Bad Bunny didn’t just headline the Super Bowl halftime show, he rewrote the rules of what that stage can look and sound like.
The Puerto Rican superstar delivered the first fully Spanish-language halftime performance in Super Bowl history, turning one of the world’s most rigidly traditional broadcasts into a global cultural moment, backed by booming reggaeton rhythms and unapologetic pride, Bad Bunny used the platform to spotlight his roots rather than dilute them.
The set leaned heavily on material from his latest album Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, including ‘DtMF’ and ‘NUEVAYoL’, with the production leaning cinematic rather than chaotic, at one point, the performance paused to reflect on his recent Grammy triumph, cutting to a family watching his acceptance speech on TV before Bad Bunny handed the award to a young boy, a moment that landed with quiet intent rather than spectacle (per Rolling Stone Australia).
He wasn’t alone on stage, Lady Gaga appeared for a reggaeton-flavoured take on ‘Die With a Smile’, while Ricky Martin joined the celebration alongside cameo appearances from Cardi B, Alix Earle, and others, turning the show into a cross-generational pop event.
Album of the Year
The halftime slot capped off an already historic run for Bad Bunny, following his win for Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammys. The victory marked another first, making him the only artist to take home the award for a non-English language album.
In the lead-up to the performance, Bad Bunny was clear about where his focus lay.
“I wasn’t looking for anything of this. I wasn’t looking for the Album of the Year at the Grammys, also at the Latin Grammys. I wasn’t looking to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show,” he said. “I was looking to connect with my roots, connect with my people more than ever, connect with myself, with my history, with my culture, and I did in a very honest way.”
Earlier in the day, Super Bowl festivities kicked off with Green Day delivering a hit-heavy set, while Charlie Puth handled the national anthem, Brandi Carlile performed ‘America the Beautiful’, and Coco Jones sang ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’.
For Australian fans, the moment feels closer than ever, the NFL has confirmed its first regular season game on Australian soil, with the Los Angeles Rams set to face the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne.
Dates and ticketing details are expected soon, signalling just how global the league’s ambitions have become.
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