NFL Playoff Schedule 2026: Your Complete Guide to Dates, Times, and How to Watch the Road to Super Bowl 60

The confetti from the regular season has settled, and the path to immortality is now clear. The 2026 NFL playoffs have arrived, a three-week gauntlet where 14 teams enter, and only one will emerge to hoist the Lombardi Trophy and etch their names in history. This year’s journey culminates in a historic setting: Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. As the football world turns its gaze to the Bay Area, the pressure and prestige are magnified, promising a postseason filled with unforgettable drama. Below, find the complete 2026 NFL playoff schedule, including dates, times, TV channels, and live stream information, along with expert analysis on the contenders vying for a championship.

The Complete 2026 NFL Playoff Broadcast Schedule

Every snap, every tackle, and every game-winning drive of the 2026 NFL playoffs will be broadcast across a suite of networks and streaming platforms. From the Wild Card weekend frenzy to the conference championship clashes, here is the essential grid for every postseason contest. All times are listed in Eastern Time (ET).

Wild Card Weekend

• Saturday, January 10, 2026: AFC Game 1, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, fubo)
• Saturday, January 10, 2026: NFC Game 1, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, fubo)
• Sunday, January 11, 2026: AFC Game 2, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+, fubo)
• Sunday, January 11, 2026: NFC Game 2, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Sports app, fubo)
• Monday, January 12, 2026: AFC Game 3, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC, ESPN+, fubo)

Divisional Round

• Saturday, January 17, 2026: NFC Game, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Sports app, fubo)
• Saturday, January 17, 2026: AFC Game, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, fubo)
• Sunday, January 18, 2026: NFC Game, 3:00 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+, fubo)
• Sunday, January 18, 2026: AFC Game, 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC, ESPN+, fubo)

Conference Championships

• Sunday, January 25, 2026: AFC Championship Game, 3:00 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+, fubo)
• Sunday, January 25, 2026: NFC Championship Game, 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Sports app, fubo)

Super Bowl 60

• Sunday, February 8, 2026: Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium, 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, fubo)

Levi’s Stadium Looms Large: The Home-Field Narrative

The location of Super Bowl 60 adds a compelling layer to this postseason. Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, sets the stage for a potential storybook ending. In recent years, we have seen the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020) and Los Angeles Rams (2021) win championships in their home venues, proving that a home-field Super Bowl advantage is no longer a fantasy. This historical precedent places a unique spotlight on the 49ers. The pressure to not only reach the final game but to win it in front of their home fans will be an immense storyline should they navigate the treacherous NFC field. Every dropped pass, every defensive stop, and every coaching decision for San Francisco will be magnified under the weight of this possibility, making their playoff run one of the most intensely watched in recent memory.

Contender Analysis and Early Playoff Predictions

While the specific teams are yet to be determined, the contours of the 2026 playoff race are taking shape based on emerging dynasties and resurgent powers. In the AFC, the conference remains a brutal battleground. Look for teams with elite, veteran quarterbacks who have weathered the playoff storm before to have a distinct edge. Squads with dominant defensive fronts capable of generating pressure with just four rushers will also be critical in neutralizing high-powered offenses. The path through the AFC will be a physical and mental war of attrition.

The NFC, meanwhile, may feature a clash between established order and hungry newcomers. The narrative of the San Francisco 49ers chasing a title at home will dominate, but young, athletic teams built around dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks are poised to disrupt the conference. The ability to win in multiple ways—through the air, on the ground, and with timely defensive plays—will separate the contenders from the pretenders. Special teams, often overlooked, will decide at least one pivotal game this January.

Early Prediction: Expect at least two road teams to win during Wild Card Weekend, continuing the recent trend of postseason parity. The Divisional Round will feature the most compelling matchups, often producing the true best game of the entire playoffs. And in the end, the team that lifts the Lombardi Trophy at Levi’s Stadium will be the one that best manages injury luck, turnover differential, and the soaring pressure of the moment.

How to Stream Every NFL Playoff Game Live in 2026

Cutting the cord doesn’t mean missing a single play. The NFL has embraced streaming, offering fans multiple, reliable ways to watch the postseason live.

• Official NFL Partners: The primary broadcasters—NBC (Peacock), CBS (Paramount+), FOX (FOX Sports app), and ESPN/ABC (ESPN+)—will stream every game they televise on their respective platforms. A subscription to these services is required.
• Live TV Streaming Services: Platforms like fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream carry the local and national channels broadcasting the games. These are excellent options for a cable-like experience without a traditional cable subscription. fubo, in particular, is a strong choice for sports fans.
• Mobile and Connected Devices: The NFL app and Yahoo Sports app will provide mobile streaming of playoff games being broadcast on local networks in your area, typically requiring verification through a TV provider.

Pro Tip: Test your streaming setup before game time to ensure you’re logged in and ready for kickoff, avoiding any last-minute technical frustrations during a crucial fourth-quarter drive.

The Final Drive to Glory

The 2026 NFL playoff schedule is set, and the journey to crown a champion is underway. From the first whistle of Wild Card Weekend to the final seconds of Super Bowl 60, the next month will deliver heartbreak, triumph, and legacy-defining performances. The unique backdrop of Levi’s Stadium creates a palpable target for every team, especially the 49ers, who will carry the hopes of a city and the burden of history. Whether you’re watching on a massive 4K screen or streaming on a tablet, make sure you’re tuned in. History awaits, and in the NFL playoffs, anything can—and usually does—happen. Strap in; the road to Super Bowl 60 starts now.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.