NBC Leads 2026 Election Night With 13-Hour Broadcast

American voters cast their ballots on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, while broadcast networks launch dedicated election night programs. Major media companies have scheduled extensive live coverage that runs into the early hours of Wednesday, November 4. The programming offers a range of start times and streaming platforms for viewers to follow the results.

NBC News has scheduled the longest live event of the night with its special, Decision '26. The program begins at 2 p.m. Pacific Time and concludes at 3 a.m. Pacific Time the following day. Peacock will stream simultaneous feeds and live results for this coverage from 2:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Pacific Time. This schedule provides a comprehensive view of the election night developments.

Other major broadcasters are airing their own specials with varying start times. ABC News will air Vote 2026 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Pacific Time, with live streams available on Disney+ and Hulu. CBS News will broadcast America Decides: Election 2026 starting at 4 p.m. Pacific Time, available simultaneously on Paramount+. Fox News launched its Democracy 26 special at 3 p.m. Pacific Time, while NewsNation coverage runs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific Time.

MS Now is contributing to the lineup with its program We the People, which starts at 3 p.m. Pacific Time. Rachel Maddow is set to lead the coverage for this network. These channels, along with CNN, serve as primary sources for live updates and analysis throughout the evening.

Viewers without traditional television packages can access these networks through several streaming services. DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV provide live streams of MS Now, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox News. DirecTV offers a five-day free trial for new subscribers, allowing them to watch the coverage without an initial cost. The service includes these channels in its Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier packages, with custom lineups starting at $20.99 per month.

Fubo is another option that carries ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, and NewsNation. It does not include CNN or MS Now. New Fubo subscribers can take a five-day free trial. After the trial, the service costs $54.99 for the first month and $64.99 per month thereafter. Hulu + Live TV provides access to CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, MS Now, and NewsNation. Subscriptions start at $89.99 per month and come bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+.

The coordinated timing of the specials allows for a synchronized viewing experience across the country. Many programs start in the late afternoon Pacific Time, aligning with the closing of polls in various regions. The availability of free trials for services like DirecTV and Fubo lowers the barrier for new subscribers who wish to watch the election coverage live.