Where to watch college and NFL football around Wilmington in 2026

Catch your favorite college and NFL teams at these Wilmington-area sports bars, restaurants and taprooms made for game day.

Oct 5, 2026 • By Jenna Dolch • 4 min. read

Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Commercial

College football Saturdays and NFL Sundays are back for the 2026 season, and you don’t have to watch from your living room.

Around Wilmington, sports bars, restaurants and taprooms offer plenty of TVs, game-day food and drinks and space to settle in for an afternoon of football. Some even carry NFL Sunday Ticket or multiple college networks, making it easier to follow your favorite team when its game isn’t the biggest matchup of the day.

Whether you’re following a North Carolina team or cheering for one from back home, here are some places around Wilmington to catch college and NFL football this season.

Key takeaways

The bigger picture: Wilmington has game-day options ranging from traditional sports bars to neighborhood taprooms and downtown hangouts.
The details: Several spots have multiple TVs and extended weekend hours, while some specifically offer NFL Sunday Ticket and college football networks.
Why it matters: Fans can find places to follow both local favorites and out-of-market teams throughout the 2026 football season.
The more you know: Popular games can draw a crowd, so arrive early and confirm that your game will be shown if you’re following a specific team.

Four Corners WB

Four Corners brings a little Chapel Hill sports culture to the Wilmington area. Named for legendary UNC basketball coach Dean Smith’s Four Corners offense, the Eastwood Road restaurant is a laid-back spot for food, drinks and watching games, with plenty of TVs and a location just before the Wrightsville Beach bridge.

Address: 2025 Eastwood Road, Wilmington
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday
Phone: (910) 239-9435

Tides Taproom

Tides Taproom in Wilmington’s Cargo District goes all in on football, with 20 TVs, NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone, plus SEC, ACC and Big Ten networks for college football Saturdays. Food is available from Zeke Smash, and Tides also has pool, darts, skee-ball and other games to keep groups entertained between kickoffs.

Address: 615 S. 17th St., Wilmington
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday

Seven Mile Post

Seven Mile Post in the Ogden area has 12 flatscreen HD TVs for sports along with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The 21-and-older neighborhood pub also has pool, darts, skee-ball, Golden Tee and foosball, while The Xtra Mile serves food for anyone settling in to watch the games.

Address: 7219 Market St., Wilmington
Hours: 3 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday; 12:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday; 12:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday
Phone: (910) 821-0036

Kickback Jack’s

Kickback Jack’s offers the classic sports-bar experience with numerous large HD screens and television packages for NFL and college football. Its large menu includes wings, burgers, appetizers and other game-day favorites, making it an easy option for groups planning to watch more than one matchup.

Address: 418 S. College Road, Wilmington
Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily
Phone: (910) 523-5669

Backspin Social

Backspin Social combines a sports-bar atmosphere with indoor golf, giving football fans plenty to do between games. The Wilmington location has TVs for watching sports, lounge seating, a full bar and four indoor golf simulators, making it especially useful for groups that don’t necessarily want to spend the entire afternoon sitting at a table.

Address: 6717 Market St., Wilmington
Hours: 3-10 p.m. Monday-Tuesday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday
Phone: (910) 660-8004

Whiskey Trail at The Creek

Whiskey Trail at The Creek is a neighborhood pub and sports bar in Wilmington’s Masonboro area, serving burgers and other casual food alongside beer and drinks. The laid-back setup makes it another option for catching Saturday or Sunday football without heading into downtown Wilmington.

Address: 4039 Masonboro Loop Road, Unit 1-B, Wilmington
Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday
Phone: (910) 399-3266

Hell’s Kitchen

Hell’s Kitchen is a longtime downtown Wilmington option for catching a game over wings, burgers and drinks. The Princess Street pub promotes itself as a place to watch sports and stays open late throughout the week, which makes it especially convenient for night games.