The Killers Set 2026 Final Show Before 5pm Start — What Time Does The Champions League Start
What time does the champions league start? This year’s final kicks off at 5pm BST, three hours earlier than usual, and The Killers will front the pre-match show in Budapest. PSG and Arsenal meet at 6pm local time, with the opening ceremony built to run in the half hour before kickoff.
Budapest 5pm Kickoff
The 2026 UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show presented by Pepsi is set for before PSG against Arsenal in Budapest. The final begins at 5pm BST and 6pm local time, while the show should be under way about 30 minutes before kickoff, with a slightly later 4.45pm start also suggested.
That timing is the sharp change for viewers. The final is starting three hours earlier than usual, so anyone planning around the match in the UK or elsewhere has a different Saturday schedule than they would for a standard late-night final.
The Killers Lead Show
The Killers headline the ceremony, with Brandon Flowers fronting the performance. Their set follows a short film called The Race Begins, which features the band and Sir David Beckham.
The band said, “When we were asked to perform at the UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show presented by Pepsi we said, 'Yes' without hesitation; some stages speak for themselves.” They also said, “We're honoured to celebrate the incredible teams and players at what will undoubtedly be an epic match.”
How Fans Can Watch
The Champions League final programme begins at 3pm BST on TNT Sports 1 in the UK. TNT Sports subscribers can also watch the show live online through the HBO Max app and website.
The kick-off show will also be broadcast live on the official UEFA website and YouTube channel, giving supporters more than one way to catch the build-up before PSG and Arsenal take the field. For viewers, the key change is simple: the main event comes early, and the pre-match show is part of the same tight run-up to kickoff.
