The football season is heating up, which means Puppy Bowl is almost here.
PEOPLE has the first look at Puppy Bowl XXII, which will simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, HBO Max, and discovery+ on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
Puppy Bowl, now in its 22nd year, is the longest-running call-to-adoption television event, known for filling a tiny football field with playful, adoptable dogs. For 2026, Puppy Bowl will be a three-hour canine sports event featuring a record-breaking 150 rescue dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands.
Referee Dan Schachner has returned for his 15th year to ensure all the furry competitors play fair as Team Ruff and Team Fluff fight for the win and the coveted Walmart “Lombarky” trophy and the BISSELL MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) title.
Animal Planet
Among the puppy players are 15 pooches with special needs, a record number for the Puppy Bowl field. For the first time, the Puppy Bowl will feature a match with dogs from the far end of the age spectrum, with a special exhibition game starring senior dogs. For the match, Team Oldies will take on Team Goldies will go head-to-head in the all-new Pro-Dog Halftime Showdown.
This isn’t the only new element added to Puppy Bowl XXII. The 2026 event will also offer viewers an inside look at shelter staff members cheering on the puppies representing their rescues for the first time. Puppy Bowl 2026 will also have a Barking Lot Tailgate party hosted by Raising Cane’s.
While plenty of the Puppy Bowl is packed with cute gridiron hijinks, the 3-hour special will also have “Pup Close and Personal” segments focused on how some of the dogs got celebrity help before the big game, so they were prepared for football and a forever home.
Animal Planet
Of course, fan-favorite elements from past Puppy Bowls will be returning, including the adoptable segments, play-by-play commentary, puppy cheer squads, and the kitten-studded Temptations Skybox.
“Puppy Bowl XXII celebrates the spirit of the underdog with a gameday celebration that combines the excitement of a sports matchup with uplifting adoption stories,” Joseph Boyle, head of content at Discovery Channel, said in a statement. “By introducing new segments like our senior spotlight and enhancing fan-favorite elements, we are creating a deeper connection to our audience and delivering the most entertaining sports spectacular on television.”
Animal Planet
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For more information on Puppy Bowl XXII, including photos of the full lineup of pooch players, please visit PuppyBowl.com. And tune into Puppy Bowl 2026 on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, HBO Max, or discovery+.
