Bad Bunny will take viewers on a journey through Latin hip-hop when he headlines the Super Bowl LX halftime show in 2026.
The rapper and singer, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is set to make history as the first Latino male artist to lead the event.
Related: Bad Bunny Serves Up Laughs in ‘SNL’ Cooking Segment
The NFL made the announcement on Sunday, Sept. 28, during halftime of the Dallas Cowboys–Green Bay Packers game.
“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” Bad Bunny said in a statement released by the NFL, Apple Music and the Roc Nation. “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 added, Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL” — meaning “watch and tell your grandmother we’ll be at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.”
Known as the “King of Latin Trap,” there’s a good chance he could perform his entire set in Spanish.
The announcement that he’ll lead the halftime show came as a surprise to many after he announced plans to leave U.S. stops off his latest world tour, over concerns about the Trump administration’s ICE detentions.
Earlier this month, Bad Bunny told i-D magazine he feared “f–king ICE could be outside” the venues.
Still, fans — and critics — flooded the announcement on the Apple Music Instagram page with reactions.
“Never been so proud! Didn’t perform a single show in the U.S. but still took the biggest stage,” one person wrote.
“He is the biggest artist in the world for a reason and we are going to get him for the Super Bowl!” another said.
“So proud of you! Represent all of us Latinos up there — so important now more than ever,” read another comment.
But not everyone was thrilled. Some NFL fans criticized the decision.
“Never heard of any of his songs … are they even in English? Bad choice lol,” one wrote.
“Once again this proves the NFL is the most out of touch sports organization ever,” another said.
Conservative commentator and MAGA supporter, Benny Johnson, and vented on Instagram, “Massive Trump hater, anti-ICE activist, no songs in English.” He captioned the post: “The NFL is self-destructing year after year.”
Criticism aside, Jay-Z — who serves as executive producer of the Apple Music Halftime Show — praised the rapper and singer.
“What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring,” added “We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.”
On his own Instagram page, Bad Bunny shared a video of himself sitting on a beach goalpost, wearing a pava — a traditional Puerto Rican hat made from leaves — while his hit “Callaíta” (shy girl) played in the background.
The Grammy winner was born in Puerto Rico and launched his career in 2016 by uploading music to SoundCloud. His breakout came in 2018, when he was featured on Cardi B’s No. 1 single “I Like It.” Shakira and Jennifer Lopez brought him on stage in 2020 for the Super Bowl LIV halftime show.
Since then, he has broken records across streaming platforms and with his tours.
His World’s Hottest Tour became the highest-grossing tour in a calendar year in 2022, earning more than $435 million, according to Billboard.
In 2024, his Most Wanted Tour grossed more than $211 million and sold more than 750,000 tickets across the U.S.
Over the summer, his 31-night residency at San Juan’s El Choli brought in an estimated $200 million for Puerto Rico and broke the record for Amazon Music’s most-watched livestream.
His Debí tirar más fotos World Tour launches in November, with stops in Latin America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
Super Bowl LX takes place Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show will be produced by DPS with Roc Nation, Jesse Collins, and director Hamish Hamilton, the team behind recent shows, including Kendrick Lamar’s Emmy-winning, record-breaking performance earlier this year.
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