NFR 2026 Start Times by Time Zone: Pacific to Hawaii

Schedule & Results

The official 2026 performance schedule lists a 5:45 p.m. Las Vegas start. Convert that arena time to your own location, then check whether your broadcaster begins its coverage earlier.

The main US time-zone conversions

Time zone in December	Performance start
Pacific Standard Time — Las Vegas	5:45 p.m.
Mountain Standard Time	6:45 p.m.
Central Standard Time	7:45 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time	8:45 p.m.
Alaska Standard Time	4:45 p.m.
Hawaii Standard Time	3:45 p.m.

These conversions describe the same moment. They are based on the organizer’s published performance start and the standard-time offsets used during December. They do not establish a pre-show time, the opening of arena doors or the length of a broadcast.

All ten performance dates

The Finals are scheduled for December 3–12, 2026. Save each date rather than making a recurring reminder with an accidental weekday filter. The first performance is Thursday, December 3, and the tenth is Saturday, December 12.

The full round table pairs each round with its date. For arena planning, see the separate performance-times guide, which explains arrival and pre-show considerations.

Why a TV listing may show an earlier time

A broadcaster can schedule interviews, previews or arena coverage before competition. A listing earlier than 5:45 p.m. Pacific does not necessarily mean the round itself has moved. Read the program description and compare it with the organizer’s current performance page.

Conversely, a later listing may be a replay rather than the live show. If you want to follow a title race as it happens, verify the word “live,” the date and the round number rather than searching only for the event name.

Set a calendar event that travels correctly

Create the event using the performance’s exact date.
Choose Las Vegas or the America/Los_Angeles time zone.
Enter 5:45 p.m. as the starting point currently listed.
View the event in your local zone and check the result.
Add an earlier setup reminder if you need to sign in or travel.

If your device changes time zone automatically while traveling, a correctly zoned event should continue to represent the same moment. A plain text reminder saying “5:45” does not provide that protection.

International viewers and the next calendar day

An evening in Nevada can fall on the next morning elsewhere. For an international conversion, use a dated world-clock or calendar tool. Enter the full date and Las Vegas as the source location, then inspect both the local time and local date in your destination.

Do not reuse a conversion made for a different season without checking it. Daylight-saving rules vary by country, and some places change clocks on different dates. The event’s December date matters as much as the hour.

Watch parties and family schedules

If inviting others, write the time zone on the invitation and separate arrival time from the performance start. A host may want guests present earlier to settle in, order food or test the stream. Make sure every guest understands which time is the invitation and which time is the rodeo.

For a Las Vegas venue, confirm its entry time and whether reservations have a cutoff. A party can begin well before the round and continue afterward. The arena start should not be used as a guess about venue admission.