Kid Rock halftime show vs. the official Super Bowl halftime: TPUSA’s counterprogramming plan, start window, and streaming platforms

Turning Point USA is running an alternative “All-American Halftime Show” headlined by Kid Rock during the same midgame window as the Super Bowl’s official halftime performance. The move is deliberate counterprogramming: two separate productions, two different audiences, and one shared clock—the roughly 15–20 minutes when the game stops and the country’s biggest TV stage flips from football to entertainment.

The key point for viewers is that TPUSA’s show is not part of the Super Bowl broadcast. It’s a standalone program timed to begin when the second quarter ends, with a start window that depends on how quickly the first half plays.

Two halftime shows, two different missions

The official halftime show is designed as a single, stadium-based spectacle built for the broadest possible audience, with the headliner (Bad Bunny) performing a tight, high-production set that typically runs around 12–15 minutes once the on-field build is complete.

TPUSA’s alternative show positions itself as an ideologically branded entertainment option—“faith, family, and freedom” messaging paired with a country-and-rock-leaning lineup. The framing has been central to the pitch from the start: it is meant to feel like a rebuttal in tone, not just a different music choice.

Start window: when to expect each show (ET)

Super Bowl kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Halftime timing is not fixed to a clock time—it begins when the second quarter ends—so both shows live and die by game pace.

Most projections put halftime between about 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET, with many games landing closer to the early part of that range unless there are extended reviews, injuries, or unusually long stoppages.

TPUSA has promoted its program to begin around 8:00 p.m. ET, and pre-coverage for the alternative broadcast is scheduled to start around 7:30 p.m. ET on a national faith-based television outlet.

How to watch: official broadcast vs. TPUSA stream

The official halftime performance will be carried wherever the Super Bowl broadcast is available, including the primary U.S. TV partner and its paid streaming option, along with Spanish-language feeds.

TPUSA’s show is distributed separately. Viewers can watch it through:

• TPUSA’s own digital channels (free streams on major social video and live-post platforms)

• several partner outlets (a mix of conservative-leaning TV channels and subscription streaming services)

• the faith-based TV network carrying pre-coverage and the live special

Because the alternative show is not embedded inside the game telecast, viewers who want to see it typically need to open a second stream or switch inputs during the halftime break.

A quick comparison for viewers

Why TPUSA is doing this: the politics of halftime

TPUSA announced the alternative show last fall after the official halftime headliner was revealed. The organization’s pitch has consistently blended entertainment and identity politics: it is marketed as “family-friendly” and “values-driven,” while leaning into the idea that viewers should have an option that reflects a particular cultural viewpoint.

That positioning has fueled predictable reactions. Supporters frame it as consumer choice—another thing to watch during a long break. Critics argue it intensifies a culture-war lens around an event built for broad, shared attention.

What’s still unclear before showtime

Even with the lineup and general distribution plan public, several details remain not fully clarified heading into the halftime window:

• Exact runtime and structure: whether it’s a single continuous concert block or a program with hosts, commentary, and multiple music segments

• Whether it will overlap cleanly with the halftime break: a long first half could compress the audience’s time, while a short first half could force TPUSA to hold for halftime

• Production location specifics: venue details have not been consistently emphasized in public materials

• Guest appearances: nothing major has been publicly confirmed beyond the announced bill

For viewers, the practical takeaway is simple: if you want to see the opening moments of either show, start paying attention near the end of the second quarter rather than waiting for a precise clock time.

Sources consulted: People, ABC News, Forbes, The Independent