The Spanish language rapper Bad Bunny has been announced to headline the halftime show for the February 2026 Super Bowl. This announcement was made via a video released on the NFL’s YouTube channel.
The 30-second video features the artist sitting upon a goalpost at his “home beach” in Puerto Rico, wearing a traditional straw hat. While very few details about the performance have been made public yet, many fans interpreted this teaser as meaning the show would embrace Puerto Rican culture.
Who Is Bad Bunny?
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known by the stage name Bad Bunny, has been singing, rapping, and producing since 2013. He is considered one of the most successful Spanish-language rappers and is seen as an important pioneer in the genre.
From a musical standpoint, he is known for creating highly danceable songs that fuse genres such as hip hop, rock, and reggae. Due to his impassioned vocal style, his music is known to transcend language, garnering the rapper a large number of non–Spanish-speaking fans.
Lyrically, he is known for tackling socio-political issues while also frequently honoring his Puerto Rican heritage. He is also known for covering more typical pop themes like love and heartbreak.
Commercially, Bunny holds a prolific record with several albums and singles that have topped the Billboard charts. The rapper has also won three Grammy Awards and 12 Latin American Grammys for his discography, according to Hollywood Life.
Bad Bunny has also collaborated with a wide scope of artists, including famous English-speaking musicians such as Drake and Cardi B.
Why This Super Bowl Pick Is Considered Controversial
Following the announcement of Bad Bunny’s halftime show, there was immediate backlash on social media. Generally, this came from people who were against political statements Bunny had made in the past. In particular, much of the controversy surrounds the rapper’s criticism of U.S. immigration policies, such as the department of ICE, according to Forbes.
To provide context, Bad Bunny has been an outspoken critic of ICE. This advocacy has extended beyond just making statements. According to CNN, in the past, the rapper has gone as far as canceling U.S. shows out of fear that his concerts would be the target of ICE raids. This concern is due to many of his American fans being immigrants.
Controversy surrounding halftime performers being “too political” is nothing new. Kendrick Lamar faced similar accusations during his 2025 Super Bowl performance.
Still, the condemnation is not universal, as many on social media have reacted positively to the pick. In particular, many fans praised the NFL’s inclusive decision to feature a Spanish-speaking artist.
Others such as Stephan A. Smith praised the choice as a solid business move. While on Good Morning America, Smith claimed that using an internationally popular artist as it could attract more global attention to the NFL.
What Can Be Expected Out of the Performance
No official setlist for Bad Bunny’s performance has been released yet. That being said, sources like Billboard write that the results will likely be electrifying, given that Bad Bunny’s production is being handled by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation as well as Apple Music.
This is supported by the rapper’s history of onstage theatrics. Typically, his concerts feature vivid imagery, and musically the artist often covers songs ranging from heartfelt acoustic ballads to high-energy pop in a single show.
While it is uncertain what exactly Bad Bunny will do on stage, it will almost certainly not be forgettable.
Editorial Note: Portions of this article were reviewed and refined using AI-assisted editing tools to support grammar, clarity, and style. All content has been fact-checked and approved by our editorial team.
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