SUMMARY
- Super Bowl 2026 kickoff time is scheduled for 6:30 PM Eastern at Levi’s Stadium.
- Pregame ceremonies are expected to begin around 6 PM Eastern.
- The timing reflects the NFL’s continued focus on East Coast prime time viewership.
Super Bowl 60 will be played Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with an official kickoff time of 6:30 PM Eastern, according to the National Football League, anchoring the league’s prime time championship window for a global audience.
The Super Bowl remains the most watched annual sporting event in the United States and a major global broadcast.
The confirmed Super Bowl 2026 kickoff time of 6:30 PM Eastern places the game squarely in prime time for North America while allowing international broadcasters to plan coverage hours in advance.
The league’s choice of Levi’s Stadium also returns the event to a venue that previously hosted Super Bowl 50 a decade earlier.
Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, opened in 2014 and has become a frequent host of major events, including college football championships and international soccer matches.
The stadium last staged the Super Bowl in February 2016, when the Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers.
Santa Clara operates on Pacific Time, three hours behind the Eastern broadcast window, meaning the local kickoff will occur in the late afternoon.
The NFL standardized the 6:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff in recent years to maximize national viewership, advertising revenue and consistent scheduling across time zones.
According to league scheduling data, Super Bowl audiences peak during the opening quarter and halftime window, reinforcing the importance of the precise start time.
Mike North, the NFL’s vice president of broadcast planning, said the league views the Super Bowl kickoff time as a “fixed appointment for viewers worldwide,” emphasizing predictability for fans and partners.
Sports media analyst Andrew Marchand of The Athletic said the consistency helps networks “build a full day event that captures casual and dedicated viewers alike.”
From an economic standpoint, sports economist Victor Matheson of the College of the Holy Cross said the timing “maximizes advertising efficiency,” noting that prime time placement aligns with the highest cost per thousand advertising rates of the television year.
| Super Bowl | Location | Kickoff (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl 50 | Santa Clara, California | 6:30 p.m. |
| Super Bowl 57 | Glendale, Arizona | 6:30 p.m. |
| Super Bowl 58 | Las Vegas | 6:30 p.m. |
| Super Bowl 60 | Santa Clara, California | 6:30 p.m. |
Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesperson, said the league’s event operations team works backward from the 6:30 PM Eastern kickoff to schedule ceremonies, security and broadcast cues.
NBC Sports executive producer Molly Solomon said the network’s coverage plan is designed so that “viewers who tune in fifteen minutes early still experience the anthem and coin toss without rushing.”
Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor said hosting the Super Bowl again brings “global visibility and measurable tourism impact” to the region, citing increased hotel occupancy and transit demand throughout game week.
With the Super Bowl 2026 kickoff time set, attention will shift to operational details including transportation planning, international broadcast feeds and halftime production schedules.
The NFL has indicated future Super Bowls will continue using a similar evening Eastern window, barring extraordinary circumstances.
Super Bowl 60’s 6:30 PM Eastern kickoff at Levi’s Stadium underscores the NFL’s emphasis on consistency, prime time reach and logistical certainty.
As fans and broadcasters plan for Feb. 8, 2026, the established timing remains central to how the league delivers its biggest event to a worldwide audience.
NOTE! This article was generated with the support of AI and compiled by professionals from multiple reliable sources, including official statements, press releases, and verified media coverage. For more information, please see our T&C.
