Super Bowl LX halftime show
First Latino solo artist to headline a Super Bowl halftime show.
The Fader · via Wikipedia: Super Bowl LX halftime show · Fair use
The Super Bowl LX halftime show, sponsored by Apple Music, was the entertainment for the game on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Headliner Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican rapper, became the first Latino solo artist to lead the show and the first to perform a set almost entirely in Spanish. Guest acts included Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and Los Pleneros de la Cresta. The broadcast aired on NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo, NFL+, and select NBC Sports digital platforms, drawing 128.2 million domestic viewers across all outlets—the fourth-highest halftime show viewership ever—and 4.8 million on Telemundo, a record for an American football broadcast on that network. Critics widely praised the performance, production, tone, and themes, highlighting its social commentary on Puerto Rico's history, pan-Latino cultural affirmation, and redefinition of "America" and "American" to include the entire continent.
For the show, part of the stadium was turned into a sugarcane field. Creative team member Julio Himede of Yellow Studio explained that the stage was split into smaller sections for vignettes Bad Bunny would walk through, depicting "real people in everyday life that are celebrating the Latin community." Over 300 dancers, multiple moving stages, and an actual wedding were involved. The set featured nods to Puerto Rican and Latin American daily life, with Bad Bunny interacting with domino-playing elders, a jeweler, and food stalls selling coconut, piraguas, and tacos. Lady Gaga performed a salsa version of "Die with a Smile" (2024) with the band Los Sobrinos, arranged by Big Jay. A couple who had invited Bad Bunny to their wedding was legally married on stage, with the rapper signing the marriage certificate as a witness. Ricky Martin made his Super Bowl debut with "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii," a song about gentrification in Puerto Rico.
- Date
- February 8, 2026
- Venue
- Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
- Headliner
- Bad Bunny
- Guest performers
- Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Los Pleneros de la Cresta
- Domestic viewers
- 128.2 million across all platforms
- Telemundo viewers
- 4.8 million (largest audience for an American football broadcast on that network)
- Sponsor
- Apple Music
Lore & Background
The show transformed part of the stadium into a sugarcane field, with more than 300 dancers and multiple moving stages. The set included odes to Puerto Rican and Latin American everyday life, with Bad Bunny interacting with old men playing dominoes, a jeweler, and food stands. A couple was legally married on stage during the performance, with Bad Bunny signing the marriage certificate as a legal witness. Lady Gaga performed a salsa version of "Die with a Smile" backed by Los Sobrinos, while Ricky Martin made his Super Bowl debut singing "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii," a song addressing gentrification in Puerto Rico. The "Mónaco" orchestral segment was conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero, and during "Café Con Ron," Bad Bunny was backed by Los Pleneros de la Cresta.
Reader's Guide
The Super Bowl LX halftime show was significant as the first halftime performance headlined by a Latino solo artist and the first performed almost entirely in Spanish. It drew 128.2 million domestic viewers, making it the fourth-most-watched halftime show in history, and attracted 4.8 million viewers on Telemundo, the network's largest audience for an American football broadcast. The show received widespread critical acclaim, with analysts highlighting its social commentary on Puerto Rico's history, pan-Latino cultural affirmation, and recontextualization of the terms America and American to encompass the entire continent. Bad Bunny's selection came amid the NFL's intensified efforts to grow its Latino fanbase, which the league identified as essential to its expansion strategy. Reactions to the announcement were mixed, with most opposition coming from conservative commentators, while many positive responses highlighted the selection as a milestone for Latino representation.
Did You Know?
- Bad Bunny gave a replica of one of his Grammy Award statues to a child playing his younger self, encouraging him to 'always believe in yourself.'
- The casita portion of the stage included special appearances by Cardi B, Karol G, Young Miko, Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, and others.
- Conservative organization Turning Point USA held its own halftime musical performance as counterprogramming, with Kid Rock as headliner.
- California governor Gavin Newsom declared February 8, 2026, as Bad Bunny Day to commemorate the performance.
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