Upcoming AFC Championship Game dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The AFC title game seat call, made quickly
For the AFC Championship Game, buy shelter first and proximity second. Every AFC title game from January 2016 through January 2026 was played outdoors, and the game is scheduled next for Sunday, January 31, 2027, at the stadium of the higher-seeded AFC finalist. In late January that usually means freezing air, wind and sometimes snow, so a seat under an overhang or with indoor club access often beats a closer seat in the open.
If you want the best view of the football itself, aim for the sideline between the 20-yard lines, in the middle or upper rows of the lower level. If you want the most affordable way into the building, the upper-level end zones are the usual entry point. Everything else on this page explains the trade-offs between those two ends.
Matching a seat to January weather and sightlines
The eleven most recent AFC title games went to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City six times, to Denver twice, to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough twice and to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore once. None of those buildings has a roof. The January 2026 game at Empower Field at Mile High kicked off at 26 degrees Fahrenheit, and heavy snow fell in the second half. Plan your seat around that reality.
Lower-level sideline
This is the premium football view. Rows in the middle and upper part of the lower bowl let you read formations and watch routes develop on both sides of the field. The first handful of rows put you at field level, where players, coaches and staff standing along the bench area block the far sideline. Closer is not better here.
Club level
Club seats (a mid-level tier with wider chairs and access to indoor lounges) cost more than the levels around them. In a game that can run past three hours in freezing weather, a warm place to stand at halftime is worth real money to many fans.
Upper-level sideline
Higher seats along the sideline give you the whole field at once, which suits a tactical playoff game. Seats in the back rows of many stadiums sit under a roof overhang or canopy, which blocks snow and some wind. Check the specific building before you buy.
End zones
Low end zone rows flatten the field and hide the far end behind the goal post. Higher rows look down the length of the field, and that angle helps when a title game is decided inside the 20-yard line.
Seats that disappoint at a playoff game
- The first rows behind the benches. You see helmets and backs, not plays.
- Low corner seats in the open. They combine an angled view with full exposure to wind.
- Uncovered upper rows on a snow forecast. The view is fine; the experience is not.
- The visiting section, if you are a home fan. Visiting fans tend to cluster, and a short drive between rival cities can fill more of a section than you expect.
Because the host can be any AFC stadium, use the venue guide for that building once the site is set. Reserved Seat covers Arrowhead Stadium, Gillette Stadium, Empower Field at Mile High, M&T Bank Stadium and Acrisure Stadium, among others.
The one-week window: when you can actually buy
The 2026 playoff calendar shows how short the planning window is:
- January 10, 2027: the regular season ends and the seeds are set.
- January 16 to 18: the Wild Card round. The AFC's top seed has a bye and would host every AFC game it plays before the Super Bowl.
- January 23 to 24: the Divisional round. Its two AFC winners become the finalists, and the higher seed hosts.
- January 31: the AFC Championship Game. The league and its television partners set kickoff once the matchup is known.
A wild card team can host only if both finalists are wild cards, and that has never happened. In practice, only fans of a top seed with a bye can plan a home title game more than a week out.
How title game tickets reach the resale market
The host team runs its own playoff sale and usually offers seats to its existing ticket holders before anyone else, so very little reaches the general public. Most fans buy on the resale market (the secondary market, where prices float above or below face value). The NFL points fans to its own resale marketplace, the NFL Ticket Exchange, on its playoff pages, and other sellers post listings as soon as a team has a path to hosting.
Four things push demand for this particular game:
- How long the host has waited. A fan base hosting for the first time in years buys fast. Kansas City hosted five in a row from the 2018 through 2022 seasons, and repeat hosting tends to free up more seats.
- Driving distance for the visitors. Many AFC cities in the Northeast and Midwest sit close together, which adds traveling fans.
- The forecast. Snow or deep cold can soften demand in the final day or two, though rarely by much when a Super Bowl trip is at stake.
- Familiar matchups. Bills against Chiefs and Broncos against Patriots have each happened three times in this game.
Lower sideline seats between the 20s go first, followed by clubs, lower corners and lower end zones. Every Reserved Seat order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Game day in a sold-out home crowd
A conference title game still feels like a home game, only louder. The crowd leans heavily toward the host, and a home win ends with the trophy presentation on the field while most of the stadium stays put. Traffic and security lines run heavier than in the regular season, so arrive early.
As of the 2025 season, NFL stadiums generally allow only clear bags (transparent plastic, vinyl or PVC, usually no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches), and each building sets its own details. Read the stadium bag policy guide and check the host venue's current policy before you go. Dress in layers, cover your hands and head, and confirm whether blankets are permitted.
Records, streaks and the game's origins
The game dates to the 1970 merger, when the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers joined the ten former AFL clubs to form the AFC. It is considered the successor to the AFL Championship. Through 1974 the site rotated; from the 1975 season onward the higher seed has hosted. The winner lifts the Lamar Hunt Trophy, named for the founder of the AFL and the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Titles: New England leads with 12, the latest a 10 to 7 win in Denver on January 25, 2026.
- Appearances: New England and Pittsburgh have 16 each, and the Patriots made eight straight from the 2011 through 2018 seasons.
- Hosting: Pittsburgh has hosted 11 times, the most of any team.
- Buffalo's four: the Bills won four straight from the 1990 through 1993 seasons, including a 51 to 3 rout of the Raiders, the widest margin in the game's history.
- Overtime: Denver beat Cleveland after the 1986 season, New England beat Kansas City after 2018, and Cincinnati beat Kansas City after 2021.
- Biggest crowd: 91,445 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in January 1984, for the Raiders against Seattle.
The Houston Texans have never appeared. The Jets, Titans and Texans have never hosted, and the Browns, Jaguars, Jets and Texans have never won.
Frequently asked questions
Is the AFC Championship Game ever played indoors?
It can be if the higher seed plays in a domed stadium, but every AFC title game from January 2016 through January 2026 was played in an open-air stadium. Plan for cold weather unless the host has a roof.
How far ahead do you know where the game will be?
Usually about one week. The site is confirmed when the Divisional round ends, and only a top seed with a first-round bye can count on hosting earlier.
Which team holds the most AFC titles?
The New England Patriots, with 12. New England and the Pittsburgh Steelers share the appearance record at 16 each.
What is the Lamar Hunt Trophy?
It is the trophy given to the AFC champion, named for the founder of the AFL and of the Kansas City Chiefs. It has been presented since the 1984 season, and Tiffany and Co. redesigned it for the 2010 season.
What happened in the January 2026 AFC title game?
New England beat Denver 10 to 7 at Empower Field at Mile High on January 25, 2026. The game started at 26 degrees Fahrenheit, and heavy snow fell in the second half.
Can a fan buy tickets before the matchup is set?
Yes, resale listings often appear for teams with a path to hosting before the Divisional round is played. The host team's own sale usually goes to existing ticket holders first.