Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny at NFL show!
San Juan, Sept. 29 (EFE). –
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show in California, the NFL confirmed Sunday, becoming the first Latino artist to perform solo on the world’s most-watched sports stage.
The announcement comes at a time when the Latino community faces heightened uncertainty under Donald Trump’s renewed immigration policies.
The show will take place on Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Unlike previous Latino performers such as Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, who alternated between English and Spanish during their 2020 Super Bowl performance, Bad Bunny plans to deliver his entire set in Spanish.
“This is for my people, my culture, and our history,” the artist said in a written statement.
On social media, he posted an image of himself sitting atop a goalpost wearing a pava, a traditional Puerto Rican straw hat, against a Caribbean backdrop.
The 30-year-old artist, known as the world’s most-streamed singer, has built a career on unapologetically showcasing his Puerto Rican and Latino identity.
His appearance is set to mark a cultural milestone for Spanish-language music on one of the globe’s biggest broadcast events.
Migrant concerns shape career choices
Bad Bunny’s announcement coincides with renewed enforcement actions by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has carried out raids this year in multiple states and Puerto Rico.
The singer has voiced concern about these operations, acknowledging that fears of ICE were a factor in excluding US dates from his current “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” world tour, which will run across Latin America, Europe, and Asia until mid-2026.
“There was the problem that ICE could be outside (the concerts). And that was something we talked about and were very worried about,” he said in an interview with i-D magazine earlier this month.
In July, he released the video for Nuevayol, a track highlighting the struggles of immigrant communities and criticizing Trump’s immigration policies.
The video closes with a message: “Together we are stronger.” It also features a mock broadcast of a Trump-like voice apologizing to immigrants: “This country is nothing without immigrants. This country is nothing without Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans.”
A cultural statement beyond music
Bad Bunny has yet to confirm whether he will invite guest performers or which songs will feature in his halftime set.
Among the possibilities is “DTMF,” which blends reggaetón with Puerto Rico’s traditional plena rhythm, a performance that would further underscore his cultural statement.
For the NFL, the choice represents a landmark moment in diversifying its global entertainment reach. For Latinos, it offers a point of pride during a time of political tension.
“This is a historic moment, not only for Bad Bunny but for our community,” wrote one fan on social media, echoing the sentiment of millions who see the performance as both entertainment and representation. EFE
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