February in America has basically become a national holiday because of one specific Sunday. If you are asking when is the Super Bowl, you are likely trying to coordinate a party, book a flight to California, or just make sure you don't accidentally schedule a wedding on the most-watched day of the year.
Super Bowl LX is set for February 8, 2026.
It’s happening at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. That is the home of the San Francisco 49ers. It is a bit of a trek from the actual city of San Francisco, but that hasn't stopped the NFL from heading back to the Bay Area for its diamond anniversary. Sixty years. That is a long time for a game that started as a quirky AFL-NFL merger experiment.
Marking the Calendar for Super Bowl LX
Timing is everything. Kickoff is generally expected around 6:30 PM Eastern Time. If you are on the West Coast, you're looking at a 3:30 PM start, which honestly feels like the superior way to watch football because you aren't fighting sleep by the time the trophy is hoisted.
The NFL follows a pretty rigid formula these days. They shifted to a 17-game regular season a few years back, which effectively pushed the championship game to the second Sunday in February. It used to be a January staple. Now, it lingers into the heart of winter.
Levi’s Stadium isn't new to this. They hosted Super Bowl 50 back in 2016. You might remember that as the game where Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset with the Broncos while Cam Newton had a rough afternoon under the California sun. The stadium is known for its high-tech amenities, but fans often complain about the heat on the east side of the bowl. Even in February, the Santa Clara sun can be brutal. If you’re buying tickets, keep that in mind.
Why the Location Changes Everything
Santa Clara isn't New Orleans. It isn't Las Vegas. When the game was at Allegiant Stadium or the Caesars Superdome, the "vibe" was concentrated in a tight radius. The Bay Area is different. It’s sprawling.
Events will be scattered. You’ll have NFL Experience setups in San Francisco, corporate galas in San Jose, and the actual game in Santa Clara. This creates a logistical nightmare for fans who don't plan ahead. Traffic on the 101 and I-880 is already a mess on a Tuesday; imagine it when the entire world descends for the Super Bowl.
- Public Transit: Caltrain and VTA are going to be your best friends.
- Ride Shares: Expect surge pricing that will make your eyes water.
- Pro Tip: Stay closer to San Jose if you actually want to get to the stadium on time.
The 2026 game is special because of the "LX" Roman numerals. It looks clean. It feels prestigious. The NFL loves a milestone, and they are expected to go all-out on the halftime show and pre-game festivities to celebrate six decades of the Super Bowl era.
The Halfway Point to the World Cup
There is an elephant in the room when we talk about when is the Super Bowl in 2026.
Later that same year, the United States is co-hosting the FIFA World Cup. Levi’s Stadium is actually one of the host venues for that, too. This puts the stadium staff and the city of Santa Clara in a unique position. They are essentially using the Super Bowl as a high-stakes dress rehearsal for the global soccer stage.
It's a lot of pressure.
The field surface at Levi’s Stadium has historically been a bit controversial. It’s been replaced multiple times due to turf stability issues. For a Super Bowl, the NFL usually brings in their own sod—often a specific blend grown in Arizona—to ensure nobody is slipping around like they did at State Farm Stadium a couple of years ago.
Who is Playing? (The Way-Too-Early Outlook)
Predicting the teams this far out is a fool’s errand, but let's be real: we all do it.
The AFC is a gauntlet. You have Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs who are always in the mix. Then you have the rising power of the Bengals, Texans, and whoever else manages to keep their quarterback healthy through January. On the NFC side, the 49ers will be desperate to play a home-game Super Bowl. No team has ever won a Super Bowl in their home stadium until the Bucs did it in 2021, followed immediately by the Rams in 2022.
The 49ers want that magic.
But parity in the NFL is a lie we tell ourselves. Usually, it comes down to who has the best offensive line and a quarterback who doesn't blink under the heavy pressure of two billion people watching.
Buying Tickets Without Losing Your House
If you are looking for tickets for February 8, 2026, be prepared for sticker shock. The "get-in" price—meaning the cheapest seat in the highest row—has consistently hovered around $6,000 to $8,000 in recent years.
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You can find tickets through:
- On Location: The NFL’s official hospitality partner. They are expensive but guaranteed.
- Secondary Markets: StubHub, SeatGeek, and Ticketmaster. Prices fluctuate wildly based on which teams make it.
- Lotteries: If you are a season ticket holder for an NFL team, you have a minuscule chance of winning a right to purchase.
Honestly, most people are better off watching on a 4K OLED TV at home. The beer is cheaper, and you don't have to wait in a 30-minute line to use the bathroom.
The Halftime Show and Commercials
We don't know who is performing yet. Usually, the announcement happens in the fall. The rumors always swirl—Dua Lipa, Justin Bieber, maybe a legacy act like Billy Joel? Whoever it is, they have to top the massive productions we've seen lately.
The commercials are another story. A 30-second spot for Super Bowl LX will likely clear the $7.5 million mark. Companies are moving away from just "funny" ads and toward "omnichannel experiences" where you scan a QR code on your screen. It's a bit annoying, but that's the world we live in now.
What to Do Next
If you are serious about attending or even just hosting a party for the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026, you need to start moving.
- Book Hotels Now: Hotels in the Santa Clara and San Jose area often allow bookings a year or more in advance. If you wait until the playoffs, you'll be staying two hours away in a motel.
- Check Your Tech: If you're staying home, ensure your internet bandwidth can handle a high-bitrate 4K stream. Most "4K" broadcasts via cable are actually upscaled 1080p, but streaming apps often provide the real deal.
- Plan the Menu: The Super Bowl is the second-highest day of food consumption in the U.S. after Thanksgiving. If you're catering, local spots usually close their pre-order windows two weeks before the game.
Mark the date. February 8. It’s going to be a massive moment for the Bay Area and a defining chapter in NFL history. Whether the 49ers make it to their own house or we see a fresh face in the winner's circle, the logistics remain the same. Get your plans in place before the rest of the world wakes up to the calendar.