Taylor Swift reportedly declined the opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show after the NFL rejected one of her major demands.
On Sunday night (September 28), the NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation made the long-awaited announcement during the Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys game.
Bad Bunny, 31, will become the first Puerto Rican artist to headline the prestigious event.
In a statement, the artist, whose full name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, shared his excitement and pride: "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. (Go and tell grandma that we will be the HALFTIME SHOW of the Super Bowl).”
Taylor Swift’s Super Bowl dream dashed
While Swifties had hoped for the pop superstar to make her Super Bowl debut, the announcement of Bad Bunny as the headliner was disappointing news for those fans.
The 33-year-old Grammy-winning artist has never performed at the major event, despite being one of the biggest music stars of her generation.
In recent weeks, speculation about her potential performance was fueled by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s comments on the Today show, where he expressed his admiration for Swift.
However, reports soon emerged that the 'Karma' songstress had been in talks to headline the 2026 show but had one significant demand that the NFL ultimately rejected.
According to pop culture journalist Rob Shuter, Swift reportedly wanted to retain ownership of her performance footage and secure promotional slots for her own projects, much like she has fought to regain control of her music masters.
An industry source explained: “She knows the kind of ratings she brings, the global attention she commands. She wasn’t about to hand that over for free," per Yahoo.
“The NFL flatly refused,” the source continued. “Taylor Swift doesn’t need exposure. She wanted a deal that reflected her value.”
The 'Cruel Summer' star's refusal to compromise on her demands ultimately led her to step away from the opportunity, clearing the path for Bad Bunny, who has become a global music force.
Bad Bunny makes history
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl appearance will make history as the first primarily Spanish-speaking artist to headline the halftime show.
He’s a three-time Grammy winner and has dominated streaming platforms, recently becoming the most-streamed artist on Spotify for four consecutive years.
This will be the 'Tití Me Preguntó' hitmaker's first time headlining the show, though fans will remember his surprise appearance during the 2020 halftime show with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.
Since then, his career has skyrocketed, with sold-out shows and record-breaking achievements. He recently completed a historic residency in Puerto Rico, performing 31 nights to packed arenas.
The superstar, who is fresh off his 2024 album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, is expected to bring his high-energy reggaeton and Latin trap sounds to the world’s biggest stage.
His 2025-2026 world tour will also include stops across Europe and Latin America.
Super Bowl 2026 will be held at Levi’s Stadium on February 8.