Down, set, fetch! The Puppy Bowl is returning for its 21st year—and this time around, the cutest game in sports will feature more puppies than ever before, according to Animal Planet. The Puppy Bowl, which is “the longest running call-to-adoption TV event,” will highlight pups’ journeys from birth to adoption, along with the dedication of the shelters and rescues that assist in finding them their forever homes.
“Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl serves as an annual pop culture programming event that continues to expand in reach, awareness and of course, puppies, every year,” Howard Lee, Chief Creative Officer of U.S. Networks and President of Discovery Networks, said in a statement. “Win or lose, Puppy Bowl XXI will have the cutest players in the game on Sunday, February 9 and will inspire families across the country to adopt a new furry friend.”
Before the puppies take the field at PROGRESSIVE Stadium, here is everything to know about the 2025 Puppy Bowl.
When is the the 2025 Puppy Bowl?
Puppy Bowl XXI will air on Super Bowl Sunday, which is Feb. 9 this year.
© John Nowak/Animal PlanetHow to watch the 2025 Puppy Bowl?
The three-hour event will be simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and discovery+.
© John Nowak/Animal PlanetWhat time does the 2025 Puppy Bowl start?
Tune into the cuteness starting at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT. Before the competition commences, the new “reimagined” Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff will air at 1 p.m. ET on Animal Planet.
© John Nowak/Animal PlanetWho plays in the Puppy Bowl?
Team Fluff and Team Ruff will be competing in the Puppy Bowl for the Walmart “Lombarky” trophy. Julep, the first-ever St. Bernard-mix, and Smoosh, a Pekingese, will lead Team Fluff, while Mr. Pickles, a Pug-Chihuahua from Dallas, and Tuani, a Chihuahua-German shepherd from Nicaragua, will head up Team Ruff.
© John Nowak/Animal PlanetHow many puppies will be in the 2025 Puppy Bowl?
This year’s TV event will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters. Among them are eleven special needs dogs, who include Jolene, an American Pit bull terrier-mix competing in a wheelchair, and Sprinkle, a blind and hearing-impaired Australian shepherd-mix. Meet the adorable puppies here!