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.
The game that sends the NFC to the Super Bowl
The NFC Championship Game is one of the NFL's two conference finals. It is played in late January, two weeks before the Super Bowl, at the stadium of the higher-seeded team still alive in the NFC playoffs. The winner receives the George Halas Trophy and faces the AFC champion in the Super Bowl.
The most recent game, on January 25, 2026, was played in Seattle, where the Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 31–27 and went on to win Super Bowl LX. The year before, on January 26, 2025, the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Commanders 55–23 in Philadelphia.
Because the site follows seeding, the game has no fixed home. It can be at any NFC stadium, and a city learns it is hosting only after the divisional round ends, about a week ahead.
How the host and the date are set
Since the 1975–76 season, the host has been the highest surviving seed. That rewards the regular season: the NFC's No. 1 seed, which also skips the wild card round, hosts the conference final if it wins its divisional game.
- Date: the conference championships are played on the same Sunday in late January. In 2026 that was January 25.
- Kickoff: one conference plays in the afternoon and the other in the evening, and the slots rotate each year. In January 2026 the NFC game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, after the AFC game at 3:00 p.m.
- Matchup: set when the divisional round ends, typically the weekend before.
Buying tickets in a one-week window
Tickets for a conference championship move faster than for almost any other game. The host and the opponent are usually confirmed only about a week before kickoff, and the stakes, a Super Bowl berth, are as high as they get short of the Super Bowl itself.
- Season ticket holders first. Teams set their own playoff rules and generally offer seats to season ticket holders before anyone else, which leaves few seats for a public sale.
- Resale is the main route. Most fans who were not already season ticket holders buy on the secondary market, and listings for a possible home game can appear before the divisional round is played.
- The matchup drives demand. A long-awaited home appearance, a rival opponent and a short trip for visiting fans all push demand up. A rematch of a regular-season game often carries extra interest.
Lower-level sideline seats between the 20-yard lines draw the most demand, followed by club seats, lower corners and end zones, with the upper end zones the most accessible way in. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Where to sit when the host could be any NFC stadium
The right seat depends on the building, so start with whether the host stadium is open or covered.
- Open-air stadiums such as Lambeau Field, Soldier Field, Lincoln Financial Field and Lumen Field put you in late-January weather. Dress for the full game, and favor rows that catch any afternoon sun if the game is in the early slot.
- Covered stadiums such as Ford Field, U.S. Bank Stadium, Caesars Superdome, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AT&T Stadium and SoFi Stadium take weather out of the decision.
Principles that hold in any building:
- Sideline height over end zone closeness. Middle rows between the 20s show formations and both ends of the field.
- The upper sideline over the lower end zone. A full view of every snap matters more in a winner-goes-on game.
- Visiting fans cluster. If you are traveling for the road team, buying near other visitors makes the day easier.
The franchises that own the NFC title game
Since the first NFC Championship Game on January 3, 1971, a handful of franchises have dominated it.
- San Francisco 49ers: 19 appearances, the most, with 8 wins.
- Dallas Cowboys: 14 appearances and 8 wins, tied for the most.
- Rams: 12 appearances and 5 wins.
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9 appearances and 5 wins.
- Green Bay Packers: 9 appearances and 3 wins.
- New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks: perfect records, 5–0 and 4–0.
The trophy is named for George Halas, the founder of the Chicago Bears, and the current silver design, made by Tiffany & Co., was introduced in 2010.
Games fans still talk about
- The Catch (January 10, 1982): in the game remembered as The Catch, the 49ers beat the Cowboys 28–27, still the smallest margin in the game's history.
- The 2007 season: the Giants won 23–20 in overtime at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
- The 2014 season: the Seahawks beat the Packers 28–22 in overtime in Seattle.
- January 2025: the Eagles scored 55 points against the Commanders in Philadelphia.
- January 2026: the Seahawks held off the Rams 31–27 in Seattle.
For the current playoff picture and the official schedule, see the NFL playoff page. Stadium bag rules and parking are set by the host team and can change; check them before you go.
Frequently asked questions
When is the NFC Championship Game played?
In late January, on the same Sunday as the AFC Championship Game and two weeks before the Super Bowl. The 2026 game was played January 25.
Where is the NFC Championship Game played?
At the home stadium of the higher-seeded NFC team still in the playoffs. The site is not known until the divisional round ends, about a week before the game.
What trophy does the NFC champion receive?
The George Halas Trophy, named for the founder of the Chicago Bears. Its current silver design dates to 2010.
Which team has won the most NFC Championship Games?
The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers have 8 wins each. The 49ers have the most appearances, with 19.
Can I buy tickets before the teams are known?
Resale listings for a possible home game can appear before the divisional round. Check how a listing handles a game that does not take place in that stadium before you buy.
Who won the most recent NFC Championship Game?
The Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 31–27 in Seattle on January 25, 2026, then won Super Bowl LX.