Puppy Bowl 2026 will air on Sunday with a kickoff show beginning at 1 p.m. ET and the main event scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET, according to broadcast listings. Animal Planet lists the game as a three hour event running from 2 to 5 p.m. ET, and the matchup is simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS and truTV, with live streaming available on HBO Max and Discovery+.
The broadcast team includes sportscasters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks for play-by-play and commentary, while longtime referee Dan Schachner will oversee the game. Discovery Channel head of content Joseph Boyle described the production as a game day celebration that mixes sports-style play with adoption stories, and he noted new segments and enhanced fan-favorite elements.
As reported by USA TODAY, the event will feature roughly 150 dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands, though one report cited 152 participating dogs. The animals are split into Team Fluff and Team Ruff and will vie for the Lombarky Trophy in front of viewers hoping to find adoptable pets.
Lineup Details Adoption Notes And Specials
The Puppy Bowl will include a special exhibition for senior dogs, pitting Team Oldies against Team Goldies, a first for the event. Adoption segments remain central to the broadcast, and the show has a track record of finding homes quickly, with many pups adopted by the time the program airs, as noted in coverage.
Local shelters are participating in watch parties and sending named competitors. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Southwest Michigan confirmed its dog Dan will play for Team Ruff, and Big Lake Humane Society listed pups Shishi for Team Ruff and Mia Muffin for Team Fluff while promoting a local watch party.
Producers and on-air talent underscore that all featured dogs are available for adoption and that the show sometimes places animals with the production crew. The program will also award honors at the end of the game, including Most Valuable Puppy recognition and other spotlight awards, as reported in event previews.
