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Each year, millions of dog lovers tune in to the Puppy Bowl as a way to pregame the actual Super Bowl taking place that same Sunday, played by human athletes without tails. The 21st annual Puppy Bowl drew in 12.8 million viewers in 2025 to be exact. Compare that to the Golden Globes stats this January (which averaged 8.66 million viewers, according to The Hollywood Reporter), and it becomes pretty clear what people value these days: barks, playful bites, chew toys dragged to end zones and better visibility for adoptable dogs living in shelters across the U.S.
At a Glance: How to Watch 2026 Puppy Bowl
- When: Feb. 8, 2026, 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET
- Channels: Animal Planet, Discovery Channel
- Stream online: DirecTV, Sling, Hulu + Live TV
Indeed, the beloved event blends entertainment with philanthropy: helping rescue animals in need find loving homes. This year, instead of focusing exclusively on pups, the Warner Bros. Discovery production is tapping older dogs for some friendly competition, too. At the Puppy Bowl XXII’s halftime, Team Oldies will go up against Team Goldies in what promises to be an aww-inspiring matchup. The 2026 happening is featuring the largest amount of dogs from the largest number of shelters in the show’s history; some of them include Brûlée, a gray-eyed Frenchie/American Staffordshire Terrier mix straight from Los Angeles, and an aptly named Benito, who’s a Siberian Husky/Chihuahua mix.
The Puppy Bowl is pre-recorded and pre-edited, allowing you to still stream the action on Sunday, Feb. 8, starting at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET. It will be simulcast on channels like Animal Planet and Discovery, but even cable-cutters can enjoy all the pre-Super Bowl canine cuteness by streaming the 2026 Puppy Bowl live online with editor-recommended platforms like DirecTV, Sling and Hulu + Live TV.
Learn more about each streaming option (including introductory free trials) below.
DirecTV
Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel are part of DirecTV’s Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate and Premier packages, not to mention its MyEntertainment Genre Pack with over 60 other popular entertainment offerings. Those who don’t want to commit right away can take advantage of DirecTV’s five-day free trial, after which the leading Genre Pack plans start at $19.99 a month.
DirecTV’s “no annual contract, no satellite needed, cancel anytime” motto is applicable to both the Genre Packs and traditional live TV packages. The latter category is made up of the aforementioned Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate and Premier streaming plans, which are currently discounted for up to $40 off your first month and also carry NBC — meaning you can also use them to watch the Seahawks and Patriots (versus the Oldies and Goldies) play.
Sling
Though Sling doesn’t currently hook new subscribers up with free trials, it remains one of the best ways to stream the Puppy Bowl online without cable. You can do so by locking down the streaming platform’s Discovery+ option, which grants access to Animal Planet and Discovery (alongside Food Network, HGTV and other binge-worthy channels). Note that you can shop it either separately or as an add-on to an existing Sling plan. The ad-free version of Discovery+ is $9.99 monthly, but Sling gives customers a seven-day free trial plus the first month free if they bundle Discovery+ with Sling Blue or Sling Orange.
Interested in Sling’s bundle deal for Discovery+? Sling Orange is priced at $45.99 a month, with Sling Blue being $54.99 a month. Learn more about Sling’s streaming possibilities here.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is one of the priciest live TV destinations on the market, but you can secure its three-day free trial today to watch the Puppy Bowl without spending a penny. Hulu + Live TV is equipped with over 95 channels, including Animal Planet and Discovery. Once you had your dog fix, continue using the service to stream the 2026 Super Bowl live online, as it also carries NBC. Once your trial period is over, the standard package clocks in at $89.99 per month.
