How to Watch the Tesla Roadster Event Tonight: Start Time, Livestream and DIRECTV Options
Tesla’s next-generation Roadster event streams live tonight, Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 8:55 p.m. ET (5:55 p.m. PT) on Tesla’s X account (@Tesla) and at livestream.tesla.com. Tesla posted the start time as 7:55 p.m. Central. The reveal is at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, and as of this afternoon no DIRECTV channel has announced plans to carry it live.
That doesn’t mean DIRECTV homes miss out. The stream is free and needs no Tesla account, so you can pull it up on the same TV you use for DIRECTV with a browser, the X app or casting. Here’s what’s confirmed as of October 15, 2026.
Tesla Roadster event at a glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, October 15, 2026 |
| Start time | 7:55 p.m. CT (Tesla’s posted time) / 8:55 p.m. ET |
| Location | SpaceX test site, McGregor, Texas (invite-only in person) |
| Official stream | @Tesla on X and livestream.tesla.com |
| Cost to watch | Free |
| DIRECTV channel | None announced for a live broadcast |
| Rescheduled from | October 1 (weather; Tesla says the show is outdoors only) |
Start time in your time zone
Tesla’s post said “7:55pm CST,” but Texas is still on daylight time in October, and Reuters lists the start as 8:55 p.m. EDT. Converted from that:
| Time zone | Stream starts |
|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 8:55 p.m. Thursday |
| Central (CT) | 7:55 p.m. Thursday |
| Mountain (MT) | 6:55 p.m. Thursday |
| Arizona (MST) | 5:55 p.m. Thursday |
| Pacific (PT) | 5:55 p.m. Thursday |
| Alaska (AKT) | 4:55 p.m. Thursday |
| Hawaii (HST) | 2:55 p.m. Thursday |
Tesla events don’t always start right on time, so plan to tune in a few minutes early and expect possible delays.
Where to watch tonight
| Option | Live? | Notes (as of October 15, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| @Tesla on X | Yes (confirmed) | Free in the X app or at x.com; viewing doesn’t require an X account in most cases |
| livestream.tesla.com | Yes (confirmed) | Tesla’s page is showing a Roadster countdown |
| Tesla on YouTube | Not confirmed | Tesla has used YouTube for past events; check the channel tonight |
| DIRECTV channels | Not announced | No network has announced a live simulcast |
| Business news (CNBC 355, Bloomberg TV 353, FOX Business 359) | Not confirmed | These channels cover Tesla regularly. Live coverage of the reveal has not been announced; recaps are likely |
How to watch with a DIRECTV home setup
Since there’s no DIRECTV channel for the live event, you’ll use an app or browser on a device you already have:
- Smart TV or streaming stick: open the X app if your TV has it, or a browser, and go to Tesla’s X page or livestream.tesla.com. Choosing hardware? See Roku vs. Fire TV Stick 4K and our look at the DIRECTV app on Fire TV.
- Phone or tablet: watch in the X app, or cast or mirror it to your TV if your device supports that.
- Laptop: open the stream in a browser and connect to the TV with HDMI for the big screen.
Want to switch between DIRECTV and streaming apps without changing inputs? Our guide to live TV on streaming devices explains how. For other news networks in your lineup, see what channel BBC News is on DIRECTV, and compare DIRECTV packages or call 1-855-690-9884.
What to expect from the Roadster reveal
Tesla first showed a next-generation Roadster prototype in 2017 with promises of deliveries in 2020. It still hasn’t delivered one. Here is what has been reported, and what has not:
- Reported: Reuters says reservations are still $50,000, and the 2017 prototype was pitched at about $200,000. Elon Musk wrote on X in 2024 that the redesigned car would go 0 to 60 mph in under a second, and called it a Tesla and SpaceX collaboration.
- Hype: Musk posted this week that the Roadster is “a candidate for greatest product demo of all time.”
- Unconfirmed: final pricing, a production start date, delivery timing and whether SpaceX cold-gas thrusters (a feature Musk has teased) will be shown on camera.
The event was set for October 1 and moved two weeks because of weather. Tesla said the show can only happen outdoors, so it’s possible weather could cause another change. Check @Tesla before you tune in.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Tesla Roadster event?
Tesla says the livestream starts at 7:55 p.m. Central on Thursday, October 15, 2026. That is 8:55 p.m. Eastern and 5:55 p.m. Pacific.
Where can I stream the Roadster event?
Tesla is streaming it live on its official X account (@Tesla) and on livestream.tesla.com. Tesla has streamed past events on its YouTube channel, but it has not confirmed a YouTube stream for this one.
Is the Tesla Roadster event on a DIRECTV channel?
No DIRECTV channel has announced a live broadcast. DIRECTV customers can watch the stream in a web browser or the X app on a smart TV, phone, tablet or computer, or cast it to a TV.
Where is the event being held?
Reuters reports it is at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, near Waco. Attendance in person is by invitation only.
Will Tesla announce Roadster pricing?
Tesla has not confirmed it. The 2017 prototype was pitched at about $200,000, and reservations are still $50,000, according to Reuters.
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