The groundbreaking Latin superstar Bad Bunny, a three-time Grammy winner who has propelled Spanish-language music to unprecedented heights, is confirmed to headline the Super Bowl halftime show this February. This announcement was made by the N.F.L. on Sunday, sparking widespread excitement.
Consistently the most-watched television event of the year, the Super Bowl halftime show draws an enormous audience, with over 130 million viewers tuning in for last season’s performance by rapper Kendrick Lamar. The upcoming Super Bowl is scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, just outside San Francisco.
In a heartfelt statement, Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, shared his feelings about the momentous occasion: “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.”
Hailing from Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny soared to international fame with smash hits such as “MIA,” “I Like It,” “Me Porto Bonito,” and “Dákiti.” With 10 Grammy nominations to his name, he is also slated to host this week’s season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.”
This upcoming performance marks the seventh Super Bowl halftime show produced by Roc Nation, the prominent entertainment and sports company founded by music mogul Jay-Z. Roc Nation’s collaboration with the N.F.L. began during a period of considerable tension surrounding the league’s handling of protests initiated by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who famously knelt during the national anthem to raise awareness about police brutality against people of color.
Bad Bunny has been a consistent advocate for social issues impacting Puerto Rico. In a recent interview, he explained his decision to exclude the mainland United States from his latest tour, citing concerns that his fans might face targeting by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Last fall, he released an eight-minute video on Instagram, spoken entirely in Spanish, where he passionately articulated his pride for Puerto Rico. He notably captioned the post “garbage,” a poignant reference to a comedian’s derogatory remarks about the island during a political rally.
Weeks following this, Bad Bunny publicly endorsed Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee.
Jay-Z expressed his admiration, stating, “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.”
The highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime show will be broadcast live on NBC. The N.F.L. made the announcement across social media platforms and during the halftime segment of “Sunday Night Football,” featuring a video of the artist gracefully perched atop a yellow field goal crossbar on a serene beach at sunset, with his song “Callaita” playing softly in the background.
For weeks, rumors had been swirling that pop superstar Taylor Swift would be the headliner. Her record-breaking 21-month Eras Tour, which concluded in December, generated an astounding $2 billion in ticket sales. Furthermore, she announced her engagement to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in August, after nearly two years of dating. Her 12th original studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” is scheduled for release this Friday.
N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell, addressing the speculation, commented in a recent interview, “We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent, and, obviously, she would be welcome at any time.”
The N.F.L.’s partnership with Roc Nation, established in 2019 to produce the Super Bowl halftime shows, has since predominantly showcased hip-hop and R&B artists. Past performers include Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna, and a memorable 2022 medley featuring Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Eminem. Roc Nation and the N.F.L. first brought Latin music to the Super Bowl halftime stage in 2020, with a vibrant performance by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Apple Music became the official title sponsor of the show in 2022.
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Correction: On September 28, 2025, a summary associated with this article contained a misspelling of a Bad Bunny song. The correct title is “Me Porto Bonito,” not “Me Porto Benito.” We strive for accuracy and promptly correct any errors. If you notice a mistake, please inform us.