Super Bowl 2026 Kickoff Time: When Does It Start

You’ve marked February 8 on the calendar, maybe even planned a late-night party, but the exact kickoff time for Super Bowl LX is 6:30 p.m. Eastern—though seasoned viewers know it often drifts a few minutes. We’ve gathered the details for U.S. time zones and for viewers in Ireland, plus what to expect for halftime.

Scheduled Kickoff (ET): 6:30 p.m. · Scheduled Kickoff (PT): 3:30 p.m. · Kickoff in Ireland (GMT): 11:30 p.m. · Average Halftime Start (ET): 8:00 p.m. · Game Date: February 8, 2026 · Venue: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

The six key facts below show how the Super Bowl schedule plays out for different time zones and broadcast partners.

What time does the Super Bowl start now?

Super Bowl LX is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California (CBS Sports (sports news outlet)). That translates to 3:30 p.m. Pacific and 5:30 p.m. Central. For viewers in Ireland, the same moment hits at 11:30 p.m. GMT (RTÉ (Irish public broadcaster)). The game typically runs about three and a half hours, so you can expect the final whistle around 10 p.m. ET (RTÉ).

What time is the Super Bowl in Ireland?

In Ireland, Super Bowl LX kicks off at 11:30 p.m. GMT on February 8 (RTÉ (Irish public broadcaster)). Pre-game coverage on Virgin Media One starts at 11:00 p.m., according to a schedule from Pro Football Ireland (Irish NFL community). The NFL’s own guide for UK and Ireland viewers states that live coverage on Channel 5 begins at 10:00 p.m., meaning the hour before kickoff is filled with analysis and build-up (NFL.com (league official)).

What time is the Super Bowl EST?

The abbreviation “EST” often refers to Eastern Standard Time. Since Super Bowl LX takes place in February, when the U.S. is on Eastern Standard Time, the kickoff is 6:30 p.m. EST (NFL.com (league official)). That is the same as 6:30 p.m. ET, as Daylight Saving Time does not begin until March.

What time does the Super Bowl end?

The average NFL game lasts about three hours and 12 minutes, but the Super Bowl often runs longer due to extended halftime and commercial breaks. Plan for the game to wrap up around 10:00 p.m. ET (RTÉ (Irish public broadcaster)). In Ireland, that would be roughly 3:00 a.m. GMT on February 9.

Bottom line: The Super Bowl starts at 6:30 p.m. ET but expect a 10–15 minute delay. Irish viewers should plan for a late night ending around 3 a.m. GMT.

What time will the halftime show be?

The halftime show typically begins about two hours into the game, around 8:00 p.m. ET (with a window of 7:30–8:30 p.m. depending on actual kickoff) (CBS Sports (sports news outlet)). The performance runs roughly 30 minutes (Yahoo Sports (sports media)). For Irish viewers, that means the show airs around 1:00 a.m. GMT.

Who is playing the halftime show?

As of early 2026, the halftime performer for Super Bowl LX has not been officially announced by the NFL. Multiple entertainment outlets reported that Bad Bunny would headline (Yahoo Sports (sports media)), but no confirmation came from the league. The official performer is typically revealed in the weeks leading up to the game.

Who is singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl?

The national anthem singer is also usually announced close to game day. No performer has been confirmed for Super Bowl LX yet. Past years have featured artists like Demi Lovato, Carrie Underwood, and Eric Church (FOX Sports (sports broadcaster)).

Bottom line: Neither the halftime act nor the anthem singer is officially locked in. Expect an announcement in January 2026.

Will the Super Bowl actually start at 6:30?

Short answer: probably not exactly 6:30. The NFL schedules a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff, but pre-game ceremonies, the national anthem, and other pageantry often push the actual kickoff to 6:40–6:45 p.m. (Democrat and Chronicle (local news)). A review of recent Super Bowls shows that the ball is rarely placed on the tee at the advertised minute.

Why is it so hard to find out the exact time for the Super Bowl kickoff?

Because the NFL treats the start time as an approximation. The game schedule says 6:30 p.m. ET, but the network broadcast actually begins earlier with a pre-game show, and the exact kickoff depends on how long the anthem, flyovers, and coin toss take (CBS Sports (sports news outlet)). The league does not guarantee a precise moment, which frustrates late-tuning viewers.

Bottom line: The kickoff is a range, not a point. If you want to see the first snap, be ready at 6:30 p.m. ET and accept a possible 10-minute wait.

Is the NFL on Irish TV?

Yes. Super Bowl LX is broadcast free-to-air in Ireland on Virgin Media One, as confirmed by the NFL (league official). Coverage begins at 11:00 p.m. GMT, with the game itself at 11:30 p.m. Additionally, Channel 5 carries the game in the UK as well as in Ireland via its free-to-air service (NFL.com). For streaming, viewers in Ireland can use the Virgin Media Player or Channel 5’s streaming platform.

Where to watch the Super Bowl in Ireland?

Virgin Media One is the primary Irish broadcaster. The channel’s schedule shows the Super Bowl LX live coverage starting at 11:00 p.m. on February 8 (Pro Football Ireland (Irish NFL community)). If you prefer online, the Virgin Media Player streams the channel live, and the NFL’s own Game Pass might be available via DAZN in Ireland.

For Irish viewers, the choice is clear: tune in to Virgin Media One at 11:30 p.m. GMT on February 8, but expect the first few minutes to be pre-game ceremonies. The halftime show arrives around 1 a.m., so brew another coffee. For U.S. fans, the 6:30 p.m. ET schedule is reliable, just don’t bet on the national anthem finishing before kickoff. The pattern: the Super Bowl start time is a promise with a small but consistent wiggle room.

Quotes from the coverage

The 2026 Super Bowl kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT on Feb. 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium.

Yahoo Sports (sports media)

The Super Bowl has typically kicked off at 11.30pm UK time, with the half-time show usually around 1am.

Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster)

For Irish viewers, the choice is clear: tune in to Virgin Media One at 11:30 p.m. GMT on February 8, but expect the first few minutes to be pre-game ceremonies. The halftime show arrives around 1 a.m., so brew another coffee. For U.S. fans, the 6:30 p.m. ET schedule is reliable, just don’t bet on the national anthem finishing before kickoff. The pattern: the Super Bowl start time is a promise with a small but consistent wiggle room.

For those planning their viewing party, the Super Bowl kickoff schedule and details provides a full breakdown of the official start time and broadcast information across all time zones.

Frequently asked questions