The Super Bowl returns to Santa Clara in 2026, but San Francisco will once again play host to much of the fanfare leading up to the Big Game, while San Jose will reprise its role in kicking off the week of pageantry.
NFL and Bay Area Host Committee officials announced the long-awaited lineup on Monday morning, which includes the return of both the Super Bowl Experience and the media hub to downtown San Francisco’s Moscone Center.
Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive vice president for club business, international and league events, said at a press conference, that they’re “committed to creating an unforgettable experience” for both residents and those coming from across the country and around the world.
Super Bowl LX will be played at Levi’s Stadium — the home of the San Francisco 49ers — on Feb. 8, 2026, with the festivities kicking off on Feb. 2. O’Reilly called the milestone Super Bowl a “huge opportunity to do something really special together in northern California in one of the most vibrant, forward thinking, innovative parts of the world.”
The spectacle will kick off in San Jose like it did a decade ago for Super Bowl 50, in what O’Reilly referred to as a “tone setter” for the week. On Feb. 2 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, fans will have the opportunity to hear from players and coaches either from the AFC or the NFC champions.
Zaileen Janmohamed, the president and CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee, said during a virtual press conference that holding the kickoff event in San Jose was one of the first things they asked the NFL to consider.
“In our reference points of how we even talk about the Super Bowl is we talk about it being a Bay Area Super Bowl,” she said. “So, it’s important that the events reflect that where possible.”
San Jose has already launched its own “Fly, Stay and Play” campaign, encouraging visitors to take advantage of all the nation’s 12th largest city has to offer.
“When you touch down at San Jose Mineta International Airport, you’ll be just ten minutes from Levi’s Stadium and the NFL’s Opening Night,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a news release about the announcement. “We’re also organizing world-class concerts, drone shows and culinary experiences walking distance from downtown so residents and visitors alike have an unforgettable Super Bowl experience right here in San Jose.”
San Jose officials largely felt snubbed by the NFL last time around. A study conducted after the event found that the Super Bowl had a $240 million economic impact on the Bay Area, with more than 57% of the revenues benefiting San Francisco. San Jose saw 12.3% of the economic pie, while Santa Clara — home of Levi’s Stadium — got a mere 7.2%.
San Jose has been fervently working to ensure it has its own moment in the limelight and is set to host 13 concerts, drone shows and more than 100 watch parties around the Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup — six matches will be played at Levi’s Stadium in June and July 2026.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
