When is the super bowl? Super Bowl LX set for Feb. 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium

If you’re asking when is the super bowl, the calendar is locked in: Sunday, February 8, 2026, with kickoff in prime time at 6:30 p.m. ET. The date matters beyond the game itself because the Bay Area is gearing up for a full week of events, heavy travel demand, and tighter security measures around major venues.

When is the super bowl in 2026

Super Bowl LX will be played on Sunday, February 8, 2026. That date anchors the NFL’s championship weekend and drives the timing of related programming—media events, sponsor activations, concerts, and fan experiences—clustered in the days leading up to kickoff.

For most fans, “Super Bowl Sunday” planning starts with the TV schedule and a watch party. For travelers, it’s the centerpiece of a multi-day trip that often begins earlier in the week, especially if tickets, hospitality packages, or official events are involved.

Kickoff time in Eastern Time

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. For viewers on the West Coast, that’s a 3:30 p.m. local start, which tends to shift game-day routines earlier—tailgates, rideshares, restaurant reservations, and the timing of any stadium entry plans.

Pregame coverage typically runs for hours, but if you’re coordinating travel or a group event, the most practical “hard time” to build around is the kickoff itself. Stadium entry and security screening lines also intensify as kickoff approaches, so arriving earlier than you think you need is usually the smoothest play.

Where the game is being played

The game will take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, a South Bay location with direct implications for lodging and transportation. Staying near the stadium can reduce game-day commute stress, while staying farther north can make sense if your trip is built around events in and around San Francisco.

If you’re commuting on game day, plan for a layered traffic picture: local congestion around Santa Clara plus corridor pressure between the South Bay and San Francisco—especially in the late morning through afternoon window (ET equivalents vary, but the crowd movement pattern is consistent).

Bay Area events beyond the stadium

Even though the game is in Santa Clara, the Super Bowl’s “footprint” spreads across the Bay Area in the days before kickoff. Large venues in San Francisco frequently host fan programming, media activity, and league events, which can affect hotel inventory, pricing, and transit patterns.

For visitors, it helps to think of the week in two hubs:

• Game hub: Santa Clara and the stadium area (best for minimizing game-day logistics)

• Event hub: San Francisco (best for maximizing access to week-of experiences)

If you’re doing both, build extra buffer time for moving between hubs, and don’t assume typical weekday traffic patterns.

Security and drone restrictions

Security planning is ramping up with strict temporary airspace controls in place for Super Bowl week. Federal authorities have established a “No Drone Zone” for the game and additional restrictions around parts of San Francisco in the days leading up to kickoff.

Key points that affect the public:

• On Feb. 8, restricted airspace is set around Levi’s Stadium, including a large-radius control area and altitude limits reaching 18,000 feet.

• From Feb. 3–7, additional drone restrictions are scheduled over several San Francisco venues, including Moscone Center, Ferry Building, Grace Cathedral, and Palace of Fine Arts.

• Penalties for violating these restrictions can be severe, including large civil fines (notably figures up to $75,000 have been cited), equipment seizure, and potential criminal exposure.

For travelers flying commercially, the practical expectation is that routine airline operations are typically designed to continue, even while certain kinds of general aviation activity and unmanned aircraft operations face tighter limits.

What to do next if you’re going

If you’re attending in person, your biggest variables are lodging, transportation, and entry timing. The closer you are to the stadium, the less exposed you are to long game-day transfers—but you may miss the convenience of being near major week-of events elsewhere in the Bay Area. If you’re watching from home, the main “must know” is simply: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 — 6:30 p.m. ET.

Sources consulted: NFL, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Levi’s Stadium, Reuters, San Francisco Chronicle