Bad Bunny’s Historic Super Bowl LX Halftime Show: Everything You Need to Know

A Groundbreaking Moment for Latin Music and Puerto Rican Culture

The excitement is building as Super Bowl LX approaches, and this year’s halftime show promises to be truly unforgettable—or as Bad Bunny himself might say, “inolvidable.” The Puerto Rican superstar is set to make history on February 8th when he takes the stage at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, becoming one of the first artists to perform predominantly in Spanish at one of America’s most-watched entertainment events. This milestone comes hot on the heels of Bad Bunny’s triumphant night at the 68th Grammy Awards, where he walked away with three prestigious awards, including the coveted Album of the Year for “DeBí TiRaR Más FOToS.” For the Latin music community and Puerto Rican culture specifically, this Super Bowl performance represents far more than just another halftime show—it’s a watershed moment that showcases how Spanish-language music has moved from the margins to the mainstream of American entertainment.

The significance of Bad Bunny’s selection cannot be overstated. Born Benito Martínez Ocasio in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and raised in Vega Baja, the 32-year-old artist has consistently stayed true to his roots, performing almost exclusively in Spanish even as his star has risen to global heights. His journey from uploading songs to SoundCloud to headlining the Super Bowl halftime show represents not just a personal achievement but a broader cultural shift in how American audiences consume music. For decades, the Super Bowl halftime show has been dominated by English-language performers, making Bad Bunny’s appearance a powerful statement about the growing influence of Latin culture in the United States. As someone who grew up listening to salsa with his father, Tito Martínez, a truck driver, and merengue and pop ballads with his mother, Lysaurie Ocasio, a schoolteacher, Bad Bunny brings an authentic connection to his heritage that resonates with millions of fans worldwide.

What to Expect from the Performance

While the NFL and Bad Bunny’s team are keeping most details under wraps to preserve the element of surprise, fans have some clues about what to expect from this historic halftime show. The official trailer released in January features the singer dancing to “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” one of his biggest hits, which suggests this track will definitely make an appearance during the performance. Given that both “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” and “DTMF” have each accumulated over one billion streams on Spotify, it’s a safe bet that these crowd-pleasers will be part of the setlist. Fans are anticipating a celebration of Puerto Rican tradition, rhythms, and pride, drawing from the energy and cultural authenticity that have characterized Bad Bunny’s recent performances, particularly his sold-out residency “No Me Quiero Ir De Aqui” in Puerto Rico last year, which spanned 30 dates at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

Bad Bunny’s catalog is rich with potential performance material. His musical journey has been nothing short of spectacular, with six albums showcasing his signature blend of soulful melodies, infectious rhythms, and proudly Spanish lyrics. His recent releases have consistently dominated charts and streaming platforms: “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” (2025), “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana” (2023), and “Un Verano Sin Ti” (2022) have all been critical and commercial successes. Fan favorites like “Tití Me Pregunto” from “Un Verano Sin Ti,” which earned him a Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album, could easily make the cut, along with recent hits like “NUEVAYoL” and “EoO” from his latest album. There’s also the possibility of collaborations being represented, perhaps through surprise guest appearances, considering his successful partnerships with artists like Cardi B and J Balvin on tracks like “I Like It,” which earned him his first Grammy nomination for Record of the Year in 2019, and “La Canción” with J Balvin.

Navigating Controversy and Cultural Debate

Not everyone has greeted Bad Bunny’s selection as halftime headliner with enthusiasm, and the announcement has sparked considerable cultural and political debate. While countless fans have celebrated the choice as long overdue recognition of Latin music’s massive influence, some critics have objected to the selection, targeting the Puerto Rican artist’s Spanish-language performances and his outspoken support for immigrants in the United States. This backlash led conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA to announce a competing “All-American Halftime Show” featuring Kid Rock, which will stream online during the official Super Bowl LX halftime performance. The counterprogram’s very existence highlights the cultural tensions that Bad Bunny’s performance has brought to the surface, raising questions about what it means to be “American” and whose voices deserve to be heard on one of the nation’s biggest stages.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the controversy head-on during an October 2025 press conference, standing firmly behind the league’s decision. “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell stated, emphasizing that the selection had been “carefully thought through.” The commissioner also put the criticism in perspective, noting, “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.” His comments underscore an important reality: with an audience as massive and diverse as the Super Bowl’s, pleasing everyone is impossible. What makes this particular controversy significant, however, is how it reflects larger conversations happening in America about language, culture, immigration, and belonging—themes that Bad Bunny himself has never shied away from addressing through his music and public statements.

The Cultural Pride Behind the Music

For Bad Bunny, his music has always been inseparable from his identity as a Puerto Rican. “My culture influences everything,” he told Vogue Hong Kong in a 2022 interview. “I’m proud of where I come from and I always try not to lose the Latino essences of who I am.” This commitment to authenticity has been a cornerstone of his career, setting him apart in an industry where artists are often pressured to conform to mainstream expectations, including switching to English to reach wider audiences. Instead, Bad Bunny has proven that audiences will meet artists where they are if the music is compelling enough. His refusal to compromise his linguistic and cultural identity has made him a symbol of pride for Puerto Ricans and Latinx communities throughout the United States and beyond.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny was immersed in a rich musical environment that shaped his artistic sensibilities. In a 2018 interview with Billboard, he reflected on his upbringing: “I’ve always been very proud of where I come from.” His parents exposed him to a wide range of musical styles—salsa sessions with his father and merengue and pop ballads with his mother—creating a foundation that would later inform his genre-blending approach to music. This diverse musical education is evident in his work, which seamlessly incorporates elements of reggaeton, trap, bachata, dembow, and other Latin genres. By honoring these traditions while pushing them in new directions, Bad Bunny has created a sound that feels both timeless and contemporary, resonating with multiple generations and crossing cultural boundaries while remaining distinctly Latin.

How to Watch This Historic Moment

For those eager to witness this groundbreaking performance, Super Bowl LX will take place on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with the Seattle Seahawks facing off against the New England Patriots. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time (3:30 p.m. Pacific Time), with Bad Bunny’s halftime performance expected to begin sometime around the two-hour mark. The game and halftime show will be broadcast on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+, ensuring that fans around the world can tune in to see Bad Bunny make history. Whether you’re watching for the football, the halftime show, or both, this year’s Super Bowl promises to be an event that reflects the changing face of American culture and entertainment.

The anticipation surrounding Bad Bunny’s performance extends far beyond typical Super Bowl excitement. For many in the Latin community, this represents a validation of their culture on one of America’s biggest stages, a moment when their language, music, and traditions take center stage for over 100 million viewers. For Bad Bunny himself, it’s an opportunity to share the music and culture he loves with an even wider audience, staying true to the promise he’s kept throughout his career: to never lose the Latino essences of who he is. As February 8th approaches, one thing is certain—whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering Bad Bunny for the first time, his Super Bowl halftime show will be, in every sense of the word, inolvidable: unforgettable.