On February 8, 2026, global music superstar Bad Bunny took the headlining slot for the Super Bowl LX halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, delivering a performance that was as culturally rich and visually compelling as it was musically exhilarating. The show, sponsored by Apple Music and Roc Nation, was unlike any halftime performance in the event’s history both in artistic direction and cultural resonance and stood out for its celebration of Puerto Rican identity on one of the world’s largest entertainment stages.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has ascended in recent years to become one of the world’s most streamed artists, with a record‑breaking presence on global music charts and a historic Grammy win for Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos. Earlier in 2025 he made the intentional decision to limit his U.S. performances due to concerns over immigration enforcement, choosing instead to focus on shows in Puerto Rico and on international tours.
A stage built as a cultural tableau
The halftime set unfolded as a carefully staged homage to everyday life in Puerto Rico, blending vibrant environments with symbolic imagery. Bad Bunny opened with his hit “Tití Me Preguntó” amidst a backdrop designed to resemble sugarcane fields a motif that reappeared throughout the show. The staging featured visual elements such as barber shops, piragua (shaved ice) carts, domino players, taco vendors, workers, and couples, creating a bustling slice-of-life tableau that transported viewers into the heart of Puerto Rican culture.
Dancers, many wearing traditional pava hats (associated with Puerto Rican jíbaro culture), paraded across the field as Bad Bunny transitioned through a medley of songs, keeping the energy high and authentic.
Cultural and symbolic highlights
One of the most striking portions of the show centered on “El Apagón,” a song whose title means “The Blackout,” referencing the ongoing issues with Puerto Rico’s electrical grid a crisis exacerbated after Hurricane Maria in 2017. Bad Bunny climbed a power pylon as part of this performance, creating a powerful visual that spoke to resilience and the island’s struggles.
Throughout the halftime show, Puerto Rican imagery remained central. Bad Bunny waved the Puerto Rican flag red, white, and blue at significant moments. In addition to celebrating Puerto Rico, the show also emphasized broader unity across the Americas with flags from countries in North, Central, and South America appearing behind him during the closing moments.
Bad Bunny also used symbols in his costume. He wore an all‑white outfit featuring a jersey with the number 64, which some interpreted as a reference to official counts from storm-related hardships in Puerto Rico, though the exact meaning was left open to viewers’ interpretation.
Guest performances with cross‑genre influence
The show included several well‑known guest appearances that added variety and surprise. Lady Gaga joined Bad Bunny onstage to perform a salsa‑infused version of her song “Die With a Smile,” marking one of the few segments sung in English during the entire show. Fellow Puerto Rican star Ricky Martin also performed, delivering a rendition of “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii,” a song that culturally resonates with themes of identity and cultural preservation.
Celebrities such as Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba appeared on the set’s signature “casita” porch, reinforcing the show’s community‑centered feel.
Messages of unity and power
Though the performance was deeply rooted in Puerto Rican culture, Bad Bunny broadened its message to reach a larger audience. A large stadium screen carried the phrase: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” a message that echoed themes from his recent Grammy speech. Near the end of the show he held a football inscribed with, “Together, We Are America,” and led a moment of acknowledgment for nations across the Americas.
In closing, Bad Bunny shouted “God Bless America” in Spanish a symbolic gesture that combined pride in his heritage with inclusivity toward the wider world.
Legacy and audience reception
Critics and audiences immediately described Bad Bunny’s set as historic and ground-breaking marking the first Super Bowl halftime show performed entirely in Spanish, and one that brought Latin culture to the forefront of global pop culture. The performance represented more than entertainment; it was seen as a celebration of identity, resilience, and unity, cementing Bad Bunny’s influence not only as a musician but as a cultural ambassador on one of the most prominent stages in American sports and entertainment.
