Latin Megastar Bad Bunny To Perform 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show

The National Football League and Roc Nation have tapped Bad Bunny to perform the Super Bowl LX halftime show. The Latin megastar was announced as the headliner for the Apple Music-sponsored halftime performance with a video played during the “Sunday Night Football” broadcast that featured the artist sitting atop a goalpost with the date of Feb. 8, which is when the Big Game will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” Bad Bunny said in a statement. “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.”

Many speculated that Taylor Swift would be the next Super Bowl halftime performer after announcing the release of The Life of a Showgirl, which drops on Oct. 3, but Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is more than qualified to headline the event. The Puerto Rican singer set a touring record in 2022 when he grossed a whopping $435 million in a calendar year, which was broken a year later by Swift’s $1 billion-grossing “Eras Tour.” He is also a three-time Grammy winner and one of the most-streamed artists in the world.

“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,” said Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, who is Roc Nation’s founder and chairman.

The 2026 Super Bowl halftime show won’t be the first time Bad Bunny performs during football’s biggest night. He was a special guest for Shakira and Jennifer Lopez back in 2020, which was the last time the NFL had a Latin headliner for the famous halftime show.

Bad Bunny follows Kendrick Lamar, who put on a memorable performance in February that also served as a history lesson rich with symbolism and themes critiquing race in America. Similar to Lamar, Bad Bunny tends to use his productions and music videos to amplify his message, some of which celebrate Puerto Rican heritage and are politically charged.

More than 127 million people tuned in for Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in February, and adding Bad Bunny into the mix in 2026 could attract more viewers by catering to the young Latino demographic. Colombian star Karol G recently performed a halftime show earlier this month for the NFL’s game in São Paulo, which was livestreamed on YouTube.

“Bad Bunny represents the global energy and cultural vibrancy that define today’s music scene. As one of the most influential and streamed artists in the world, his unique ability to bridge genres, languages, and audiences makes him an exciting and natural choice to take the Super Bowl halftime stage,” said Jon Barker, SVP of Global Event Production for the NFL. “We know his dynamic performances, creative vision, and deep connection with fans will deliver the kind of unforgettable experience we’ve come to expect from this iconic cultural moment.”

Oliver Schusser, vice president of music, sports and beats at Apple, said the Puerto Rican star’s show “will be unforgettable.”

“The Halftime Show is the ultimate celebration of music and culture, and few artists embody that intersection more perfectly and authentically than Bad Bunny,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Music, Sports and Beats. “At Apple Music, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with Bad Bunny over the years and watching his meteoric rise into one of the most influential artists of our time has been truly incredible. His music has not only broken records but has elevated Latin music to the center of pop culture and we are thrilled to once again partner with the NFL and Roc Nation to deliver this historic performance to millions of fans worldwide.”

Rumors began swirling online Sunday, especially after Bad Bunny posted a message in Spanish on X during the broadcast that said: “I’ve been thinking about it these days, and after thinking about it with my team, I think I will do just one single date in the United States.” The social media post is a reference to the fact that U.S. cities are absent from the routing to his upcoming “Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour,” which kicks off Nov. 21 in the Dominican Republic and runs through July 22, 2026.

Bad Bunny recently spoke about not including U.S. stops for his tour, telling I-D Magazine that he was concerned about mass deportations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.

“There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the US, and none of them were out of hate—I’ve performed there many times,” he said. “All of [the shows] have been successful. All of them have been magnificent. I’ve enjoyed connecting with Latinos who have been living in the U.S. … But there was the issue of—like, fucking ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”

The halftime show announcement comes on the heels of Bad Bunny’s final performance of his 31-date residency in Puerto Rico, which was promoted by Noah Assad of Rimas Entertainment and Move Concerts. His hometown run was a massive success, moving nearly half a million tickets and selling about 80,000 hotel packages to help boost the local economy. The final performance was livestreamed by Amazon Music and shattered viewership records for the platform.

Bad Bunny is an influential force in the music industry. His sold-out “Most Wanted Tour” in 2024 was No. 7 on Pollstar’s Top 200 Worldwide Touring Acts with a $210.9 million gross, earning him the Latin Tour of the Year at this year’s Pollstar Awards.

The reggaeton standout is repped by United Talent Agency’s Jbeau Lewis and David Zedeck in North America and UTA’s Carlos Abreu in other territories. Noah Assad of Rimas Entertainment is Bad Bunny’s manager.