You've probably got the wings ordered and the fridge stocked, but honestly, none of that matters if you’re staring at a blank screen while the coin is already in the air. Figuring out what time does the super bowl start is usually the first thing everyone Googles on Sunday morning, mostly because the NFL loves to stretch the pre-game ceremonies until you're convinced the game might never actually begin.
Super Bowl LX is heading to Santa Clara this year, which means we’re dealing with West Coast vibes and a bit of a time zone dance for everyone else.
The Official Kickoff Time
The official word from the NFL and NBC is that what time does the super bowl start is 6:30 PM ET on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
If you’re on the West Coast, you’re looking at a 3:30 PM PT kickoff. This is pretty great for the locals because you aren't staying up until midnight just to see who wins the MVP. For the Central and Mountain folks, set your reminders for 5:30 PM CT and 4:30 PM MT.
Basically, the game is at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. Since it’s a West Coast game, the sun will probably still be out when the kick happens, which always looks kinda cool on TV.
TV Channels and How to Watch
This year, NBC has the broadcast rights. That means you’ll see Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth in the booth. If you’re a cord-cutter, Peacock is going to be your best friend for the live stream. They’ve been putting a lot of weight behind their NFL streaming lately, so it should be a smooth experience as long as your Wi-Fi doesn't decide to quit during a fourth-down conversion.
Telemundo will handle the Spanish-language broadcast, and if you're really into the mobile experience, the NFL+ app usually has the local stream ready to go on your phone.
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The Schedule Before the Snap
Don't expect the ball to actually be in the air at 6:30 PM on the dot. That’s just when the "broadcast" window really kicks into high gear. Usually, there’s about 15 to 20 minutes of pageantry you have to sit through first.
- The National Anthem: Charlie Puth is slated for the anthem this year. Expect that around 6:15 PM ET.
- The Coin Toss: Usually happens about 5 minutes before the actual kickoff.
- The Flyover: If you’re at the stadium, this is the loudest part. On TV, it's the signal to finally sit down.
NBC will actually start their pre-game coverage as early as 1:00 PM ET. Honestly, five and a half hours of pre-game analysis is a lot of talk about "momentum" and "key matchups," so unless you’re a die-hard, you can probably tune in around 6:00 PM and not miss anything vital.
When is the Halftime Show?
Since the first half of a Super Bowl usually takes about 90 minutes to two hours due to the massive influx of $7 million commercials, you can expect the halftime show to start around 8:00 PM or 8:30 PM ET.
Bad Bunny is the headliner this year. It's a huge deal because he’s the first solo Latin male artist to take the lead on this stage. If you're only watching for the music, that’s your window. The show itself usually lasts about 12 to 15 minutes, but the stage setup and breakdown make the "halftime" last closer to 30 minutes total.
International Viewers
If you're tuning in from across the pond, I hope you’ve got some coffee. In the UK, the game starts at 11:30 PM GMT. For most of Europe, you’re looking at a 12:30 AM CET start on Monday morning. It’s a commitment, for sure.
Why the Time Matters for Your Party
If you tell people the party starts at 6:30, they’re going to miss the kickoff. Most seasoned hosts tell their friends to show up by 5:00 PM ET. This gives everyone time to get their plates, argue about the spread, and settle into a spot on the couch before the first whistle.
The game usually wraps up around 10:00 PM or 10:15 PM ET, unless we go into overtime. Given how tight the playoffs have been lately, don't be surprised if you're still watching at 11:00 PM.
To make sure you don't miss a single snap of Super Bowl LX, double-check your Peacock login or make sure your cable box hasn't decided to run an "essential update" ten minutes before the game. If you're using an antenna, do a channel scan on Saturday just to be safe. It’s better to find out you have a signal issue 24 hours early rather than five minutes after the game starts.