The 2025–26 NFL Playoffs officially begin on January 10, 2026, following the conclusion of the regular season and Week 18. The postseason will run for nearly a month and conclude with Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The playoffs are conducted by the National Football League and feature 14 teams competing in a single-elimination format.
2025–26 NFL Playoffs: Key Dates at a Glance
- Wild Card Round: January 10–12, 2026
- Divisional Round: January 17–18, 2026
- Conference Championship Games: January 25, 2026
- Super Bowl LX: February 8, 2026
- Super Bowl Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Wild Card Round (January 10–12, 2026)
The Wild Card Round marks the official start of the 2025 NFL postseason.
- Six total games are played
- Three games in each conference (AFC and NFC)
- Teams seeded No. 2 through No. 7 compete
- The No. 1 seed in each conference receives a bye
Games are typically played across Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, creating one of the most watched weekends of the NFL calendar.
Divisional Round (January 17–18, 2026)
The Divisional Round features the remaining eight teams.
- The top seed in each conference plays the lowest remaining seed
- The other two remaining teams face each other
- Four total games are played across the weekend
The winners advance to the conference championship stage.
Conference Championship Games (January 25, 2026)
The AFC Championship Game and NFC Championship Game are played on January 25, 2026.
- Two games total
- Winners are crowned conference champions
- Victors advance to the Super Bowl
These games determine who represents each conference on the league’s biggest stage.
Super Bowl LX (February 8, 2026)
The 2025–26 NFL season concludes with Super Bowl LX.
- Date: February 8, 2026
- Venue: Levi’s Stadium
- City: Santa Clara, California
- Matchup: AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion
Super Bowl LX will be the culmination of the NFL postseason and one of the most-watched sporting events of the year.
How the NFL Playoff Format Works
- 14 teams qualify (7 from the AFC, 7 from the NFC)
- Only the No. 1 seed in each conference earns a first-round bye
- All games are single-elimination
- Higher seeds host games until the Super Bowl, which is played at a neutral site
This format has been in place since the league expanded the playoffs in 2020.
Final Takeaway
The 2025–26 NFL Playoffs begin on January 10, 2026, with the Wild Card Round and run through Super Bowl LX on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. With four consecutive rounds of win-or-go-home football, the NFL postseason delivers nearly a month of the sport’s highest stakes and biggest moments.