Super Bowl 2026 Today: Start Time, Kickoff, Location, How to Watch, and What to Expect From Seahawks vs Patriots

Super Bowl LX is scheduled for today, Sunday, February 8, 2026, with kickoff set for 6:30 PM ET. The matchup is Seattle Seahawks vs New England Patriots, and the game is being played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. With a rematch storyline, a massive audience, and a halftime headliner already drawing attention, the Super Bowl is again functioning as both a championship game and a cultural megaphone.

Super Bowl time and start time today in ET

The key timing question has one simple answer: the Super Bowl start time is 6:30 PM ET (kickoff). Pregame coverage and stadium programming typically begin earlier, but the on-field start is centered on that kickoff window.

Halftime timing: The halftime show generally lands around 8:00 PM ET, but that can slide depending on game flow, reviews, and stoppages.

How long does the Super Bowl last? A typical Super Bowl broadcast runs about 3.5 to 4 hours, which puts the end of game and trophy ceremony commonly in the 10:00–10:30 PM ET range, though close finishes can push later.

Who’s playing in Super Bowl 2026: Seahawks vs Patriots, again

Seattle vs New England instantly revives one of the most replayed “what-if” endings of the modern era. Even if rosters and coaches have changed since their last Super Bowl meeting, the shorthand remains: a high-stakes rematch that fans, sponsors, and the league know how to market.

From a football lens, the pressure is asymmetric:

• Seattle carries the “finish the job” weight that comes with being favored in many conversations entering the game.

• New England carries the “prove it’s real” burden that comes with returning to this stage after years of turnover and identity rebuilding.

This is why the Super Bowl often feels like two games at once: one on the field and one in legacy management.

Where to watch the Super Bowl and how to stream it

Because local availability can vary, the most reliable guidance is structural:

• TV: The game airs nationally in the U.S. on the official broadcast partner for this season’s Super Bowl. Check your local TV listings for the exact channel number in your area.

• Streaming: The game is available through the event’s official streaming option in the U.S., and also through common “TV everywhere” methods for viewers who authenticate with a pay-TV subscription.

• Watching for free: Many viewers can watch without paying a streaming fee by using over-the-air reception with a digital antenna where the broadcast signal is carried locally. Outside the home, sports bars, restaurants, and public watch parties are also common no-subscription options.

The practical tip: if you’re trying to avoid last-minute surprises, confirm your setup well before kickoff time.

Halftime show 2026: who’s performing and why it matters

The Super Bowl 2026 halftime show headliner is Bad Bunny. Pregame musical performances are also part of the event’s planned run-of-show, with Charlie Puth slated for the national anthem.

The halftime show is not just entertainment filler. It’s a strategic piece of the league’s business:

• It expands the audience beyond core football fans.

• It helps justify ad pricing by keeping casual viewers tuned in.

• It turns the broadcast into a cross-industry launchpad for music, touring, and brand partnerships.

That incentive stack is why halftime choices increasingly signal global reach and streaming-era momentum, not just legacy fame.

Behind the headline: incentives, stakeholders, and what we still don’t know

Context: The Super Bowl is the league’s single biggest annual asset, and every decision around it is engineered to reduce friction for viewers while maximizing attention.

Incentives:

• The league wants the broadest possible audience and a clean, controversy-light showcase.

• Teams want a win, but also want to protect reputations: coaching decisions, late-game clock management, and even injury disclosures become narrative accelerants.

Stakeholders:

• Players and coaches, whose careers can be redefined by one drive.

• Advertisers, who are buying not just impressions but cultural placement.

• Host-region businesses, which see a short burst of tourism and long-tail branding.

Missing pieces to watch today:

• Late injury status shifts and how that changes play-calling.

• Weather and field conditions that can tilt kicking and timing offenses.

• Officiating emphasis: even a single high-leverage call can become the postgame headline.

What happens next: realistic scenarios and triggers

1. Seattle controls tempo early → If the Seahawks win the turnover battle in the first half, they can shrink the game and pressure New England into riskier throws.

2. New England keeps it close into the fourth → If it’s a one-score game late, the Patriots can turn the final 8 minutes into a coaching-and-clutch contest.

3. Special teams swing → A return, a missed kick, or a blocked attempt can instantly rewrite the script.

4. Halftime momentum narrative → A strong third quarter often becomes “adjustments” talk, even when it’s simply execution and a couple of key plays.

And the question “who won the Super Bowl 2026?” As of today before the game is played, the winner is not confirmed. The only certainty is that by late tonight ET, one franchise will have a defining moment to sell for a decade.