Super Bowl Sunday brings more than just football. The Great American Rescue Bowl gives animal lovers a heartwarming alternative featuring adoptable kittens, puppies and adult pets. Formerly known as the Kitten Bowl, this event returns for its 13th year with a new name and broader mission.
Beth Stern hosts the two-hour celebration on February 8, 2026 at noon Eastern Time. Two teams called the Snuggle Squad and Cuddle Crew compete on a miniature football field. Every animal you see needs a forever home.
Where is the Kitten Bowl 2026?
Great American Media films the event on a custom football-themed stage designed for cats and dogs. North Shore Animal League America partners with the production. Their headquarters in Port Washington, New York serves as the adoption center for many featured animals.
You cannot attend the taping since producers record weeks before the broadcast airs.
When is the Kitten Bowl 2026?
The Great American Rescue Bowl airs Sunday, February 8, 2026 on Super Bowl Sunday. The event started in 2014 as the Kitten Bowl on Hallmark Channel. Great American Family took over in 2023 after Hallmark cancelled the show.
The Great American Rescue Bowl ends at 2:00 PM Eastern. The Puppy Bowl starts right after at 2:00 PM on Animal Planet. Super Bowl LX kicks off at 6:30 PM on NBC.
What Time Does the Kitten Bowl 2026 Start?
The broadcast begins at 12:00 PM Eastern Time on February 8, 2026. West Coast viewers watch at 9:00 AM Pacific Time. The two-hour show runs until 2:00 PM Eastern.
Kitten Bowl 2026 Start Times in U.S. Time Zones
| Time Zone | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Eastern | 12:00 PM |
| Central | 11:00 AM |
| Mountain | 10:00 AM |
| Pacific | 9:00 AM |
| Alaska | 8:00 AM |
| Hawaii | 7:00 AM |
Kitten Bowl 2026 Start Times in Different Countries
| Country/Region | Start Time | Day |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 5:00 PM GMT | Sunday, Feb 8 |
| Canada (Eastern) | 12:00 PM ET | Sunday, Feb 8 |
| Australia (Sydney) | 4:00 AM AEDT | Monday, Feb 9 |
| Germany | 6:00 PM CET | Sunday, Feb 8 |
Sunday Kitten Bowl 2026 Schedule
- 12:00 PM ET – Great American Rescue Bowl begins
- 2:00 PM ET – Show ends and Puppy Bowl XXII starts
- 6:30 PM ET – Super Bowl LX begins (Seahawks vs Patriots)
What Channel is the Kitten Bowl on Today?
The Great American Rescue Bowl airs on Great American Family and GFAM+. These channels replaced Hallmark Channel as the home for this event in 2023.
Channel numbers vary by cable provider. Major providers include Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, DirecTV, Dish Network and Cox Cable.
How to Watch the Kitten Bowl 2026 Online?
Streaming platforms:
• Great American Pure Flix – Exclusive streaming
• GFAM+ app – Mobile access
• Fubo – $84.99 monthly with 7-day free trial
Great American Pure Flix is the official streaming platform. Fubo offers Great American Family in most packages with a week-long trial for new users.
Who’s Hosting Kitten Bowl 2026?
Beth Stern returns as host. She has hosted since the first Kitten Bowl in 2014 and personally fostered over 2,000 rescue animals. Trevor Donovan joins as sideline reporter. Celebrity guests include Candace Cameron Bure, Mario Lopez and Courtney Lopez.
Kitten Bowl 2026 Teams & Lineup
The Snuggle Squad features Joe Meowmath and Patrick Furhomes.
The Cuddle Crew includes Chompers McGee, Woofy Mays and Shihtzu Ohtani.
The event showcases cats and dogs of all ages. You will see kittens, puppies, adult cats and adult dogs. Special needs animals also compete. All players come from North Shore Animal League America and partner shelters.
What’s the Great American Rescue Bowl?
The Great American Rescue Bowl is the new name for the Kitten Bowl. Hallmark Channel created the original show in 2014 featuring only kittens. The network cancelled it in 2022 after eight years.
Bill Abbott created the Kitten Bowl during his time at Hallmark. He now runs Great American Media and brought the show to his new network in 2023. The rebrand expanded the mission to include all shelter animals.
The show has helped over 75,000 animals find homes since 2014. North Shore Animal League America has saved more than 1.2 million lives in 80 years.
Kitten Bowl 2026 Adoption Events
North Shore Animal League America offers 50% off adoption fees from February 4 through 8, 2026. The discount applies to all animals six months and older at their Port Washington, NY location only. You must be 21 or older with ID. The promotion does not include puppies or kittens under 6 months.
Great American Rescue Bowl Rules & How It Works
Cats and dogs score touchdowns by crossing goal lines with toys. The show features kittens playing first then puppies take the field. Producers film weeks in advance for animal safety. The broadcast includes adoption success stories between segments.
Kitten Bowl History & Stats
Hallmark Channel launched the Kitten Bowl on February 2, 2014. Beth Stern hosted from day one. The show ran for eight years through 2021. Hallmark cancelled the event in 2022.
Bill Abbott acquired the rights and rebranded it as the Great American Rescue Bowl in 2023. The 2026 event marks the fourth year as Great American Rescue Bowl and 13th year overall.
The event helped over 75,000 animals find homes during the Hallmark years. An estimated 1.5 million homeless pets are euthanized each year in America.
Who Won the Kitten Bowl 2025?
The 2025 Great American Rescue Bowl featured three senior cats who found their forever home together. These cats lived at North Shore Animal League America longer than most animals. Beth Stern hosted with commentators Taylor Kalupa and Masey McClain. Nearly all participants found homes before or after the show aired.
Great American Rescue Bowl 2026 FAQs
Why did Kitten Bowl change to Great American Rescue Bowl?
Hallmark Channel cancelled the Kitten Bowl in 2022. Great American Media bought the rights and rebranded it in 2023. The new name shows the expanded mission to help all shelter animals.
Does Kitten Bowl still feature kittens or only dogs now?
The Great American Rescue Bowl features both cats and dogs including kittens, puppies, adult cats and adult dogs.
Are the Kitten Bowl animals really available for adoption?
Yes, every animal is available for adoption through North Shore Animal League America. Many get adopted before the broadcast airs.
Can I attend Kitten Bowl filming in person?
No, filming is not open to the public. You can visit North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington during Super Bowl weekend to meet adoptable pets.
How is Kitten Bowl different from Puppy Bowl?
The Great American Rescue Bowl airs at noon for two hours on Great American Family. The Puppy Bowl airs at 2:00 PM for three hours on Animal Planet. The Great American Rescue Bowl includes both cats and dogs while Puppy Bowl features only dogs.
What happened to Hallmark Channel’s Kitten Bowl?
Hallmark cancelled the show in 2022 after eight years. Great American Media acquired it and renamed it Great American Rescue Bowl starting in 2023.
The Great American Rescue Bowl airs February 8 at noon Eastern Time on Great American Family. Stream through Great American Pure Flix or Fubo. Support shelter pet adoption before the Super Bowl begins.
