US Trends

how do i watch the puppy bowl

You can watch the 2026 Puppy Bowl on several regular TV channels or by streaming it online, including some options that offer free trials.

Quick Scoop

Event basics

  • The Puppy Bowl (Puppy Bowl XXII) is airing today, Sunday, February 8, 2026, ahead of Super Bowl LX.
  • Kickoff is around 2 p.m. ET, with a pre-game show starting at about 1 p.m. ET.

Where to watch on TV

You can watch the Puppy Bowl on standard cable or satellite if you get any of these channels:

  • Animal Planet
  • Discovery Channel
  • TBS
  • truTV

On many providers, Animal Planet is included in regular entertainment bundles; exact channel numbers vary, so it’s best to check your on-screen guide or your provider’s website.

Mini tip

If you have DIRECTV or DISH, Animal Planet is often on channel 282 (DIRECTV) and 184 (DISH), though you should still confirm in your current guide.

How to stream the Puppy Bowl

If you don’t have cable, you still have multiple ways to watch, including some that can be free if you use a trial and cancel in time.

Main streaming options that carry the Puppy Bowl in 2026 include:

  • Max (formerly HBO Max) – live stream of the Puppy Bowl.
  • Discovery+ – also streaming it live, with about a 7-day free trial for new subscribers.
  • Live TV streaming services that carry Animal Planet / Discovery / TBS / truTV, such as:
    • Hulu + Live TV (sometimes with a short free trial).
* YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.

* Sling TV, which may offer promo pricing or free previews around big events.

Simple approach if you want it free:

  1. Sign up for the Discovery+ 7‑day free trial (or Max if it’s available in a bundle for you).
  1. Watch the Puppy Bowl live today.
  2. Cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to keep the subscription.

Step‑by‑step: pick your best option

  1. Decide if you want to use cable/satellite or streaming.
    • If you already pay for cable or satellite, just find Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, or truTV in your guide and tune in at 1–2 p.m. ET.
  1. If you’re streaming:
    • For the easiest dedicated stream: sign up for Discovery+ and use the free trial.
 * If you also want Super Bowl coverage and other channels, go for a live TV bundle like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, or Sling (check which carries Animal Planet and Discovery in your region).
  1. Set a reminder.
    • Pre‑game: ~1 p.m. ET, main game: ~2 p.m. ET today.

Why it’s such a big deal now

In recent years, the Puppy Bowl has become a kind of warm‑up tradition for Super Bowl Sunday, with fans choosing sides like Team Ruff vs Team Fluff and sharing clips all over social media. It also doubles as a big awareness campaign for pet adoption, featuring shelter dogs and often achieving a very high adoption rate for the puppies that appear.

Many viewers now treat it as the “wholesome” alternative to pre‑game NFL coverage, watching the Puppy Bowl first and then switching over to Super Bowl build‑up.

TL;DR:
Turn on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, or truTV today around 1–2 p.m. ET, or stream it on Max or Discovery+ (often with a 7‑day free trial) to watch the Puppy Bowl.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.