Upcoming NFC 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.
NFC title game seats, decided
For the NFC Championship Game, buy a sideline seat between the 20-yard lines in the middle rows of the lower level. If those are gone, take an upper-level sideline seat over a lower end zone seat. The game is the NFC's conference final, played in late January at the stadium of the highest seed still alive, with the winner taking the George Halas Trophy and a place in the Super Bowl two weeks later.
- First choice: lower-level sideline between the 20s, mid rows, where formations and both end zones are visible.
- Second choice: upper-level sideline, a complete view of every snap.
- Next tier: club seats and lower corners.
- Easiest way in: upper end zones.
Open-air or under a roof: adjusting for the host
Because the host changes every year, the building type is the first thing to check once it is known.
Open-air hosts
Lambeau Field, Soldier Field, Lincoln Financial Field and Lumen Field put you outdoors in late January. Dress for four hours outside. If your game is in the afternoon slot, rows that catch the sun are worth a look; in the evening slot, there is no sun to chase, so prioritize shelter and warm layers.
Covered hosts
Ford Field, U.S. Bank Stadium, Caesars Superdome, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AT&T Stadium and SoFi Stadium remove weather from the decision, so the choice comes down to sightline and price.
Traveling with the road team
Visiting fans tend to cluster. Buying near them makes the day easier, especially in a stadium where the home crowd will be loud and one-sided.
Seven days from host announcement to kickoff
Since the 1975–76 season, the highest surviving seed has hosted. That rewards the regular season: the NFC's No. 1 seed gets a bye through the wild card round and, if it wins its divisional game, plays the conference final at home.
- Matchup: set when the divisional round ends, usually the weekend before.
- Day: both conference title games are played on the same late-January Sunday. In 2026, that was January 25.
- Kickoff: one conference gets the afternoon, the other the evening, and the slots rotate each year. In January 2026 the AFC played at 3:00 p.m. Eastern and the NFC at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
There is no fixed home for the game, and a city usually learns it is hosting only about a week ahead.
How seats come up for sale
Few games move faster. The stakes are second only to the Super Bowl, and the buying window is about a week.
- Season ticket holders: teams write their own playoff rules and generally offer seats to season ticket holders first, which limits any public sale.
- Resale: the main route for everyone else. Listings for a possible home game can show up before the divisional round is played, so check how a listing handles a game that ends up somewhere else.
- What lifts demand: a long-awaited home appearance, a rival opponent, a short trip for visiting fans and a rematch from the regular season.
Every Reserved Seat order is backed by a 100% guarantee. Stadium bag rules and parking are set by the host team and can change, so check them before you go.
Halas Trophy leaders
The first NFC Championship Game was played on January 3, 1971. The trophy honors George Halas, who founded the Chicago Bears, and its current silver design by Tiffany & Co. dates to 2010.
- San Francisco 49ers: 8 wins in a record 19 appearances.
- Dallas Cowboys: 8 wins in 14 appearances, tied for the most titles.
- Rams: 5 wins in 12 appearances.
- Philadelphia Eagles: 5 wins in 9 appearances.
- Green Bay Packers: 3 wins in 9 appearances.
- Unbeaten: the New York Giants at 5–0 and the Seattle Seahawks at 4–0.
NFC finals worth remembering
- January 10, 1982: The Catch. San Francisco edged Dallas 28–27, still the narrowest margin in the game's history.
- 2007 season: the Giants won 23–20 in overtime at Lambeau Field.
- 2014 season: Seattle beat Green Bay 28–22 in overtime at home.
- January 26, 2025: Philadelphia routed Washington 55–23 at home.
- January 25, 2026: Seattle held off the Los Angeles Rams 31–27, then won Super Bowl LX 29–13.
The playoff bracket and official schedule are on the NFL playoffs page.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best seats for the NFC Championship Game?
Lower-level sideline seats between the 20-yard lines, in the middle rows. Upper-level sideline seats are a strong second choice because they show every snap.
Is an upper sideline seat better than a lower end zone seat?
For a game this important, usually yes. The sideline view shows formations and both ends of the field, while low end zone seats lose depth.
How is the NFC Championship host decided?
The highest-seeded NFC team still in the playoffs hosts, a rule in place since the 1975–76 season. The site is known once the divisional round ends.
What time does the NFC Championship kick off?
It depends on the year. The two conference finals share a Sunday and alternate the afternoon and evening slots; in 2026 the NFC game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
Which teams have never lost an NFC Championship Game?
The New York Giants, 5–0, and the Seattle Seahawks, 4–0.
Who won the NFC title in January 2026?
The Seattle Seahawks, who beat the Los Angeles Rams 31–27 in Seattle and then won Super Bowl LX.