Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga Unite in Historic Spanish Super Bowl Halftime Show
The 2026 Super Bowl halftime show made history with a spectacular, predominantly Spanish-language performance headlined by Bad Bunny and featuring pop icon Lady Gaga. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican singer, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, delivered a high-energy celebration of his heritage on the Santa Clara, California stage, creating a cultural milestone that sparked both admiration and political controversy.
A Celebration of Puerto Rican Culture
The highly-anticipated performance opened with evocative Puerto Rican scenes depicting domino games and sugar cane fields, set to Bad Bunny's 2022 single Titi Me Pregunto. The show quickly transitioned to Perreo Sola, performed atop a traditional casita rooftop. The production reached a dramatic climax when Bad Bunny dramatically crashed through the casita roof to the familiar notes of Daddy Yankee's classic Gasolina, paying tribute to the Latin music pioneers who paved his way.
Later in the show, Lady Gaga joined Bad Bunny for a special salsa rendition of her Bruno Mars collaboration Die with a Smile. The stage transformed into a vibrant block party setting for performances of Baile Inolvidable and NuevaYol, where Bad Bunny shared a shot with the owner of one of New York City's last remaining Puerto Rican social clubs.
Star-Studded Guest Appearances and Political Statements
The performance featured numerous celebrity guests including fellow Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin, who performed Lo Que Le Paso a Hawaii – a song that has become a rallying cry for Puerto Rican autonomy. Other notable appearances included Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal, actress Jessica Alba, rapper Cardi B, singer Karol G, and influencer Alix Earle.
One of the most memorable moments occurred when the stage transformed into an altar for a real wedding ceremony, with Bad Bunny serving as an official witness. According to a representative who confirmed the event to the Associated Press, the unnamed couple had originally invited the musician to their wedding, but he instead suggested they become part of his halftime spectacle.
Powerful Political Symbolism
During his performance of Apagon, Bad Bunny scaled power lines while waving the Puerto Rican flag, a clear reference to the ongoing power outages and difficult recovery his homeland endured following Hurricane Maria. Back-up dancers surrounded him waving flags from various Latin American countries, as well as those of the United States and Canada.
The performance, delivered almost entirely in Spanish – Bad Bunny's preferred language for recording and performing – concluded with the artist saying "God Bless America" before paying tribute to "my motherland, mi patria, Puerto Rico." He held a football inscribed with "Together We Are America," and the show ended with fireworks, a massive Puerto Rican flag, and a Jumbotron message reading: "The only thing more powerful than hate is love."
Political Backlash and Celebrity Support
Former US President Donald Trump immediately criticized the performance on his Truth Social account, calling it "absolutely terrible" and "an affront to the Greatness of America." He claimed "nobody understands a word this guy is saying" and described the dancing as "disgusting, especially for young children."
In response to this criticism, conservative non-profit Turning Point USA organized an "alternative" halftime show featuring Kid Rock and various country musicians. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga took to Instagram to express her gratitude, telling her 61.8 million followers that it was her "absolute honour" to join Bad Bunny onstage.
Grammy Winner's Growing Legacy
The Super Bowl performance came fresh off Bad Bunny's historic Grammy wins, where he became the first artist to win Album of the Year for a record sung entirely in Spanish. He also picked up awards for best global music performance for his hit track EoO and won the best musica urbana album award for the fourth consecutive year.
A known critic of Trump's immigration policies, Bad Bunny used his Grammy acceptance speech to call for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to "leave cities alone and opt for love." His latest 17-track album fuses multiple genres including reggaeton, pop, salsa, house, and traditional Puerto Rican music like plena, creating what many describe as a love letter to his island home.
The main Super Bowl event saw the Seattle Seahawks defeat the New England Patriots 29-13 in a rematch of the 2015 championship game. Rock band Green Day performed the opening ceremony, while popstar Charlie Puth sang the US national anthem. Bad Bunny now joins the prestigious list of previous Super Bowl halftime headliners including Sir Paul McCartney, Beyonce, Rihanna, Coldplay, and most recently Kendrick Lamar.
