Bad Bunny will make history in February 2026 as the first solo Latino artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
The Grammy-winning Puerto Rican icon, known for elevating Latin trap and reggaeton to the global stage, is coming off a historic residency in Puerto Rico that drew more than half a million fans, per The Associated Press.
With albums like “El Ultimo Tour del Mundo,” the first all-Spanish-language album to top the Billboard 200, and hits including “Me Porto Bonito,” “Dákiti” and “MIA,” Bad Bunny has cemented himself as one of the most streamed artists in the world.
In a joint statement released by the NFL, Roc Nation and Apple Music, he reflected on the cultural significance of the moment.
“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” Bad Bunny said. “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,” the end of his statement translating to “Go tell your grandmother we’re going to be the Super Bowl halftime show.”
Who is Bad Bunny?
Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, the 31-year-old superstar has won three Grammys and 12 Latin Grammys. He’s also made a name in Hollywood with roles in “Bullet Train,” “Caught Stealing” and, most recently, “Happy Gilmore 2.″ Beyond his genre-bending music, he’s become a global ambassador for Puerto Rico and Latin music worldwide.
Bad Bunny isn’t entirely new to the Super Bowl stage. He appeared as a guest during the 2020 halftime show in Miami alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. This time, however, the spotlight will be all his.
Why Bad Bunny?
For Apple Music, Roc Nation and the NFL, the choice of Bad Bunny as the next Super Bowl halftime headliner was clear. Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Music, Sports and Beats, described the halftime show as “the ultimate celebration of music and culture,” saying few artists embody that intersection as authentically as Bad Bunny. Schusser noted that his music has not only broken records but also elevated Latin music to the center of pop culture, and that this performance promises to be “unforgettable” for millions of fans worldwide.
Jay-Z, who oversees the Super Bowl halftime performances through Roc Nation, added that what Bad Bunny continues to do for Puerto Rico is “truly inspiring,” and called it an honor to have him on the world’s biggest stage.
Jon Barker, the NFL’s SVP of Global Event Production, emphasized that Bad Bunny represents the energy and cultural vibrancy that define today’s music scene. He praised the artist’s rare ability to bridge genres, languages and audiences, making him an “exciting and natural” choice to headline the show.
Recent halftime performers
Bad Bunny joins a legendary lineup of Super Bowl performers. In recent years, that includes Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige in 2022, and Rihanna, Usher and Kendrick Lamar in subsequent years.
Lamar’s show set the record for the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show, garnering 133.5 million viewers, surpassing Michael Jackson’s previous audience record in 1993, per AP.
And while NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is still holding out hope for a Taylor Swift halftime show, this year belongs to Benito.