When is the State of the Union? Time, channel for...

President Donald Trump will address Congress on Tuesday, Feb. 24, during the 2026 State of the Union address. The speech will be Trump's first official State of the Union address since his return to office. The address is an opportunity for presidents to set their political agenda for the year ahead and highlight their accomplishments to American voters. This year, Trump is expected to discuss immigration, tariffs and foreign policy. Here's how to watch: Is the State of the Union address tonight? Yes. President Trump will deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24. What time is the State of the Union on tonight? The address is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET, according to TV Guide. What channel is the State of the Union address on? The State of the Union address will air on all major news networks, including NBC, ABC, CBS and PBS. In Greater Cincinnati, the address will air on WLWT, WCPO, Local 12, Fox19 and CET. Does the State of the Union happen every year? The Constitution requires the president "from time to time" to give Congress "Information of the State of the Union." Since 1790, with some exceptions, U.S. presidents delivered State of the Union messages once annually, according to The American Presidency Project. George Washington set this precedent. The State of the Union was primarily a written report until the 1930s, when Franklin D. Roosevelt kicked off the modern practice of delivering a spoken State of the Union address. When was the last State of the Union? President Joe Biden gave the last State of the Union address on March 7, 2024. Trump addressed a joint session of Congress in March 2025, but this was not considered a State of the Union address because it was his first speech to Congress during his second term. For the past four decades, presidents have chosen to classify their first speech to Congress as a general address rather than a State of the Union, according to NPR. What does 'State of the Union' mean? During his address, the president speaks to the "state of the union," or the status of the United States. This includes speaking to the issues the country faces and the improvements that have been made. Alternate State of the Union Several Democratic Congress members are skipping Trump's State of the Union address to attend the counter rally "People's State of the Union," according to The Hill. The event is hosted by liberal activist groups and will begin around 8 p.m. on the National Mall.