Sports · In 58 days
What Time Is the Fiesta Bowl 2026?
2026 Fiesta Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Kickoff
Add to calendar
Added. This page updates if the time changes.
By WTIT Time Desk·Updated
The 2026 Fiesta Bowl is a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on Wednesday, December 30, 2026, kicking off at 7:30 PM ET (5:30 PM in Arizona, 4:30 PM PT) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It airs on TNT, truTV and HBO Max, and it is the first quarterfinal of the playoff.
On this page6 sections
Fiesta Bowl 2026 Kickoff Time in Every Time Zone
| Location | Time | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Your time | ||
| Eastern (ET)New York, Atlanta, Miami | 7:30 PM | Wed, Dec 30 |
| Central (CT)Chicago, Dallas, Houston | 6:30 PM | Wed, Dec 30 |
| Mountain (MT)Denver, Salt Lake City | 5:30 PM | Wed, Dec 30 |
| ArizonaPhoenix (no daylight saving) | 5:30 PM | Wed, Dec 30 |
| Pacific (PT)Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas | 4:30 PM | Wed, Dec 30 |
| AlaskaAnchorage | 3:30 PM | Wed, Dec 30 |
| HawaiiHonolulu | 2:30 PM | Wed, Dec 30 |
| Puerto RicoSan Juan | 8:30 PM | Wed, Dec 30 |
Fiesta Bowl 2026 at a Glance
- Date: Wednesday, December 30, 2026
- Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM CT, 5:30 PM in Arizona (MST), 4:30 PM PT
- Round: College Football Playoff quarterfinal
- Stadium: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
- TV: TNT, truTV and HBO Max
- Winner advances to: a CFP semifinal, at the Orange Bowl on January 14 or the Sugar Bowl on January 15
Who Plays in the Fiesta Bowl 2026?
In the 12-team playoff, each quarterfinal matches one of the top four seeds, who skip the first round, against a winner from the first round on December 18 or 19. The bracket is revealed on Selection Day, Sunday, December 6, 2026, and this page is updated as soon as the teams are known.
Why the Fiesta Bowl Is on December 30
This season the first quarterfinal moves from New Year’s Eve to December 30, so the Fiesta Bowl opens the quarterfinal round a day earlier than usual. Arizona does not use daylight saving time, so in December local time in Glendale is two hours behind Eastern Time.
CFP Quarterfinal Schedule
- Wednesday, December 30: Fiesta Bowl, 7:30 PM ET, State Farm Stadium (TNT, truTV, HBO Max)
- Friday, January 1: Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl and Rose Bowl at noon, 4 PM and 8 PM ET; the order is set on Selection Day
See every playoff game on the College Football Playoff schedule, and the semifinals at the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
Fiesta Bowl 2026 FAQ
What time is the Fiesta Bowl 2026?
7:30 PM ET (5:30 PM in Arizona, 4:30 PM PT) on Wednesday, December 30, 2026.
Where is the Fiesta Bowl played?
At State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, home of the Arizona Cardinals.
What channel is the Fiesta Bowl on?
TNT, truTV and HBO Max.
Is the Fiesta Bowl a playoff game?
Yes. The 2026 Fiesta Bowl is a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, and the winner moves on to a semifinal in January.