How Bad Bunny Is Preparing for His Historic Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Bad Bunny is keeping details about his Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show performance under wraps.

Just be ready to dance.

The Puerto Rican artist promised a spectacular event during a press conference on February 5th. Dressed in a gray pinstripe suit, a faux-fur coat, and a beanie with bunny ears, they said they plan to showcase their culture on stage, but wouldn’t reveal any details, only hinting that it would be a lot of fun.

Okay, so he didn’t give anything away about surprise guests – he totally played coy when someone asked, just saying ‘I don’t know why you asked that!’ – but honestly, it doesn’t even matter! Bad Bunny is hitting Levi’s Stadium on February 8th, and I swear, it feels like the whole world is going to be there with him. I’m already counting down the days!

The rapper, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, shared his excitement, but emphasized that he’s even more thrilled for the people he cares about – his family, friends, and those who have always supported him. He believes it’s these connections and the broader cultural moment that truly make his performances special.

That’s also Bad Bunny being modest.

At just 31 years old, this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performer is breaking new ground. She’s the first headliner to primarily perform in Spanish, and her show will also include a first-of-its-kind multilingual signing program featuring Puerto Rican Sign Language, making history regardless of anything else.

It’s not a paid performance, exactly, but the NFL covers all costs for the artist and the elaborate production. The show is incredibly expensive – estimates suggest up to $1 million per minute – and takes a huge team of thousands of people to pull off flawlessly in a very short window. Once it’s over, the entire stage is quickly removed, and the football game continues as normal.

This is a truly unforgettable moment, especially coming just a week after Bad Bunny made history at the 2026 Grammys. His album, DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS, was the first Spanish-language LP to ever win Album of the Year.

When his name was announced, he paused for a full 24 seconds—an unusually long moment on live television—before walking onstage. There, he accepted the award and dedicated it to “everyone who left their home country to pursue their dreams.”

Returning to Spanish, he said, “This award is dedicated to everyone who has lost someone they loved but still found the strength to keep going.”

He also expressed gratitude to Latinos worldwide and to all the artists who paved the way and deserved recognition, thanking them for their contributions.

Okay, so everyone was really excited and gave a polite round of applause, but honestly, people were a little let down because the person we were all there to see didn’t quite deliver the performance we expected. It happens, right? We all have off days, but it was still a bit of a bummer for the crowd.

It would have made sense for Bad Bunny to skip the Grammys to protect his voice before the Super Bowl. However, according to Trevor Noah, Bad Bunny’s contract actually prevented him from performing at the Grammys because of his scheduled appearance at the Super Bowl.

Let me tell you, the energy was incredible when Bad Bunny surprised everyone during Noah’s performance! Noah started singing ‘DtMF’ a cappella, and Bad Bunny jumped right in to rap a few lines. It’s definitely a song fans are hoping to hear at the Super Bowl, and this little preview was a real treat!

“If they sue you,” Noah cracked, “that’s not [on] me.”

Even though he wasn’t preparing for the Grammys, Bad Bunny hasn’t had a very relaxing time leading up to the Super Bowl.

He jokingly told Zane Lowe from Apple Music during a press conference on February 5th that he’s really bothered by how poorly he’s been playing dominoes lately. He said he hasn’t even been playing much, but he scored zero in his last three games and feels like he needs to discuss it with his therapist.

Let me tell you, the excitement of the Super Bowl really gets to you! I heard from someone close to the game that they were up at 4 a.m. the night before, just completely wired and thinking about it all. It’s a huge event, and it definitely plays on your mind!

The support he’s received, even from people he doesn’t know, has been truly heartwarming. He shared that people often stop him, even at the airport, to wish him well and offer encouragement for his Super Bowl performance. He says these interactions make him feel fantastic.

Just as he’s become incredibly famous while remaining authentic and grounded, he’s bringing that same attitude to his performance on the biggest stage in the world.

As someone who’s spent years helping people live their best lives, I always tell them: embrace your roots! Be incredibly proud of who you are and where you come from – it’s a huge part of what makes you special. But don’t ever let that pride hold you back from chasing your dreams and exploring everything the world has to offer. Your background should be a launching pad, not a limit.

Ever since Bad Bunny was named the Super Bowl Halftime performer in September, some people have expressed disapproval and tried to suggest restrictions on his involvement.

The Latin American artist handled all the criticism with confidence, especially after performing most of his Saturday Night Live monologue in Spanish just days before.

“If you didn’t understand what I just said,” he noted, “you have four months to learn.”

Bad Bunny, Spotify’s most-streamed artist last year, has consistently shown that you don’t need to understand Spanish to enjoy his music.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated at the league’s October meeting – where he also confirmed no changes in direction were planned – that Bad Bunny is “one of the most popular entertainers globally.”

We almost always receive some criticism whenever we choose an artist to perform, but with so many people watching, I’m confident this year’s show will be great, Goodell explained.

Okay, seriously, the game itself is fine, I guess (it’s the Patriots versus the Seahawks, for anyone who doesn’t follow football!), but I’m WAY more excited about the music! Green Day is playing before the game even starts?! Yes! And Charlie Puth is doing the anthem – I’m already getting chills just thinking about it. Then Brandi Carlile singing “America the Beautiful”? Ugh, perfection. And Coco Jones with “Lift Every Voice and Sing”? This pre-game lineup is honestly a dream come true. I’m tuning in for the music as much as, if not more than, the football!

Rumors about the performance include potential songs like “DtMF,” a remix of “Soy Peor” (though J Balvin won’t be joining, he hopes the artist does a great job), “I Like It” (which would be perfect for Patriots fan Cardi B), “Al Apagon,” and “Callaita.”

But whatever Bad Bunny has picked out for this special occasion, everyone is invited to the party. 

He predicted a joyful Sunday, telling reporters that people would be having fun, dancing, and enjoying themselves.

And then he’ll be in the pantheon along with these epic Super Bowl Halftime Show performances:

Kendrick Lamar’s powerful performance addressed the racial and political issues facing America, and he also included subtle references to his ongoing conflict with Drake.

Usher delivered an incredible performance, and the show featured surprise appearances by Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris, and H.E.R.

Rihanna’s red hot performance also served as her announcement for her pregnancy with baby No. 2.

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s 2020 Super Bowl performance was a historic moment, as they were the first Latina artists to headline the halftime show. The performance also included a special moment when Lopez shared the stage with her child, Emme, and they performed together for the massive audience.

Lady Gaga made quite the impression at the when she dropped in from the sky at the NRG Stadium in Houston. Complete with pyrotechnics and multiple costume changes, the performance featured electric renditions of her hits “Poker Face,” “Born This Way,” “Telephone,” “Just Dance,” “Million Reasons” and “Bad Romance.”

As a lifestyle expert, I remember being absolutely blown away by Katy Perry’s Super Bowl halftime show! It truly was a moment – she drew the biggest crowd ever for a halftime performance. She belted out all her hits like “Roar,” “Teenage Dream,” and “Firework,” and the surprise appearances by Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott just took it to another level. It was a high-energy, unforgettable spectacle!

Bruno Mars energized Super Bowl XLVIII with a funky performance of his popular songs, including “Locked Out of Heaven” and “Just the Way You Are.” He was joined on stage by special guests, the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

I was absolutely thrilled to see Beyoncé bring Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams onstage! It was such a special moment watching Destiny’s Child perform together again during Beyoncé’s incredible show – a truly unforgettable performance!

Madonna delivered a fantastic performance, playing all her biggest songs like “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” “Vogue,” and “Like a Prayer.” However, M.I.A.’s controversial gesture nearly stole the show – it was a close call!

Following a memorable 2010 Super Bowl performance by The Who, the Black Eyed Peas faced high expectations. The Grammy-winning group delivered a fantastic halftime show at Super Bowl XLV, energizing the crowd with their popular songs like “I Gotta Feeling,” “Boom Boom Pow,” and “Let’s Get It Started.”

Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, the frontman and guitarist for The Who, performed a high-energy set during Super Bowl XLIV.

Jennifer Hudson powerfully sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, delivering a performance worthy of her role in Dreamgirls.

From “Purple Rain” to “Let’s Go Crazy,” Prince brought the party to Florida during Super Bowl XLI.

During the Super Bowl XL halftime show, The Rolling Stones performed some of their most famous songs, including “Start Me Up,” “Rough Justice,” and the iconic “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” energizing the crowd.

Paul McCartney delivered a fantastic performance at the Super Bowl XXXIX halftime show, playing a mix of his songs like “Live and Let Die” and the classic Beatles tune “Hey Jude.”

Everyone expected the Super Bowl XXXVII halftime show to be popular, and it definitely delivered when Gwen Stefani and Sting performed a duet of “Message in a Bottle.”

Beyoncé has performed at the Super Bowl multiple times. She shared the stage with Carlos Santana during the pregame show for Super Bowl XXXVII, and the following year, she sang the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII.

During Super Bowl XXXVI, U2, led by Bono, played three of their most popular songs as part of a special performance honoring the victims of 9/11.

Super Bowl XXXV’s halftime show was a legendary collaboration between rock and pop icons. Aerosmith teamed up with *NSYNC, Britney Spears, and Mary J. Blige for an unforgettable performance of their hit song, “Walk This Way.”

Super Bowl XXXV kicked off with a performance of the national anthem by the Backstreet Boys.

Phil Collins delivered with his performance of “Two Worlds” during Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta.

Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias performed “Celebrate The Future Hand in Hand,” delighting fans around the world.

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2026-02-08 11:18