Super Bowl LXI is set for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, marking the first time the NFL’s championship game will be played on Valentine’s Day.
The scheduling shift stems directly from the NFL’s 2021 decision to expand the regular season from 16 to 17 games. With the longer schedule now in place, the playoffs and Super Bowl have been pushed back by roughly a week compared to the traditional January timing, according to multiple sources including USA Today.
SoFi Stadium, which opened in 2020, will host the Super Bowl for the second time in five years. The venue previously hosted Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, when the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in their home stadium. The Los Angeles region will be hosting the Super Bowl for the ninth time overall since the inaugural game in 1967.
The 2027 Super Bowl will also mark a historic milestone for ESPN. The game will air on ESPN and ABC, marking ESPN’s first-ever production and broadcast of the Super Bowl. According to ESPN Press Room, this will be the first Super Bowl simulcast between the two sister networks. The broadcast will also be available on the ESPN App and NFL+ on mobile.
The Valentine’s Day date has drawn attention across social media and news outlets, with fans and analysts noting the unusual scheduling conflict. The game falls one day before Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday, creating a three-day weekend for viewers. Despite the unconventional date, the event represents a significant moment in both NFL broadcasting history and Los Angeles sports infrastructure, as the region continues to solidify itself as a major venue for the league’s championship.
Sources
- SoFi Stadium — official announcement confirming February 14, 2027 date and second hosting of Super Bowl
- USA Today — explanation of 17-game season expansion as reason for later Super Bowl date
- ESPN — confirmation that Super Bowl LXI will air on ESPN and ABC, marking ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast
- ESPN Press Room — details on ESPN’s first production of the Super Bowl and simulcast arrangement
- Los Angeles Times — reporting on SoFi Stadium hosting Super Bowl LXI in 2027
- NBC Los Angeles — confirmation that Los Angeles will host the Super Bowl for the ninth time
