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Election night 2026: where to watch, in one minute
By The Trends Incoming team · Published 2026-10-31
Nonpartisan explainer: sourced facts, both sides represented, no endorsements.
Snacks ready? Here's how to follow election night, whoever you're rooting for.
What it is
| When | Tue Nov 3, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Earliest | CNN, C-SPAN: 4 p.m. ET |
| Free stream | Peacock (portions of NBC) from 5 p.m. ET |
| Broadcast | ABC and CBS 7 p.m. ET; NBC 5 p.m. ET |
Why it's trending
All 435 House seats, 35 Senate races and 36 governor races are on the ballot. Networks have rolled out their plans, from NBC's Decision '26, running 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, to C-SPAN's commercial-free results, per TV Insider. Remember that election night numbers are unofficial until states certify.
Where to follow it
Follow #ElectionNight. Our full network-by-network guide has every start time, and Elections 2026 explains what's on the ballot. Vote first: USA.gov links your state's election office.
Quick answers
What time does election night coverage start in 2026?
CNN and C-SPAN start at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. NBC starts at 5 p.m. ET, Fox News and MS Now at 6 p.m. ET, and ABC, CBS and NewsNation at 7 p.m. ET, per TV Insider.
Can I stream election night for free?
Per TV Insider, portions of NBC's coverage stream on Peacock from 5 p.m. ET, and CBS News runs a show on its digital platforms from 5 p.m. ET. C-SPAN carries commercial-free results.
When do polls close on November 3, 2026?
Each state sets its own hours. Check your state election office, linked from USA.gov.
Follow it
The trend card
Midterms: 3 days out
Every House seat, 35 Senate races and 36 governor races are on the ballot Tuesday, Nov 3. Coverage starts at 4 p.m. ET on CNN and C-SPAN; see every network's start time.
Sources
- TV Insider: Election Night 2026, how to watch the midterm results live (Oct 30)
- USA.gov: when to vote, election dates by state
By The Trends Incoming team · Fact-checked 2026-10-31. Dates change, so double-check with the official source.