Latin music icon Bad Bunny, a three-time Grammy winner celebrated for catapulting Spanish-language tracks to global fame, is confirmed to headline the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show in February. This exciting announcement was made by the NFL recently.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show remains one of the most anticipated television events annually, with over 130 million viewers tuning in for last season’s unforgettable performance by rapper Kendrick Lamar. This year’s grand spectacle is scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, just outside San Francisco.
Expressing his profound emotions about the opportunity, Bad Bunny shared in a statement, “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown … this is for my people, my culture and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.” This translates to “Go tell your grandma, we are going to be the Super Bowl HALFTIME SHOW.”
Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny soared to stardom with massive hits like “MIA,” “I Like It,” “Me Porto Bonito,” and “Dákiti.” His talent has earned him 10 Grammy nominations and multiple wins, including for Best Música Urbana Album for “Un Verano Sin Ti” and “El Último Tour del Mundo,” and Best Latin Pop or Urban Album for “YHLQMDLG.” He also boasts an impressive 12 Latin Grammy awards.
Fans can also catch Bad Bunny hosting the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” this coming Saturday.
This marks the seventh Super Bowl halftime show produced by Roc Nation, the powerhouse entertainment and sports agency founded by billionaire rapper Jay-Z. Roc Nation’s partnership with the NFL began amidst public debate surrounding the league’s response to protests by former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who famously knelt during the national anthem to raise awareness about police brutality against people of color.
Bad Bunny has consistently used his platform to advocate for social issues impacting Puerto Rico. In a recent interview with a prominent magazine, he revealed his decision not to include mainland U.S. dates on his latest tour due to concerns his fans might face targeting from immigration authorities. Just hours before the Super Bowl announcement, he hinted on social media about performing “just one date in the United States” after discussions with his team.
Last fall, Bad Bunny shared an eight-minute video in Spanish on social media, passionately expressing his pride for his home island. He controversially captioned the post “garbage,” referencing a comedian’s derogatory comment about Puerto Rico during a political rally. Weeks later, he publicly endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Reflecting on his activism, Bad Bunny stated in an interview with a major newspaper this January, “Every time that I express myself about something, I do it because I feel it. It’s not because I’m Bad Bunny and I have 40 million followers and I want to — no. I’m a normal human being and I have feelings and I get mad and I get happy and that’s how I make my music.”
The upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, proudly sponsored by Apple Music, will be broadcast live on NBC. The NFL officially unveiled Bad Bunny as the headliner through social media and during NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” featuring a video of the artist relaxing on a yellow field goal crossbar on a beach, with his song “Callaíta” playing in the background.
Jay-Z commended Bad Bunny, saying, “What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.”
For weeks, rumors had swirled that pop superstar Taylor Swift would be the headliner. Her record-breaking 21-month Eras Tour, which concluded in December, amassed an incredible $2 billion in ticket sales. Adding to the buzz, she announced her engagement to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in August after almost two years of dating. Her 12th original studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” is slated for release this Friday.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell further fueled the speculation in a recent interview on a popular morning show, remarking, “We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent, and, obviously, she would be welcome at any time.”
In 2019, the NFL forged a partnership with Roc Nation, entrusting them with the production of the Super Bowl halftime shows. Since then, these halftime spectacles have predominantly showcased hip-hop and R&B artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna, and a star-studded 2022 lineup featuring Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Eminem. The very first Super Bowl halftime show under this partnership, in 2020, vibrantly celebrated Latin music with performances by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.