Bad Bunny to Perform at Apple Music 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show

In a landmark announcement, Apple Music has confirmed that global superstar Bad Bunny will be the featured performer for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. The event is scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The artist, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, shared his profound feelings about the honor, stating that the moment goes beyond a personal achievement. He framed it as a win for the trailblazers who came before him, his community, and their shared cultural narrative, concluding with a direct message to his fans in Spanish: "Go tell your grandmother that we will be the Super Bowl Halftime Show."

The official reveal was cleverly teased by the artist himself. Just prior to the announcement, Bad Bunny posted on X that he had only one U.S. concert planned, a clear nod to his extensive "Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour." This ambitious tour begins on December 5 in Costa Rica and will traverse Mexico, Spain, and England before a two-night finale in Italy on July 17-18, 2026. His previous reluctance to schedule stateside shows was publicly tied to concerns over immigration enforcement at his events, making this NFL performance a major strategic deviation from his current touring strategy.

Logistically, fitting the Halftime Show into his existing itinerary presents a significant hurdle. The singer is slated to perform in Chile on February 5-7, followed by dates in Argentina on February 15-17. This creates an extremely tight turnaround for international travel and event preparation, and it remains unclear if the South American shows will be adjusted. This performance is historically significant, as Bad Bunny becomes the first solo Puerto Rican artist to headline the spectacle. The milestone was applauded by Roc Nation founder Jay-Z, whose company has overseen the show's talent since 2019. "Benito's impact on Puerto Rico and global culture is undeniable," Jay-Z remarked. "We are proud to platform his artistry for the world."

This career-defining booking caps an extraordinary year for the artist, which began with the January release of his introspective seventh studio album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos." The project was widely praised for its deep exploration of his Puerto Rican heritage. Following the album's release, he embarked on a completely sold-out 30-date residency at San Juan's José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum. The venue, popularly known as the "Choliseo," is the Caribbean's largest indoor arena and a historic landmark for Latin music performances. The residency, which concluded on September 20, showcased his immense commercial power. Music industry analyst Maria Flores of Billboard observed, "An artist selling out 30 nights in their home territory is virtually unprecedented. It demonstrates a fan connection that is both deep and broad, which is the perfect recipe for a successful Halftime Show that needs to captivate over 100 million viewers in minutes."

The path to this announcement was rife with intense industry speculation. Recent rumors indicated that other top-tier artists, including Adele and Taylor Swift, had declined offers for the 2026 slot. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had previously stoked these rumors, telling NBC's "Today" show, "We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent and obviously, she would be welcome at any time." The Halftime Show has recently showcased a roster of music icons; last year's performance was led by Kendrick Lamar and featured surprise appearances from SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Mustard, and Serena Williams. This continues a trend of massive productions, following shows by Usher, Rihanna, and the landmark 2022 performance that united West Coast hip-hop icons Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige, with special guests 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak.