Let’s be real for a second. Every single year, the internet enters a collective fever dream trying to guess who is performing at the super bowl halftime this year. We spent months hearing the same three names—Taylor Swift (who seems to be the eternal "almost" candidate), Miley Cyrus, and maybe some legacy rock band your dad loves. But the NFL finally pulled the trigger, and the answer is Bad Bunny.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. El Conejo Malo.
The Puerto Rican superstar is officially taking the stage at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on February 8, 2026. This isn't just another halftime gig. It is a massive, era-defining pivot for the NFL and Roc Nation. For the first time ever, a Spanish-language artist is headlining the world's biggest stage as a solo act. Honestly, it’s about time.
Who is performing at the Super Bowl halftime this year?
The announcement actually dropped back in September during a Sunday Night Football game. If you missed the clip, it was vintage Benito—him sitting on a goalpost on a beach, looking completely unbothered while the world went into a frenzy.
Jay-Z and Roc Nation have been steering this ship for a few years now, and choosing Bad Bunny feels like the natural climax of their "global" strategy. We’ve seen Rihanna, Usher, and Kendrick Lamar (who absolutely crushed it last year). But Bad Bunny represents something different. He is the most-streamed artist on the planet who refuses to record in English just to appease the charts.
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He basically told the world, "Learn Spanish or keep up."
The Supporting Cast: Who Else Is on the Bill?
While Bad Bunny is the main event, the NFL has already rounded out the pregame festivities. If you’re the type who actually sits down for the National Anthem and the coin toss, here is the lineup:
- Charlie Puth is handling the National Anthem.
- Brandi Carlile is set for "America the Beautiful."
- Coco Jones (the R&B powerhouse) is singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
Interestingly, J Balvin—who performed with Benito during the JLo and Shakira halftime show back in 2020—already told TMZ he’s sitting this one out. He wants his "boy" to have the whole stage to himself.
The Politics and the Backlash (Because of Course)
You can't have a Super Bowl without a little drama. This year, the controversy isn't just about the music. It's about height.
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Seriously.
A casting notice for the field participants leaked recently, stating that fans who want to be on the grass during the performance have to be at least 5'7". Social media lost its mind. People are calling it "short-king erasure." While production claims it’s for "visual symmetry" and "safety" (whatever that means in a stadium full of 70,000 people), it’s left a sour taste for a lot of fans who just wanted to dance near Benito.
Then there is the political side of things. There’s been a lot of noise from conservative commentators like Charlie Kirk and Mike Johnson, who aren't exactly thrilled about an artist who performs primarily in Spanish. Bad Bunny even poked fun at the "learn Spanish" critics during a Saturday Night Live appearance, basically saying they have four months to get a Duolingo subscription before kickoff.
What to Expect from the Setlist
If you’ve ever seen a Bad Bunny tour, you know it’s not just a concert. It’s a theatrical experience. We’re talking floating stages, palm trees, and maybe even a semi-truck.
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While the official setlist is locked in a vault somewhere in Cupertino (thanks, Apple Music), the rumors are flying. Everyone expects "Dakiti" and "Tití Me Preguntó" to be the anchors. There’s also high-key speculation that Cardi B might show up for "I Like It," which would probably blow the roof off the stadium.
He’s also fresh off his Debí Tirar Más Fotos residency in Puerto Rico, where he performed for over half a million people. He’s in peak form. This isn't a "legacy" act trying to recapture the magic. This is a guy at the absolute summit of his career.
Key Details You Need to Know:
- Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026.
- Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA.
- Network: NBC (and streaming on Peacock).
- Spanish Broadcast: Telemundo (which makes total sense this year).
Why This Matters Beyond the Music
Choosing who is performing at the super bowl halftime this year wasn't just about picking the person with the most TikTok followers. It’s a business move. The NFL is desperate to capture the international market, specifically Latin America and Europe.
Bad Bunny is a bridge. He’s a guy who can sell out stadiums in Tokyo, Mexico City, and Madrid without changing a single lyric. By putting him on at the 60th anniversary of the Super Bowl, the league is signaling that the "American" in NFL is becoming much more fluid.
Whether you love reggaeton or you're just there for the chips and dip, the 2026 halftime show is going to be a massive production. It’s the first time we’ll see a solo Latino headliner, and considering the scale of his previous tours, the visuals will likely be unlike anything we've seen since the Weeknd’s funhouse-mirror setup.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Update your apps: If you aren't watching on cable, make sure your Peacock or NFL+ subscription is active before the February 8 kickoff to avoid the "too many logins" error.
- Set a reminder for 8:00 PM ET: The game starts at 6:30, but halftime usually hits about 90 to 100 minutes later.
- Brush up on the hits: If you don't know the lyrics to "Moscow Mule" or "Monaco," now is the time to add them to your rotation so you aren't the only one at the party not nodding along.