{"id":731237,"date":"2026-02-09T15:28:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T14:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/numero.com\/non-classifiee\/super-bowl-2026-bad-bunny-to-perform-a-highly-political-halftime-show\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T15:32:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T14:32:23","slug":"super-bowl-2026-bad-bunny-to-perform-a-highly-political-halftime-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/numero.com\/en\/culture-en\/music\/super-bowl-2026-bad-bunny-to-perform-a-highly-political-halftime-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Super Bowl 2026: Bad Bunny set the halftime show on fire with a political performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8mgO2qiGCYw&pp=ygUKc3VwZXIgYm93bA%3D%3D<\/a><\/div>\r\n
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Bad Bunny announced as Super Bowl halftime show performer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Super Bowl, a highly-anticipated annual event<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In nearly sixty years since its creation, the Super Bowl<\/strong> has become much more than a mere sporting event. Attracting millions of viewers each year and bringing in nearly $600 million in revenue, the final of the American football league has become a major cultural platform. Especially as it premieres the latest blockbuster’s trailers. But above all, it offer the halftime show that has earned the Super Bowl its prestige.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madonna<\/strong>, Beyonc\u00e9<\/strong>, Michael Jackson<\/strong>, Prince<\/strong>, Lady Gaga<\/strong>, Rihanna<\/strong>, Diana Ross<\/strong>\u2026 Over the years, an entire pantheon of music legends has taken turns on the Super Bowl halftime stage – the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. For 2026, rumours had it that pop stars Taylor Swift<\/a><\/strong> or Sabrina Carpenter<\/a><\/strong> would perform on the American football stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bad\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Bad Bunny on stage at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Dolby Theatre on March 17th, 2025. \u00a9 Kevin Mazur\/Getty Images pour iHeartRadio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bad Bunny, star of the Super Bowl 2026 halftime show<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is ultimately Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny<\/strong><\/a>, king of Latin trap and reggaeton, who has been given the heavy task of headlining the 2026<\/strong> Super Bowl<\/strong><\/a> halftime show. Benito Mart\u00ednez Ocasio<\/strong>, his real name, was selected to take the stage of Levi\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show<\/strong> on February 8th, 2026. Roger Goodell<\/strong>, the head of the National Football League<\/strong> (NFL), explained that choice: \u201cBad Bunny is one of the greatest artists in the world. That\u2019s one of the reasons we chose him. But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on, and that this platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talent. Artists in the past have done that. I think Bad Bunny understands that and have a great performance.<\/em>\u201d<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considered one of the most-streamed English-speaking artists of all time, singer and rapper Bad Bunny<\/strong>, 31, has a busy year in 2025. Between the release of his album Deb\u00ed Tirar M\u00e1s Fotos<\/em><\/strong> in January 2025, his world tour and his foray into cinema with the film Caught Stealing<\/em><\/strong>, the musician\u2019s schedule was packed. And in 2026, he shone at the Grammy Awards<\/strong><\/a>, notably winning the award for Best Album of the Year 2025 \u2014 a first for an album sung in Spanish. Today, he is one of the most listened-to English-speaking artists of all time. The former grocery store cashier was even the most streamed artist in the world in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SFKLTYwS9Fg<\/a><\/div>\r\n
Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show<\/em>\u00a0official trailer with Bad Bunny (2026).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A very committed artist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Kendrick Lamar<\/strong><\/a> delivered a strongly political performance, alongside singer SZA<\/strong><\/a> and actor Samuel L. Jackson<\/strong>. As a true manifesto on the status of African Americans in Trump\u2019s America, the thirteen-minute show drew over 130 million viewers. Keeping that in mind, Bad Bunny could likely insert a political dimension into his own performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the wake of the release Deb\u00ed Tirar M\u00e1s Fotos<\/strong><\/em>, an album composed as a tribute to his native island of Puerto Rico<\/strong>, the artist announced a world tour in 2025 and 2026. A series of concerts that, in light of the current political climate, do not include the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bad\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Bad Bunny during the Super Bowl press conference in February 2026. \u00a9 Apple Music.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Donald Trump’s political enemy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, according to his own words shared with i-D magazine<\/em>, Bad Bunny<\/strong> refused to perform in the land of Uncle Sam because ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), a federal agency currently carrying out a policy of mass deportations of immigrants on American soil, “could be outside my concert<\/em>.\u201d At the Grammy Awards<\/strong> in February 2026, the singer continued to chant \u201cICE out<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are not savages, we are not animals. We are human beings and we are Americans. What is being used against us is hate. Hate breeds hate. Love is even more powerful, and never forget that we must fight with love<\/em>,\u201d he declared during his acceptance speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bad\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8th, 2026. \u00a9 Kevin Mazur\/Getty Images pour Roc Nation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An anti-MAGA show<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In just a few months, the singer has become a symbol of resistance against Donald Trump<\/strong>\u2019s anti-immigration policies. The bad bunny has turned into a pet peeve for MAGA supporters. The American president denounced \u201ca terrible choice\u201d and boycotted the event. Benito Antonio Mart\u00ednez Ocasio<\/strong> will be the first fully Spanish-speaking Latino artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show<\/strong>. A novelty that deeply displeases many Americans. Turning Point USA<\/strong>, the organization founded by conservative activist Charlie Kirk, even planned an alternative concert for the game\u2019s halftime. The program was designed to \u201ccelebrate faith, family and freedom<\/em>” and featured singer Kid Rock<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year’s Super Bowl<\/strong> halftime show lived up to expectations. As one of the most closely watched events of the year, its stage proved to be the perfect platform to draw attention to a range of political causes for an artist who has already been vocal about homophobia, racism, sexism, harassment and the gentrification of Puerto Rico<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bad\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga wearing Chopard earrings at the 2026 Super Bowl. \u00a9 Chopard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lady Gaga, Pedro Pascal and Ricky Martin on stage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The halftime show was a tribute to Puerto Rico and Latin culture sung in Spanish. It featured a host of dancers and stars, such as Cardi B<\/strong><\/a>, Jessica Alba<\/strong>, Pedro Pascal<\/strong>, Young Miko<\/strong> and Karol G<\/strong><\/a>. All performed in front of a pink house, placed amid what looked like a sugarcane field. As for guest performances, Bad Bunny\u2019s idol and friend Lady Gaga<\/strong><\/a> made an appearance in a custom blue flamenco dress by Luar<\/strong>, Chopard jewels<\/strong> and a brooch by Piers Atkinson in the shape of Puerto Rico\u2019s official flower, the Flor de Maga. The superstar danced alongside Bad Bunny<\/strong> and sang a salsa version of Die with a Smile<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ricky Martin<\/strong> also took to the stage. But the true star of the show was the charismatic singer and rapper himself, dressed in an off-white outfit as a symbol of peace, designed by the Spanish brand Zara<\/strong> to further showcase his culture. He also wore a pair of Adidas<\/strong> sneakers and a Royal Oak<\/strong> watch by Audemars Piguet<\/strong>. On the back of his jersey was the name \u201cOcasio,\u201d his real last name, while the number 64 on the front might have refered to the year his mother, Lysaurie Ocasio, was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Une publication partag\u00e9e par NFL (@nfl)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\r\n