Bad Bunny headlines Super Bowl halftime with first Spanish-led set, Lady Gaga joins
Bad Bunny was joined by Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin and other stars in a Super Bowl halftime show focused on Latin American culture and inclusivity, with direct calls for unity and love amid political tensions.
Bad Bunny didn’t just headline the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, he turned it into a cultural moment. In front of a packed stadium and an audience of more than 100 million viewers worldwide, the Puerto Rican superstar delivered a high-energy, emotionally charged performance that celebrated Latin identity, inclusion and love, making history in the process.
The show marked the Super Bowl’s first largely Spanish-language halftime performance and unfolded against the backdrop of heated political debates around immigration in the United States. Even before kickoff, protesters gathered near the stadium’s east-side entrance, holding placards that read “ICE OUT” and “Abolish ICE Now”, signalling the tensions surrounding immigration enforcement.
Bad Bunny’s set leaned heavily into his Puerto Rican roots. The stage was transformed into a vibrant neighbourhood scene, complete with a barber shop and the iconic casita, evoking a strong sense of place and community. His medley of songs paid homage to Latin American culture while keeping the energy unmistakably celebratory.
The performance featured surprise appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Gaga delivered a salsa-infused version of her hit collaboration with Bruno Mars, while a couple was married live on stage, a moment that added warmth and spontaneity to the spectacle.
Unity was the show’s central theme. At one point, Bad Bunny declared “God bless America” as a billboard behind him lit up with the message, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” He went on to name countries across North, South and Latin America, reinforcing the message of togetherness beyond borders.
In a powerful interlude, Bad Bunny’s Grammy acceptance speech played on a television placed on stage. The artist handed his Grammy trophy to a young boy as his words echoed through the stadium: “We’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans. The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that’s more powerful than hate is love. If we fight, we have to do it with love.”
Ricky Martin later joined Bad Bunny for a duet from the album Deb tirar ms fotos, underlining the legacy of Puerto Rican artists who have reshaped the global pop landscape. Days earlier, Martin had praised Bad Bunny in a message, writing, “You won without changing the colour of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico.”
In the lead-up to the halftime show, speculation swirled over whether Bad Bunny would make a political statement. The singer has previously expressed reluctance about touring the US, citing concerns over immigration enforcement affecting fans. At the Grammy Awards, he had made his stance clear, saying, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” followed by a call for love over hate.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny described his vision for the halftime show as a “huge party” meant for everyone. “They don’t even have to learn Spanish,” he said. “It’s better if they learn to dance. There’s no better dance than the one that comes from the heart.”
Lady Gaga, who has previously headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, voiced her support ahead of the performance. Calling it “endless admiration for Benito,” she added, “He knows who he is, and that’s all that matters when you step onto that stage. All he has to do is be the beautiful person he already is, and the world will feel his heart.”
With music, message and momentum all aligned, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show stood out as more than entertainment - it was a statement of culture, pride and unity on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Bad Bunny didn’t just headline the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, he turned it into a cultural moment. In front of a packed stadium and an audience of more than 100 million viewers worldwide, the Puerto Rican superstar delivered a high-energy, emotionally charged performance that celebrated Latin identity, inclusion and love, making history in the process.
The show marked the Super Bowl’s first largely Spanish-language halftime performance and unfolded against the backdrop of heated political debates around immigration in the United States. Even before kickoff, protesters gathered near the stadium’s east-side entrance, holding placards that read “ICE OUT” and “Abolish ICE Now”, signalling the tensions surrounding immigration enforcement.
Bad Bunny’s set leaned heavily into his Puerto Rican roots. The stage was transformed into a vibrant neighbourhood scene, complete with a barber shop and the iconic casita, evoking a strong sense of place and community. His medley of songs paid homage to Latin American culture while keeping the energy unmistakably celebratory.
The performance featured surprise appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Gaga delivered a salsa-infused version of her hit collaboration with Bruno Mars, while a couple was married live on stage, a moment that added warmth and spontaneity to the spectacle.
Unity was the show’s central theme. At one point, Bad Bunny declared “God bless America” as a billboard behind him lit up with the message, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” He went on to name countries across North, South and Latin America, reinforcing the message of togetherness beyond borders.
In a powerful interlude, Bad Bunny’s Grammy acceptance speech played on a television placed on stage. The artist handed his Grammy trophy to a young boy as his words echoed through the stadium: “We’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans. The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that’s more powerful than hate is love. If we fight, we have to do it with love.”
Ricky Martin later joined Bad Bunny for a duet from the album Deb tirar ms fotos, underlining the legacy of Puerto Rican artists who have reshaped the global pop landscape. Days earlier, Martin had praised Bad Bunny in a message, writing, “You won without changing the colour of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico.”
In the lead-up to the halftime show, speculation swirled over whether Bad Bunny would make a political statement. The singer has previously expressed reluctance about touring the US, citing concerns over immigration enforcement affecting fans. At the Grammy Awards, he had made his stance clear, saying, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” followed by a call for love over hate.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny described his vision for the halftime show as a “huge party” meant for everyone. “They don’t even have to learn Spanish,” he said. “It’s better if they learn to dance. There’s no better dance than the one that comes from the heart.”
Lady Gaga, who has previously headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, voiced her support ahead of the performance. Calling it “endless admiration for Benito,” she added, “He knows who he is, and that’s all that matters when you step onto that stage. All he has to do is be the beautiful person he already is, and the world will feel his heart.”
With music, message and momentum all aligned, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show stood out as more than entertainment - it was a statement of culture, pride and unity on one of the world’s biggest stages.