Puppy Bowl 2026: When it is, what time it starts, and how to watch and adopt

Puppy Bowl XXII is set to air on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 (ET), returning as the family-friendly lead-in that fills the afternoon with adoptable dogs, pun-heavy “football,” and real-world shelter success stories. This year’s edition is also expanding the spotlight beyond puppies, adding a halftime segment built around senior dogs to encourage more adoptions of older pets.

When is the Puppy Bowl 2026?

The 2026 Puppy Bowl takes place on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 (ET). The timing is designed to wrap well before Super Bowl kickoff, so viewers can catch the full event and still have time to shift to football coverage later in the evening.

What time does the Puppy Bowl start?

The main event begins at 2:00 p.m. ET and runs for about three hours, ending around 5:00 p.m. ET.

There’s also a pregame-style lead-in show that starts at 1:00 p.m. ET, built around introductions, “combine” moments, and a closer look at some of the dogs featured in the broadcast.

Where to watch Puppy Bowl 2026 and how to stream it

Puppy Bowl XXII is carried widely across U.S. cable and streaming options, with a simulcast approach meant to make it easy to find without hunting. In practice, viewers have three common ways to watch live:

• Traditional cable/satellite: Look for the animal-focused cable channel that has long been the home for Puppy Bowl, plus sister channels airing the simulcast.

• Live TV streaming bundles: Many live-TV apps that include those channels will carry the simulcast; availability can vary by location and package.

• Subscription streaming apps in the same media family: The event is also available to stream, with on-demand viewing available after the live airing.

If you’re trying to avoid last-minute scrambling, the simplest move is to confirm the listing in your TV guide around 12:45–1:00 p.m. ET and make sure you’re tuned to the correct live feed before 2:00 p.m. ET.

Puppy Bowl 2026 lineup: Team Ruff vs. Team Fluff

The 2026 broadcast features 150+ adoptable dogs drawn from about 72 shelters and rescues across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands. As always, the “teams” are split into Team Ruff and Team Fluff, and the show highlights each dog’s background and adoptability throughout the game.

A smaller “starting lineup” group of featured dogs is promoted ahead of the show, but the broader roster is the heart of the program—designed to send viewers toward shelter adoption rather than simply picking a favorite player.

This year also includes special-needs dogs in the field, continuing the event’s push to normalize adoption of animals who may require extra care or accommodations.

Adoption details: how to find Puppy Bowl dogs

A core point that trips up first-time viewers: Puppy Bowl is not broadcast live. It’s filmed in advance, then packaged for Super Bowl Sunday. That’s good for the dogs—many will already be placed in homes by air time—but it also means that if you fall in love with a specific pup, waiting can reduce your chances.

If you want to adopt, the best path is to use the official Puppy Bowl “adopt” hub (search for it using “Puppy Bowl adopt”), where each dog profile lists the shelter or rescue organization. From there, adoption happens directly through the organization, following its local rules on applications, home checks, fees, and travel.

A practical approach that shelters recommend:

• Start with the dog profile and identify the rescue organization.

• Apply quickly if a specific dog is your goal.

• If that dog is already adopted, ask about similar dogs in the same organization or foster network.

The new halftime twist: senior dogs get the spotlight

Puppy Bowl XXII adds a dedicated halftime segment focused on older dogs, framed as Team Oldies vs. Team Goldies. The goal is straightforward: senior dogs are often overlooked compared with puppies, yet they can be easier fits for many households—often calmer, more settled, and more predictable in temperament.

This addition is a notable shift in the show’s messaging: it’s not just “adopt a puppy,” but “adopt the right dog,” including older dogs who need homes just as urgently.

Sources consulted: Associated Press, Discovery, People, Los Angeles Times