The Super Bowl is the biggest event in American sport, and is also one of the most attended live events of the year. Many people watch the game on TV or online, but only a few lucky fans get to see it in person at the stadium. Comparing the attendance figures between Super Bowl 2025 and 2026 shows how stadium size, location and league planning influence the number of fans who witness the NFL’s championship game first-hand.

Live Attendance at Super Bowl 2025

Super Bowl LIX took place on February 9th 2025, at the iconic Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. For big events, estimates say it can hold between 73,000 and 76,000 people.

According to official counts, Super Bowl 2025 attracted an attendance figure of 65,719 fans inside the Superdome on game day. This number reflected the confirmed number of people present, including fans, staff and VIP ticket holders, rather than the total maximum seating capacity. There was an average of 127.7 million viewers across all media for the Super Bowl 2025, which was also a record.

Expected Attendance for Super Bowl 2026

A year later, Super Bowl LX is being hosted at Levi’s Stadium which is the home of the San Francisco 49ers. This stadium has a base seating capacity of 68,500, which can be expanded for major events like the Super Bowl to around 71,000 or more.While exact attendance numbers for Super Bowl 2026 have not yet been officially released, analysts and reports suggest that attendance figures will be close to or slightly under 65,000-70,000 fans inside Levi’s Stadium. Some reports, estimates mention roughly 75,000 people making their way into the venue area and surrounding fan events, though the ticketed crowd inside the stadium proper is expected to be somewhat lower.On paper, Super Bowl LX’s host venue has a slightly smaller capacity than the Caesars Superdome, which historically accommodates larger maximum crowds. In practical terms, the live attendance for Super Bowl 2025 at around 65,700 appears to be comparable to projected figures for Super Bowl 2026, which will likely range in the same ballpark, depending on final staging and NFL decisions about seat kills and event production.Whether it is in New Orleans or Santa Clara, being part of a Super Bowl crowd remains a rare and thrilling experience for tens of thousands of fans lucky enough to secure tickets even as hundreds of millions more watch from afar.