US Trends

when does super bowl coverage start

Super Bowl 60 pregame coverage on NBC is expected to begin in the early afternoon, around 1:00 p.m. ET, with build‑up and studio shows leading into the 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Many full-day “Super Bowl Sunday” blocks also include lighter features and interviews starting late morning on related NBC platforms and Peacock.

Quick Scoop: Key Times

  • Super Bowl 60 date: Sunday, February 8, 2026.
  • Stadium: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California.
  • Official kickoff time: 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT).
  • Main network: NBC (with Telemundo carrying Spanish-language coverage).
  • Streaming: Peacock as the primary streaming home, plus providers that carry NBC live (like some live TV streaming services).
  • Typical extended pregame studio shows on the rights-holding network start roughly five to six hours before kickoff, often around 1:00 p.m. ET or earlier.

How “coverage” usually rolls out

When people ask “when does Super Bowl coverage start?” , they can mean a few different things:

  1. Earliest pregame programming
    • Networks usually roll out Super Bowl–branded content by late morning, with magazine-style stories, city features, and historical looks at past Super Bowls.
 * Expect bonus interviews, human‑interest pieces, and segments about the halftime performer and host city culture in those earlier hours.
  1. Big official pregame show
    • The main, heavily promoted pregame show on the game network (NBC in 2026) generally lands around early afternoon (about 1:00 p.m. ET), then runs straight into kickoff.
 * This block is where you get deeper analysis, live reports from team facilities or locker rooms, and more structured countdown segments.
  1. Final countdown window
    • The last 60–90 minutes before kickoff tend to focus tightly on matchups, injury updates, starting lineups, and on‑field warmups.
 * That’s also when broadcasts spotlight the national anthem, coin toss, and any major pre-kick ceremonies.

In other words, if you just want the actual game, tune in by about 6:15 p.m. ET. If you want the “full Super Bowl Sunday experience,” plan to have NBC or Peacock on by early afternoon.

Practical viewing tips

  • Decide what you care about most:
    • Only the game: be ready shortly before 6:30 p.m. ET.
* Game + serious analysis: aim for about 4:30–5:00 p.m. ET.
* Full-day Super Bowl vibe: turn on NBC or Peacock by late morning or early afternoon and let it run.
  • Check your local listings:
    • Local NBC affiliates may brand and time certain pregame blocks a bit differently, but all will be synced to the national 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
  • Streaming prep:
    • Log in to Peacock and any live TV streaming service you use earlier in the day so you’re not troubleshooting right before kickoff.

TL;DR: Super Bowl coverage on NBC and Peacock runs for much of Sunday, with the main pregame shows starting early afternoon (around 1:00 p.m. ET) and the game itself kicking off at 6:30 p.m. ET on February 8, 2026.

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