The Super Bowl halftime show is arguably the biggest stage in music – a global spectacle watched by hundreds of millions of people who tune in not just for the game, but to see which megastar will own the 15-minute spotlight.
In recent years, the NFL has stacked its lineup with household names. Rihanna stunned with her gravity-defying performance in 2023. Usher reminded fans why he’s still the king of R&B in 2024. And just last year, Kendrick Lamar brought an electrifying mix of artistry and politics to the field. Each show feels bigger than the last, so naturally, speculation has been sky-high about who would take the stage next.
On Sunday night, during the Packers-Cowboys game, the NFL finally gave fans their answer. And this time, they’ve gone global.
The 2026 halftime show will be headlined by none other than Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican superstar who has smashed streaming records, dominated festivals, and built one of the most loyal fanbases in the world.
Bunny, real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is no stranger to history-making moments. He’s been the most-streamed artist on Spotify for four consecutive years, is a three-time Grammy winner, and has successfully brought reggaeton and Latin trap from the barrios of Puerto Rico to the main stages of Coachella, WWE arenas, and beyond.
“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” Bunny said in a statement released alongside the big announcement. “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.”
He also revealed the news to fans on his own social media channels, posting a clip soundtracked by his hit “Callaita,” which quickly set Twitter and TikTok alight with hype.
While this will be his first time headlining, Bunny has already stepped onto the Super Bowl stage once before. Fans may remember his surprise appearance in 2020, when he joined Shakira and Jennifer Lopez during their Miami halftime extravaganza. That cameo introduced him to millions of new viewers – but this time, the show is all his.
The 31-year-old has been riding high off the back of his historic residency at San Juan’s El Choli arena, where he performed 31 nights to sold-out crowds. His final performance, titled Una Más, even became the most-watched Amazon Music livestream ever.
What makes this announcement even more significant is that Bunny’s catalog is largely in Spanish, making him one of the few non-English-speaking artists to headline the halftime show. It’s a bold move that reflects just how much global music has shifted into the mainstream.
Earlier this year, Bunny told i-D that he deliberately left the United States off his upcoming 2025–26 tour schedule, citing concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and ongoing questions about Puerto Rico’s lack of statehood. Still, he made it clear that his relationship with U.S. fans remains strong – and this halftime show will only strengthen that bond.
Super Bowl 2026 takes place at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco, and if past shows are anything to go by, expect dazzling choreography, special guests, and enough viral moments to keep social media buzzing for weeks.
For now, one thing’s certain: the world’s biggest stage is about to get a heavy dose of reggaeton.