Everything stops for it. Honestly, it doesn't matter if you haven't watched a single snap of professional football since September; when February rolls around, you’re probably going to find yourself sitting in front of a television with a plate of wings. It’s a cultural monster. But the most common question—the one that starts hitting Google search bars the moment the playoffs begin—is always: when is the Super Bowl?
The short answer is Sunday, February 8, 2026.
Usually, we expect the game to fall on the first Sunday of February, but the NFL's move to a 17-game regular season back in 2021 shifted the calendar. Now, the championship game is firmly planted on the second Sunday of the month. Super Bowl LX (that's 60, for those of us who still struggle with Roman numerals) is heading to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It’s home turf for the San Francisco 49ers, though history tells us that playing at home is a rare luxury that doesn't always guarantee a trophy.
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The Specifics of Super Bowl LX Timing
Kickoff is generally scheduled for 6:30 PM ET. If you're on the West Coast, you’re looking at a 3:30 PM start, which is arguably the superior way to watch. You get the game, the halftime show, and the trophy presentation, and you’re still in bed by 9:00 PM.
Fox holds the broadcasting rights for 2026. This is part of the "cycle" between the big four networks—CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC/ESPN. Each year, the rotation changes, bringing different commentary teams and pre-game vibes. For LX, expect the lead duo of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady. Yes, Brady in the booth for a Super Bowl is going to be one of the biggest talking points leading up to the coin toss.
People often forget that the "event" starts hours before the actual kickoff. The pre-game coverage usually begins as early as 11:00 AM ET. It’s a lot of talking heads and human-interest stories. If you just want the football, don't bother tuning in until about 6:15 PM.
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Why Levi's Stadium?
The NFL doesn't just pick these spots out of a hat. They want "destination" cities. Santa Clara hosted Super Bowl 50 back in 2016, and while the stadium is technically about 40 miles south of San Francisco, the entire Bay Area turns into a massive fan festival.
The league looks for a few specific things:
- Stadium capacity (Levi's holds about 68,500, but can expand).
- Infrastructure for the "Super Bowl Experience" (the massive fan theme park).
- Climate. Even though Levi’s is open-air, Northern California in February is usually mild, unlike the potential blizzards of New York or Chicago.
The Halfime Show and Commercial Chaos
We don't know the performer yet. Usually, the NFL and Apple Music wait until the fall—around September or October—to announce the headliner. There's always a massive rumor mill. Sometimes it's a legacy act, sometimes it's a current pop titan. Whoever it is, they won't be paid a "performance fee." The NFL covers production costs, which can run into the tens of millions, but the artist does it for the exposure. When you have 115 million people watching, your Spotify streams tend to go up.
And the ads. Oh, the ads.
A 30-second spot for 2026 is expected to clear the $7 million mark. It’s a staggering amount of money for half a minute of airtime. Brands aren't just paying for the slot; they’re paying for the "watercooler effect." They want you talking about their talking dog or celebrity cameo the next morning at work.
Logistics for the Fan on the Ground
If you’re actually planning on going, start saving now. The "get-in" price for a ticket rarely drops below $6,000 on the secondary market. Hotels in San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco will likely have three-night minimum stays and quadrupled rates.
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- Flight bookings: Book as soon as the NFC and AFC Championship games are over.
- Transportation: Use the VTA light rail. Parking at Levi's Stadium during the Super Bowl is a nightmare that costs hundreds of dollars.
- Security: It’s a "National Special Security Event." Expect TSA-level screening just to get near the stadium perimeter.
Misconceptions About the Date
A lot of people think the Super Bowl should be a national holiday. There have been countless petitions to move the game to Saturday so people can recover on Sunday. The NFL has resisted this for decades. Why? Ratings. Sunday night is the most-watched night of television. Moving it to Saturday would actually decrease the total viewership because people are more likely to be out and about on a Saturday evening.
Another weird quirk: people often search for "when is the super bowel" (yes, the spelling happens) thinking it’s always the same weekend as the Waste Management Open in Phoenix. While they often overlap, they aren't officially linked. It just happens that the "Greatest Show on Grass" golf tournament loves the synergy of a massive sports weekend.
Looking Toward the Future
After Santa Clara in 2026, the circus moves to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles for Super Bowl LXI in 2027. Then it’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for 2028. The NFL is clearly leaning into these high-tech, billion-dollar venues that offer a "premium" experience for corporate sponsors and high-net-worth fans.
If you’re hosting a party, the best thing you can do is prep your food on Saturday. Nobody wants to be stuck in the kitchen when a $7 million commercial or a game-winning drive is happening. Get the slow cooker going. Buy the chips in bulk.
The countdown to February 8, 2026, is basically the heartbeat of the American sports calendar. Whether you're there for the X's and O's or just the 7-layer dip, it's the one day the whole country is looking at the same screen.
Preparation Checklist for Super Bowl LX
- Confirm the time zone: 6:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM CT / 4:30 PM MT / 3:30 PM PT.
- Check your tech: Ensure your streaming apps are updated or your cable signal is crisp; 4K broadcasts are becoming more common for the Big Game, but they require more bandwidth.
- Plan the menu: If you're ordering wings, place the order 48 hours in advance. Most pizza places and wing spots hit capacity by noon on game day.
- Set the DVR: Even if you're watching live, record it. You'll want to rewind that one controversial penalty or the weirdest commercial everyone is texting about.
- Monday Morning: If you can, book the Monday after off. "Super Bowl Monday" is the most common day for "sick calls" in the United States for a reason.