The Ultimate Guide: When Does The Super Bowl Halftime Show Start? (2026 Edition)

The question of "When does the Halftime Show start?" is one of the most-searched queries every year, often eclipsing interest in the game itself. For the upcoming spectacular, the answer is an estimated window, not a fixed clock time, due to the nature of live football. As of December 18, 2025, the most current and specific information points to the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show starting between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

This highly anticipated musical event, officially the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, is one of the world's biggest stages for music. The precise start time is always a fluid target, entirely dependent on how quickly the first half of the game—featuring the NFC and AFC champions—is completed. Fans should plan to tune in well before the estimated window to catch the final minutes of the first half and the buildup to the main event.

The 2026 Halftime Show: Date, Location, and Headliner

To pinpoint the start time, we must first establish the details of the main event. The next major professional football championship is Super Bowl LX, marking the 60th edition of the National Football League (NFL) title game. This is the foundation for all time calculations.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

• Event: Super Bowl LX (Super Bowl 60)
• Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
• Location: Levi's® Stadium in Santa Clara, California (Home of the San Francisco 49ers)
• Kickoff Time: 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) / 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time (PT)
• Broadcaster: The game will be televised nationally, ensuring maximum viewership for the Halftime Show.
• Official Sponsor: Apple Music (The show is produced in partnership with Roc Nation and the NFL).

Bad Bunny: The Confirmed Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Performer

The star power for the 2026 show is immense, generating significant global buzz. The confirmed headliner for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show is global phenomenon Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio).

The Puerto Rican superstar is one of the most streamed artists in the world, and his selection signals a continued effort by the NFL and Roc Nation to embrace global music icons. His performance is expected to be a high-energy spectacle, potentially featuring a diverse array of guest artists, continuing the tradition of surprise appearances that have defined past shows.

Why the Halftime Show Start Time is an Estimate (Not a Fixed Clock)

Unlike a concert with a set curtain time, the Super Bowl Halftime Show is tethered to the flow of the game. The show begins immediately after the final play of the second quarter. The primary factor influencing the start time is the real-time duration of the First Half.

• The Facts Of Life Cast Where Are Eastlands Girls Now 2024 Updates 2tx8p

The Real-Time Clock vs. Game Clock

A standard NFL game consists of four 15-minute quarters, totaling 60 minutes of playing time. The first half is 30 minutes of game clock. However, the Super Bowl first half in real-time is significantly longer than a regular-season game due to several critical factors:

• Commercial Breaks: The Super Bowl has a higher volume of commercial breaks, which are longer and more frequent than any other NFL game. This is a primary driver of the extended first-half duration.
• Stoppages and Reviews: Timeouts, penalties, official reviews, and injuries all stop the game clock but continue the real-time clock.
• The Two-Minute Warning: This mandatory stoppage near the end of the second quarter (and fourth quarter) often leads to a flurry of plays, timeouts, and clock-stoppages, extending the final minutes of the half.

Historically, while the game clock is 30 minutes, the first half of a Super Bowl typically takes approximately 75 to 90 minutes of real-time to complete.

The Halftime Break Duration: More Than Just the Music

The Super Bowl Halftime break is also significantly longer than the standard 12-minute break in a regular-season game. The entire intermission usually lasts between 30 and 45 minutes in real-time.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

This extended period is necessary for:

1. Field Transformation: A crew of hundreds of workers must rapidly dismantle the football field and assemble the massive, complex stage, sound system, and lighting rig for the musical performance.
2. The Performance: Bad Bunny’s musical set itself is typically a tightly choreographed 12-to-15 minute production.
3. Field Reversion: The crew must then reverse the process, clearing the stage and preparing the field for the start of the Third Quarter.

The Halftime Show Estimated Start Time (8:00 PM – 8:30 PM ET)

Based on the 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff and the historical real-time duration of the first half (75–90 minutes), we can calculate the most reliable estimate for the start of the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show:

• Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET
• Plus First Half Duration (Estimate): ~1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes)
• Estimated End of Second Quarter: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Halftime Show Start: Immediately following the End of the Second Quarter.

Therefore, the best time to ensure you don't miss the start of Bad Bunny's performance is to tune in by 8:00 p.m. ET. The show will begin sometime between 8:00 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET. For those on the West Coast, this translates to a start window of 5:00 p.m. PT to 5:30 p.m. PT.

Halftime Show History and Legacy Entities

The Super Bowl Halftime Show has evolved from marching bands to a global spectacle featuring the biggest names in music. Recognizing the history helps appreciate the scale of Bad Bunny's upcoming performance. Key entities and iconic moments include:

• Michael Jackson (Super Bowl XXVII, 1993): Credited with transforming the halftime show into a major cultural event.
• Prince (Super Bowl XLI, 2007): Delivered one of the most legendary performances in history, playing "Purple Rain" during a downpour.
• Beyoncé (Super Bowl XLVII, 2013): Her performance, featuring a Destiny’s Child reunion, remains one of the most powerful.
• Roc Nation: Jay-Z's entertainment company, which partners with the NFL to curate the musical talent and production, ensuring a high-quality, modern show.
• Recent Headliners: Usher (Super Bowl LVIII), Rihanna (Super Bowl LVII), Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar (Super Bowl LVI).

The complexity of the staging, the global television audience (often exceeding 100 million viewers), and the sheer magnitude of the production solidify the Halftime Show as a unique entity in entertainment. Bad Bunny is set to join this elite list of performers, and while the exact start time is a mystery until the game begins, preparing for the 8:00 p.m. ET window is your best bet to catch every minute of the show.