February 9, 2026 |
When Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Bad Bunny, real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was announced as the headline performer for the 2026 Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area, the decision drew significant political backlash from some conservative figures – including current American President Donald Trump and his allies – who framed the choice as controversial.
Trump and members of his political orbit criticised the NFL’s decision, and senior Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski even warned that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would be present at the Super Bowl and implied that undocumented attendees could face enforcement actions. However, the NFL later confirmed that there were no planned ICE enforcement operations tied specifically to the Super Bowl, and that typical federal, state and local security preparations did not include targeted immigration actions.
Critics framed opposition to Bad Bunny’s halftime show – which was performed predominantly in Spanish – as “un‑American,” but such rhetoric ignored the fact that Puerto Rico is a self‑governing territory of the United States and its citizens are American citizens. That makes the suggestion that Spanish‑language culture is somehow foreign or un‑American not only misguided but widely described as racially insensitive given the history of Latino contributions to U.S. culture and society.
Taking to one of the world’s biggest stages last night, Bad Bunny put on a dynamic and culturally celebratory show that blended high‑energy performance with messages of unity and joy. Reviewers noted that the set focused more on celebration and cultural pride than on overt politics, featuring a theatrical stage design and guest appearances alongside the star.
Featuring a mix of his biggest tracks such as Tití Me Preguntó, Yo Perreo Sola, BAILE INoLVIDABLE and more, Bad Bunny’s performance paid tribute to Latin music’s rhythms and showcased his broad artistic range, weaving in visual and musical flourishes that highlighted both his roots and his global appeal.
Here are 10 takeaways from the halftime performance – a show that was artistic, vibrant and full of genuine love – along political, cultural and musical lines.
1. The entire performance, save for Lady Gaga’s contribution and a single line – ”God bless America” – was in Spanish.
2. The staging during Bad Bunny’s half-time show was a particular standout. Starting in a maze-like replica of a sugarcane field – once the backbone of Puerto Rico’s economy – surrounded by jíbaros (rural farmers) in pavas (traditional straw hats), viejitos (older men) playing dominos and a piragua (shaved ice) stand, the set vividly evoked everyday life and culture from the island’s countryside, with vendors, dancers and artisans fleshing out the scene. He then emerged on top of la casita (Spanish for ‘the little house’) in sunset colours reminiscent of his own Puerto Rican home, where he performed Yo Perreo Sola before dramatically crashing through the roof into a furnished living room, surprising a staged family inside. He then stepped out the house’s front to stand atop a cream coloured truck. Next, he appeared in front of la marqueta (Spanish market), with banana trees peppered throughout, and continued the celebration with high‑energy renditions of hits like EoO and a lively street atmosphere that once again blended music with cultural imagery. Nearing the end of the performance, Ocasio and four dancers performed atop power lines, nodding to the extensive damage the Island sustained during Hurricane Maria and the frequent power outages that occur as a direct result of its decaying energy infrastructure.
3. Celebrity cameos were rife, with famous faces like Chilean-American actor Pedro Pascal, Dominican and Trinidadian Afro-Latina rapper Cardi B, mixed Mexican American actor Jessica Alba, Puerto Rican rapper and singer-songwriter Young Miko, Colombian singer/songwriter Karol G and American Social Media personality Alix Earle all appearing on the front porch of la casita.
4. Ocasio celebrated and honoured other Puerto Rican legends of the past and present with a mash-up of their songs following his performance of Yo Perreo Sola. These included Tego Calderón’s Pa’ Que Retozen, Don Omar’s Dale Don and Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina.
5. During Ocasio’s performance of Baile Inolvidable – a femme-first song about an ex-partner who taught him how to love – an actual couple got married – literally and legally – in a Latine boda-style marriage ceremony that concluded with cake, kissing and Lady Gaga.
6. Lady Gaga and Los Sobrinos – the group of young musicians that Bad Bunny has performed alongside since the release of his latest album Debí Tirar Más Fotos in January 2025 – performed a salsa-fied rendition of her Grammy Award-winning track Die With A Smile whilst wearing a light blue flamenco dress by Luar. Luar is designed by New York-born Raul Lopez – who’s of Dominican descent.
7. Backing Bad Bunny with a mix of salsa, bomba, plena and commercial dance styles, almost all of the dancers and musicians to take part in the half-time show were black, brown, latino or of Spanish descent.
8. Just over half way through, Puerto Rican pop singer/songwriter and actor Ricky Martin took over the mic for a rendition of Bad Bunny’s Lo Que Pasó A Hawaii. As he sang, he sat upon a white plastic chair backed by banana trees – a replica of the album cover for Debí Tirar Más Fotos on which Lo Que Pasó A Hawaii is featured.
9. Immediately following his performance of Nuevayol, Bad Bunny approached a five-year-old boy meant to represent his younger self (the boy wore an outfit that resembled one Ocasio wore in a childhood photo) and handed him one of the Grammy Awards that he won just last week for his 2025 album Debí Tirar Más Fotos (Album of the Year). When he handed it over, he whispered “cree siempre en ti” (“always believe in yourself”) to the child.
10. Near the end of the high-energy performance, Ocasio stormed the American football field while carrying, not only a football reading “Together We Are America”, but the Puerto Rican flag of independence. A red, white and blue flag, it symbolises the island’s fight for independence from Spanish colonization. To close out the show, Bad Bunny and his troupe of supporters – dancers, musicians and celebs – carried the flags of every country across North and South America. Meanwhile, Ocasio shouted out each one by name, starting with South and Central America, the Caribbean and landing at Canada, the USA and Puerto Rico. As he exited, the Jumbotron read, in English, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” A poignant ending to a powerful performance.
Top image: screenshot taken from the NFL’s YouTube channel and its video of the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
