Bad Bunny to Headline Super Bowl 2026 Halftime Show

Latin Music Superstar Makes History Despite Immigration Concerns

The National Football League has officially announced that Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The announcement came during halftime of a Sunday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, confirming months of speculation about who would follow Kendrick Lamar's record-breaking 2025 performance.

Political Context and Immigration Concerns

What makes this announcement particularly significant is Bad Bunny's recent stance on U.S. immigration policy. In a recent interview with i-D Magazine, the artist revealed he was skipping the United States on his current world tour due to concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. 'There were multiple reasons why I wasn't going to the US, and none of those reasons was out of hate,' Bad Bunny explained. 'I've performed multiple times in the US and I've enjoyed the connection I had with the Latino community that lives there. But there was the problem of ICE, who could be standing outside my concerts. That's something we've talked about and that we're very worried about.'

The timing is especially notable given recent ICE enforcement data showing arrests have tripled from May through July 2025 compared to the same period last year, with approximately half of the 61,000 people currently in immigration detention having no criminal record.

A Global Music Phenomenon

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has become one of the most influential artists in contemporary music. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and singer has three Grammy Awards to his name and holds the distinction of being the most-streamed artist worldwide on Spotify. His albums have consistently topped the Billboard charts, with his 2022 album Un Verano Sin Ti spending 13 weeks at number one and becoming the first Spanish-language album nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys.

NFL Deputy Director of Events expressed the league's enthusiasm for the selection, stating: 'Bad Bunny represents a global energy and cultural vibrancy that defines our current music world. He has the unique talent to bridge genres, languages, and audiences. This makes him an obvious choice for the halftime show.'

Cultural Significance and Upcoming Projects

The announcement represents a major milestone for Latin music, as Bad Bunny becomes one of the few Latin artists to headline the prestigious Super Bowl halftime show. His selection follows the NFL's trend of booking major contemporary artists that began with the league's partnership with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2019 to make halftime shows more culturally relevant.

Bad Bunny recently completed a concert series in Puerto Rico and is set to begin his world tour Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos) in November. The artist will perform in the GelreDome in Arnhem, Netherlands, on June 23-24, 2026, as part of his European tour dates.

His latest album carries both personal and political messages, serving as an ode to his homeland while incorporating traditional Puerto Rican sounds and rhythms. The album includes tracks like Turista, which addresses mass tourism, and Quieren quitarme el río y también la playa, focusing on gentrification in Puerto Rico.

Reflecting on the significance of his Super Bowl performance, Bad Bunny stated: 'The feeling I have is bigger than myself. This is for those who came before me and ran meters so I could score a touchdown. This is for my people, my culture, and our history. Tell your grandmother that we're on the Super Bowl.'

Viewership Expectations and Historical Context

The Super Bowl halftime show has evolved into one of the most-watched musical performances globally. Kendrick Lamar's 2025 performance set a new record with 133.5 million viewers, surpassing the game itself which had 126 million viewers. This demonstrates the growing cultural significance of the halftime show beyond just sports entertainment.

The announcement ends speculation that had included names like Taylor Swift, who recently announced her engagement to NFL player Travis Kelce. When asked about Swift as a potential performer earlier this month, the NFL commissioner would only say: 'I can't say anything about that, maybe.'

Super Bowl LX will be broadcast on NBC from Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, marking the 60th edition of the championship game that has become an American cultural institution.