The Super Bowl is basically a national holiday in America, but for some reason, we still have to Google the exact timing every single February. You’d think after sixty years we would just know. But with the 2026 game heading to the West Coast, the math gets a little fuzzy for fans trying to plan their wings-and-nacho schedules.
Super Bowl LX is slated for Sunday, February 8, 2026.
If you are looking for the short answer: The Super Bowl starts at 6:30 PM ET. But that is rarely the whole story. Because the game is being played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California—the home of the San Francisco 49ers—the locals will actually be seeing the opening kickoff at 3:30 PM PT. This creates a weird dynamic where the sun is still high in the sky for the first half of the game, while East Coast viewers are already deep into their evening.
What Time Does the Super Bowl Start? Breaking Down the Zones
Honestly, the most annoying thing about the Super Bowl is the "pre-game" bloat. If you turn on NBC (this year's official broadcaster) at 1:00 PM ET, you are going to see hours of interviews, human interest stories, and guys in suits yelling about defensive schemes.
But if you just want the football, here is the breakdown of when the actual foot hits the ball across the country:
- Eastern Time: 6:30 PM
- Central Time: 5:30 PM
- Mountain Time: 4:30 PM
- Pacific Time: 3:30 PM
NBC is handling the broadcast this year, with Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth expected to be in the booth. They usually time the national anthem—performed this year by Charlie Puth—for about 6:20 PM ET. If you want to see the coin toss and the flyover, don’t wait until 6:30. Be on your couch by 6:15 PM.
The Bad Bunny Factor and the Halftime Timeline
One of the biggest questions people ask (besides the score) is when the halftime show starts. Since this year features Bad Bunny as the headliner, the interest is through the roof.
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Predicting the exact minute of the halftime show is a fool’s errand because football is unpredictable. However, based on decades of NFL data, the first half usually takes about 90 minutes to two hours. This puts the Super Bowl LX halftime show at approximately 8:15 PM ET to 8:30 PM ET.
Bad Bunny is the first solo Spanish-speaking act to headline, which is a massive deal for the league’s global push. The NFL and Apple Music are reportedly spending a fortune on the production. Expect it to last about 13 minutes. It’s a sprint, not a marathon.
Where to Watch if You Don't Have Cable
The "cord-cutting" era has made watching the Big Game a bit of a scavenger hunt. Since NBC has the rights for 2026, Peacock is your primary streaming destination.
You’ve got options though.
- Telemundo will carry the Spanish-language broadcast.
- NFL+ usually carries the game for mobile users, though there are often device restrictions.
- YouTube TV, FuboTV, and Hulu + Live TV will all have your local NBC affiliate.
One tip: if you are streaming, you are likely on a 30-to-60-second delay. If your neighbors start screaming, you’ll know a touchdown happened before you actually see it. Turn off your phone notifications if you want to avoid spoilers.
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Why 6:30 PM Became the Magic Number
Ever wonder why the game doesn't start at 8:00 PM like a normal prime-time show? It's all about the "sweet spot" for advertisers. By starting at 6:30 PM ET, the NFL ensures that the game finishes before 11:00 PM on the East Coast, while still capturing the afternoon audience on the West Coast.
It's a billion-dollar balancing act. If the game goes into overtime—like we saw with the Chiefs and 49ers a few years back—the ratings skyrocket, but the network loses a fortune in "make-good" ads for the local news.
Preparation Checklist for February 8
Don't be the person still preheating the oven when the national anthem starts.
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- Finalize your grocery run by Saturday. Trying to buy avocados on Sunday morning is a nightmare.
- Check your tech. Update your Peacock app or your Smart TV software on Friday. There is nothing worse than a "Required Update" screen at 6:28 PM.
- Plan the exit. If you’re at a party, the game usually ends around 10:15 PM ET. If it goes to OT, you're looking at 11:00 PM or later.
The road to Santa Clara is almost over. Whether you're there for the commercials, Bad Bunny, or the actual football, the clock is officially ticking toward that 6:30 PM kickoff.
Your next step: Double-check your streaming subscription status now to ensure your login credentials are still active before the high-traffic surge on game day.