What time does the Super Bowl start today? Kickoff and key schedule times

Super Bowl Sunday arrives with a familiar question for fans planning food, watch parties, and travel: what time does the game actually start? The NFL’s championship game is scheduled to begin with kickoff at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, with pregame programming running for hours beforehand.

Because “start time” can mean different things—pregame show, player introductions, national anthem, or the opening kickoff—here’s a clear breakdown of the evening timeline so you don’t miss the first snap.

The official kickoff time in ET

The Super Bowl’s opening kickoff is expected shortly after 6:30 p.m. ET. That “shortly after” language matters: the listed kickoff time is a target, but the actual kick can land a few minutes later depending on final commercial breaks, ceremonial elements, and the timing of introductions.

For planning purposes:

• If you tune in at 6:25 p.m. ET, you’re safely ahead of kickoff.

• If you tune in at 6:35 p.m. ET, you may already be into the first drive.

What “the game starts” can mean

If you’ve been burned before by turning the TV on at “kickoff time” only to see extended ceremony coverage, you’re not imagining it. Super Bowl broadcasts are built to maximize the pre-kick window.

Here’s how the sequence typically flows:

• Pregame coverage (analysis, features, interviews) runs for much of the afternoon.

• On-field ceremony (introductions, anthem, other presentations) ramps up in the final half-hour.

• Kickoff follows immediately after the final pregame elements wrap.

The simplest approach: treat 6:00 p.m. ET as the moment to be settled if you care about the full run-up, and 6:30 p.m. ET as the target for the ball going in the air.

A quick schedule you can plan around

Below is a practical, viewer-focused timeline in Eastern Time. Times are approximate where the exact minute can shift.

When to expect halftime (and why it varies)

Halftime is one of the biggest planning points for parties and for anyone stepping away during the game. The catch: halftime doesn’t have a fixed clock time, because it depends on the pace of the first half.

A common expectation for the Super Bowl is halftime beginning sometime between 8:00 and 8:30 p.m. ET, but that can drift earlier or later based on:

• Scoring frequency (more scoring usually means more stoppages and commercials)

• Reviews and challenges

• Penalties

• Timeouts and end-of-half strategy

If you’re timing food, the safest bet is to have the halftime “main event” ready by 8:00 p.m. ET, with flexibility to hold for 10–20 minutes if the half runs long.

Why the Super Bowl start time matters more than usual

Regular-season games often fit a familiar rhythm. The Super Bowl is different: the broadcast is longer, the pregame is bigger, and the between-break programming is more elaborate. That has real-world impact for viewers:

• Arrivals: Guests who show up at 6:30 p.m. ET may miss kickoff after settling in.

• Cooking: Anything finishing right at 6:30 p.m. ET risks pulling attention away from the opening possessions.

• Commutes: If you’re traveling to a party, leaving with a cushion matters, especially late afternoon when local traffic can spike.

For most watch plans, the “no-stress” window is: be ready by 6:15 p.m. ET, press play or switch on the broadcast, and you’ll catch the full lead-in to kickoff.

Sources consulted: NFL; NBC; CBS Sports; People