Tune in to see furry friends fight it out post Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8.
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Sports' furriest showdown is airing live ahead of Super Bowl LX.
The 2026 Puppy Bowl is almost here, bringing together furry friends from shelters and rescues across the country, all competing for the coveted “Lombarky” trophy. The annual game will take place ahead of the 2026 Super Bowl on Feb. 8, 2026, at 2 pm ET/11 am PT and will air for three hours, giving audiences plenty of time to fill up on puppy cuteness before the big game.
At a Glance: How to Watch 2026 Puppy Bowl
Two teams will participate in the 2026 Puppy Bowl: Team Fluff and Team Ruff. A special exhibition will also take place this year, shining the spotlight on senior dogs in two teams, Team Oldies vs. Team Goldies, in the all-new Pro-Dog Halftime Showdown. Ahead of the big game, you can vote for your favorite Starting Lineup player via Discovery's website, which spotlights members of both Team Fluff and Team Ruff. The puppy athlete with the most votes will receive the coveted title of “Most Pupular.”
The Puppy Bowl began as a way to promote adoption from shelters and raise awareness about rescue organizations. You can find out more about rescuing and fostering these playful pups on the Discovery Channel's website. Looking to stream the feel-good game ahead of the Super Bowl? Below, we outline how you can watch the show online without cable for free.
When is the 2026 Puppy Bowl?
Kickoff for Puppy Bowl 2026 is on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 pm ET/11 am PT. The pre-game show begins at 1 pm The show generally has a runtime of about three hours, from 2 pm to 5 pm, not including the pre-game show.
How to Watch 2026 Puppy Bowl Online
The Puppy Bowl will be airing on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, and truTV. With a subscription to a live TV streamer like DirecTV or Sling, you'll be able to watch Puppy Bowl live without cable. The event will also be available to stream on Discovery+. Learn more below.
DirecTV
DirecTV is available with a five-day free trial and includes Discovery, TBS, and TruTV in its CHOICE and ULTIMATE packages, along with NBC, USA, and CNBC. The CHOICE plan is currently marked down to $59.99/mo, while the ULTIMATE plan is also marked down at just $89.99/mo. This will allow audiences to watch the 2026 Puppy Bowl live, plus up to 160+ other channels for sports, entertainment, and news.
Sling
Sling Blue carries Discovery Channel and TruTV, along with 46 other channels for $54.99/mo. The service's Orange + Blue package also includes TruTV and Discovery for a fraction of the price for a limited time at just $29.99 for the first month. That's down from $60.99 for a slew of sports, news, and entertainment channels all in one place.
Philo
Philo offers a seven-day free trial for its main live TV service for new users. The streaming service offers Discovery, allowing users to watch 2026 Puppy Bowl live. A subscription for the service is currently on sale for just $25, down from $33, for the first month. Your subscription gives you access to over 70+ channels, including access to HBO Max Basic with ads, Discovery+, and the AMC+ library.
Discovery+
Discovery+ is another way folks can stream the 2026 Puppy Bowl, since the game is on the Discovery Channel. The service is currently offering new subscribers a seven-day free trial for both their ad-supported ($5.99/mo) and ad-free ($9.99/mo) plans.
