Bad Bunny‘s Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show Draws Star-Studded Crowd, Delivers Powerful Message
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Bad Bunny’s performance at the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show on February 9, 2026, captivated audiences both in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and around the world. The show featured a surprise appearance from a constellation of celebrities, including Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Karol G, Young Miko, Alix Earle, Dave Grutman, and Ronald Acuña Jr., who joined the Puerto Rican superstar on stage during his signature set piece, “La Castia.”
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Pre-Game Performances and Political Statements
The entertainment leading up to Super Bowl LXI also made headlines. Green Day, known for their outspoken political views, performed during the pre-game show, delivering a rendition of “American Idiot.” While NBC censors attempted to muffle the lyrics, the band appeared to sing the line, “the subliminal mind-fuck America,” sparking discussion about artistic expression and broadcast standards. NBC News reported on the incident.
Prior to Green Day,Coco Jones performed “Lift Every Voice and sing,” and Brand Carlile performed before Charlie Puth,who sang the National Anthem before the New England Patriots faced off against the Seattle Seahawks.
Bad Bunny’s Grammy Success and Advocacy
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance followed a triumphant night at the 2026 Grammy Awards, where he won multiple awards, including Album of the Year. Rolling Stone covered his wins extensively. Like his performance at the Super Bowl, his Grammy acceptance speech was a platform for advocacy. He used the stage to criticize the treatment of immigrants and denounce ICE,stating,”We’re not savages,we’re not animals,we’re not aliens,we are humans and we are Americans.”
He continued, emphasizing the power of love over hate: “the hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. We need to be different. if we fight, we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them. We love our people. We love our family, and that’s the way to do it with love.Don’t forget that, please.”
A message of Love During the Halftime Show
Bad Bunny carried this message of love and unity into his Super Bowl LXI halftime performance. Screens within Levi’s Stadium displayed the message, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” as he and the crowd sang along to “DtMF.”
More coverage of Super Bowl LXI from The Hollywood Reporter can be found here.