You're already planning the dip, aren't you? Or maybe you're just trying to figure out if you need to take Monday off work. Look, the NFL doesn’t like to mess with a winning formula. If you’ve watched a single game in the last decade, you probably have a gut feeling about when things kick off. But 2026 has its own set of quirks, especially with the game returning to the West Coast.
The big question: what time does Super Bowl begin?
Technically, the "start" is a moving target depending on if you care about the actual football or the three hours of pre-game hype that leads up to it. But let's cut to the chase.
The Official Super Bowl LX Start Time
Super Bowl LX is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
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If you are living on the West Coast, specifically near Santa Clara where the game is being played, that means a 3:30 p.m. PT start. It’s that weird, beautiful window where the sun is still out for the first quarter, but by the time the halftime show starts, the stadium lights are doing all the heavy lifting.
For the rest of the country, here is how the clock looks:
- Mountain Time: 4:30 p.m.
- Central Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Eastern Time: 6:30 p.m.
Now, a word of advice from someone who has sat through too many of these: 6:30 p.m. ET is the broadcast start time for the official game window. Does the ball actually fly through the air at 6:30:00? Kinda. Usually, there’s about 10 to 12 minutes of the National Anthem, the coin toss, and various military flyovers. If you want to see the opening kickoff, be in your seat (or on your couch) by 6:40 p.m. ET.
Where is the game this year?
We are heading back to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This is the home of the San Francisco 49ers. It’s actually the second time this stadium has hosted—the first was Super Bowl 50 back in 2016 when Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset.
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The NFL loves the Bay Area because the weather is usually "light jacket" vibes rather than "shoveling snow off the bleachers" vibes. Plus, it gives the league a chance to show off the tech-heavy infrastructure of Silicon Valley.
How to Watch: Channels and Streams
NBC has the ball this year. Because they are also broadcasting the 2026 Winter Olympics from Milan, they’re doing a massive "Super Season" of sports.
You’ve basically got three main ways to watch:
- Traditional TV: Flip to your local NBC affiliate.
- Streaming: Peacock will have the live stream. You’ll need a premium subscription, but it’s usually the most stable way to watch if you’ve cut the cord.
- Spanish Language: Telemundo is handling the Spanish broadcast.
If you’re stuck on a bus or at a wedding you couldn't get out of, the NFL+ app is your best bet on mobile. Just don't expect it to work perfectly if you're in a dead zone with 100,000 other people.
The Bad Bunny Factor: Halftime and Entertainment
Honesty time: half the people at your party aren't there for the third-down conversions. They are there for Bad Bunny.
The NFL and Apple Music confirmed that Benito is headlining the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. This is a massive deal because he’s the first solo Latin artist to lead the show. If you’re trying to time your snack run, the halftime show usually starts about 90 to 100 minutes after kickoff.
So, if the game starts at 6:30 p.m. ET, expect Bad Bunny to take the stage somewhere around 8:15 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. ET.
The Pre-Game Lineup
Before the whistle even blows, we’ve got Charlie Puth singing the National Anthem. It’s a bit of a departure from the country stars we’ve seen lately, but he’s got the range for those high notes in "Star Spangled Banner."
Why the Timing Matters More This Year
Because the game is in California, the "prime time" feel is a little different. For people in New York or Miami, the game ends late—usually around 10:15 p.m. ET.
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But for the locals in Santa Clara, the game ends while it's still technically dinner time. This usually leads to a much rowdier atmosphere in the stadium because, well, people have been tailgating since 10:00 a.m. local time.
Common Misconceptions
- "The game starts at 6:00." No, that’s when the "Road to the Super Bowl" hype packages start. If you tune in then, you’re going to see a lot of slow-motion montages of players walking into the stadium wearing expensive headphones.
- "It's on FOX/CBS." Not this year. The rotation is strictly NBC for 2026.
- "The Halftime show is only 15 minutes." The performance itself is usually 12-14 minutes, but the entire "halftime" break is about 30 minutes because they have to build a giant stage and take it down without ruining the grass.
What to do next
If you're hosting, you really need to work backward from that 6:30 p.m. ET start time.
Pro Tip: Set your "party start time" for at least 90 minutes before kickoff. This gives people time to get their drinks, argue about the spread, and settle into their "spot" on the couch.
Make sure your streaming apps are updated the night before. There is nothing worse than clicking "Join Live" at 6:29 p.m. only to see a "Downloading Update: 1%" progress bar. Trust me, your friends will never let you live it down.
Actionable Checklist for Game Day:
- Check the TV Input: Ensure your NBC or Peacock connection is solid by 5:30 p.m. ET.
- Sync the Food: Aim to have the "heavy" food (wings, sliders) ready by 6:15 p.m.
- Mute Group Chats: If you’re a few seconds behind the live broadcast, your "spoiler" friends will ruin every touchdown before you see it.
The clock is ticking. Whether you're in it for the commercials, the reggaeton, or the actual gridiron battle, the Super Bowl is the one time of year where the whole country actually agrees to look at the same screen at the same time. Don't be the person asking "Wait, what's the score?" because you missed the first ten minutes.