The NFL’s big week is set: the Pro Bowl flag game and NFL Honors lead into the Super Bowl, which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8. Here’s what to watch, where to stream and why the timing matters for fans planning their Super Bowl weekend.

Who, what and when

The Super Bowl will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Feb. 8, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The game will air on NBC and stream on Peacock. The matchup is the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots.

Key lead-up events

  • Pro Bowl (flag football): 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3 — televised on ESPN. The non-contact Pro Bowl game and associated skills competitions will take place inside the Moscone Center in San Francisco as part of the Super Bowl Experience. Legendary 49ers Jerry Rice and Steve Young are coaching the AFC and NFC rosters respectively.
  • NFL Honors: 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5 — the annual award show at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco will air on NBC and announce season awards and introduce the new Hall of Fame class.

Why the schedule change matters

The NFL moved the Pro Bowl into Super Bowl week and into the host city’s festivities, rather than holding it the Sunday before the Super Bowl. That shift means the first Sunday without NFL football since late August will occur on Feb. 1 — a notable gap for fans used to year-round weekend games.

What fans can expect

The Pro Bowl will remain a flag-football format and include skills events designed to draw viewership without risking injuries to Super Bowl participants. Rosters were picked by players, coaches and fans; alternates were added where selections conflicted with the Super Bowl or injuries.

Viewing tips

  • Super Bowl: NBC broadcast and Peacock stream — tune in on Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
  • Pro Bowl: ESPN and streaming services that carry ESPN (examples include Fubo) — Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
  • NFL Honors: NBC on Feb. 5 at 8 p.m.

Fan and industry reaction

The Pro Bowl’s move into Super Bowl week aims to centralize festivities and keep fans in the host city engaged across multiple events. While purists miss the traditional contact game, the league believes the entertainment-focused format and skills competitions better fit the week’s carnival atmosphere.

What’s next

If you’re planning watch parties or travel, mark these dates: Feb. 3 for the Pro Bowl, Feb. 5 for NFL Honors and Feb. 8 for the Super Bowl. Expect local fan events in San Francisco and additional broadcast pregame programming on NBC and Peacock as the week progresses.

With the Super Bowl’s 5:30 p.m. start on Feb. 8 now set, viewers can finalize plans for kickoff celebrations, streaming access and pregame coverage.