Super Bowl LX halftime show
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| Part of | Super Bowl LX | ||||||
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| Date | February 8, 2026 | ||||||
| Location | Santa Clara, California U.S. | ||||||
| Venue | Levi's Stadium | ||||||
| Headliner | Bad Bunny | ||||||
| Sponsor | Apple Music | ||||||
| Director | Hamish Hamilton | ||||||
| Producer | Jesse Collins, Roc Nation | ||||||
| Super Bowl halftime show chronology | |||||||
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The Super Bowl LX halftime show, officially known as the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, is the upcoming halftime entertainment for Super Bowl LX, scheduled to take place on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It will be headlined by Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap artist Bad Bunny. The show will be televised nationally in the United States by NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, and NFL+.[1]
Background
[edit]On September 9, 2025, it was reported that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hinted that American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift could be headlining the halftime show. He said when asked if it's possible that Swift could do the show on February 8, 2026: "We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent, and obviously she would be welcome at any time". When asked by co-host Savannah Guthrie if an appearance from Swift was in the works, Goodell said "I can't tell you anything about it". Swift, for the third time out of the past four years, declined the opportunity.[2][3] It was initially reported that Swift had asked for an appearance fee and full copyright over the show, which the NFL does not provide to performers.[4] However, Swift later stated that she had rejected the possibility during early conversations with Roc Nation because she was unwilling to perform in a game in which her fiance Travis Kelce could be a participant, since it would detract from her enjoyment of the game by having to focus on the details of a concert.[5]
Billboard also previously reported that potential headliners included Lady Gaga (who previously headlined the 2017 Super Bowl LI halftime show), Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Drake, BTS, Green Day, Metallica and Jay-Z.[6] Adele and Miley Cyrus were also reported to be in talks, with Adele reportedly turning it down.
Headliner announcement
[edit]Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap artist Bad Bunny was officially announced as the headliner for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on September 28, 2025, by the NFL, in partnership with Apple Music and Jay-Z's Roc Nation, during halftime of NBC's Sunday Night Football broadcast. The performance is scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.[7]
In a statement, Bad Bunny highlighted the cultural significance of the event, saying, "This is for my people, my culture, and our history".[8] Earlier in 2025, Bad Bunny had declined to hold concerts in the mainland United States and reserved Puerto Rican shows to island residents due to concerns over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. When he announced his headlining, Bad Bunny said, "I’ve been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I'll do just one date in the United States."[9]
The announcement followed Kendrick Lamar's 2025 show and marks Bad Bunny as the first primarily Spanish-language artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show as a solo act.[10] He previously performed at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez as a special guest.[11]
Reception to selection
[edit]Reactions to the announcement were mixed. Some responses were positive, celebrating the selection as a milestone for Latino representation. California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted that "California is excited to welcome you".[12] Univision highlighted the pride of the Latino community,[13] while celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Mars, Shakira, and Jelly Roll expressed their support.[14] Jay‑Z of Roc Nation praised Bad Bunny's achievement,[14] and reports emphasized the economic and cultural impact of his concerts in Puerto Rico.[15]
Other responses were critical, particularly from conservative commentators. Donald Trump described the announcement as "absolutely ridiculous". Some commentators also noted that Bad Bunny performs primarily in Spanish and reportedly avoided including U.S. dates in his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour due to concerns about potential ICE raids.[16] Conservative influencers and political figures questioned Bad Bunny's selection,[17] with Ryan Fournier stating that "whoever picks these people should be fired".[9] Benny Johnson described him as a "massive Trump hater" and "anti-ICE activist", and criticized that he primarily performs in Spanish.[18] In response to the controversy, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that ICE agents would be present at the Super Bowl.[19] Speaker of the House Mike Johnson noted Bad Bunny's niche audience and lack of crossover appeal to the critical mass of Americans that watch the Super Bowl halftime, suggesting Lee Greenwood as an alternative.[20] Bad Bunny later addressed the backlash, notably during his Saturday Night Live appearance, where he jokingly told critics they had "four months to learn" Spanish.[19] Conservative organization Turning Point USA announced that it intended to set up its own halftime musical performance as counterprogramming.[21]
Goodell dismissed criticism of the selection as typical for an event of its caliber and rejected calls to change the artists in an October 22 press conference, stating it had been "carefully thought through" and that the selection was an intentional effort to cater to a global audience: "that's what we try to achieve." Goodell's only concession in the conference was that additional acts could possibly be added before the show.[22] Jay-Z dismissed the opposition to the selection as astroturfing: "They love him (Bad Bunny). Don't let them fool you."[23]
References
[edit]- ^ Bassam, Tom (March 23, 2021). "The NFL's new broadcast rights deals: Billions of dollars, evolving contracts and streaming plans". SportsPro. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Bonner, Mehera (August 24, 2023). "Taylor Swift Won't Do the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show for Several Very Specific Reasons". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew; Arcand, Rob (September 24, 2022). "Taylor Swift Turns Down Offer to Play 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ "Taylor Swift out of 2026 Super Bowl halftime show". WCNC. September 26, 2025. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ West, Bryan. "Taylor Swift reveals why she didn't want to do the Super Bowl halftime show". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (September 3, 2025). "NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Reveals Whether Taylor Swift Is in the Mix For 2026 Super Bowl Halftime". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
- ^ "Bad Bunny will headline Super Bowl 60 halftime show". NBC News. September 29, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ "Super Bowl 2026: Bad Bunny to perform at half-time show". www.bbc.com. September 29, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Gomez Licon, -Adriana; Landrum, Jonathan (September 29, 2025). "Bad Bunny tapped for Super Bowl halftime, spotlighting Latin pride and his clashes with Trump". PBS News. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ Press, Associated (September 29, 2025). "Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny to headline 2026 Super Bowl half-time show". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ "Bad Bunny Has Been Running 2025 Since the Start. He Was the Only Choice for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show". People.com. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ Jr, Jonathan Landrum; español, ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Leer en (September 29, 2025). "Bad Bunny tapped for Super Bowl halftime, spotlighting Latin pride and his clashes with Trump". AP News. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ "Bad Bunny hará historia: primer latino en solitario en el Super Bowl 2026 | Video | Univision Orlando WVEN | Univision". www.univision.com (in Spanish). Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ a b "Jennifer Lopez, Jelly Roll, More Stars React to Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show Announcement". People.com. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ "Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. September 28, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ "Trump Says He's 'Never Heard of' Bad Bunny, Calls Him an 'Absolutely Ridiculous' Choice for Super Bowl Halftime Show". People.com. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ Jr, Jonathan Landrum; español, ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Leer en (September 29, 2025). "Bad Bunny tapped for Super Bowl halftime, spotlighting Latin pride and his clashes with Trump". AP News. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ Murray, Conor. "'No Songs In English': The Far Right Slams Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Gig Over Anti-Trump Stances". Forbes. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ a b "Bad Bunny mocks MAGA backlash over his Super Bowl halftime show". The Washington Post. October 5, 2025. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ "Republican Leader Mike Johnson's 'Role Model' Pick to Replace 'Terrible' Bad Bunny at Super Bowl Is Exactly Who You'd Expect". People.com. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Staff, The Athletic NFL (October 9, 2025). "Turning Point USA, group founded by Charlie Kirk, announces Super Bowl halftime counterprogramming". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (October 22, 2025). "Roger Goodell On Bad Bunny Performing At Super Bowl: "I Don't Think We've Ever Selected An Artist Without Blowback Or Criticism"". Deadline. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ^ Paul, Larisha (October 28, 2025). "Jay-Z Isn't Convinced the Bad Bunny Halftime Show Backlash Is Authentic: 'They Love Him'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 28, 2025.