actually moving the Pro Bowl Games to the Tuesday before the Super Bowl (February 3, 2026) at the Moscone Center to keep the energy high all week long.
- The 250th Birthday: 2026 is also the 250th anniversary of the founding of San Francisco.
Basically, the city is going to be one giant party for the first half of the year.
The Entertainment: Who is Performing?
We already have some heavy hitters lined up. The NFL confirmed that Bad Bunny will be headlining the Halftime Show.
If you've seen his tours, you know it’s going to be a high-energy, visual spectacle. It's a smart move by the league to tap into the global Latin music explosion, especially in a market like California.
For the pre-game ceremonies, we’ve got:
- National Anthem: Charlie Puth
- America the Beautiful: Brandi Carlile
- Lift Every Voice and Sing: Coco Jones
Watching the Game: TV and Kickoff
If you aren't planning on dropping $6,000 for a nosebleed seat (which is roughly what the resale average is looking like), you’ll be watching on NBC.
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Since 2026 is a Winter Olympics year (Milan-Cortina), NBC gets the Super Bowl as part of their "Super Season" rotation. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be on the call.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. local time (PT), which means 6:30 p.m. for the folks on the East Coast.
Logistics for Fans
If you're actually going, please, for the love of football, look into the VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) light rail. Driving to Levi’s Stadium on a normal Sunday is a headache; on Super Bowl Sunday, it’s a nightmare.
The stadium is surrounded by tech campuses that turn their parking lots into gold mines for the day, but the light rail drops you literally right in front of the gates.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are serious about attending or even just being in the area for the vibe:
- Book Lodging in San Jose, not San Francisco: If you want to be close to the stadium, San Jose is only about 15-20 minutes away. It's much more practical than staying in SF.
- Download the NFL OnePass App: This is where all the "free" events (like Super Bowl Opening Night) are managed. You usually have to register for a time slot.
- Check Your Passport: If you're coming from abroad, remember that 2026 is a World Cup year. Travel restrictions and visa processing times might be wonky because of the sheer volume of people entering the US that year.
- Monitor the Resale Market Early: While tickets are "distributed" to season ticket holders and partners, the official resale exchange (Ticketmaster) usually starts seeing movement a year out. Don't buy from a guy on a street corner with a cardboard sign.
Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium is going to be a tech-heavy, star-studded affair that cements the Bay Area as a premier big-game destination. Just make sure you know which city you're actually flying into before you book that "San Francisco" hotel.