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Bad Bunny delivers groundbreaking Super Bowl halftime performance
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny became the first artist to perform an entire Super Bowl halftime show in Spanish, celebrating his heritage and calling for unity across the Americas during Sunday's spectacle in Santa Clara, California.
A tribute to Puerto Rico
The 14-minute set transformed Levi's Stadium into a vibrant homage to the artist's homeland, featuring set pieces like a sugarcane field, a nail salon, and a bar-all designed to evoke the sights and sounds of Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, opened the show emerging from the sugarcane field and later climbed an electricity pylon, a nod to the infrastructure destroyed by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
His beige sweater, emblazoned with the number 64, appeared to reference the official death toll from the hurricane, which was later revealed to be far lower than initial estimates of thousands. The storm and its aftermath drew criticism of then-President Donald Trump's administration for what Puerto Ricans saw as inadequate federal support compared to responses for disasters on the U.S. mainland.
Celebrity cameos and musical highlights
Bad Bunny was joined by a star-studded lineup, including Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba. The guests danced on the porch of his iconic casita, a replica of a traditional Puerto Rican home that has become a staple of his performances. Gaga performed a salsa-inspired version of her collaboration with Bruno Mars, Die With A Smile, while Martin sang Lo Que Le Pasó A Hawaii, a song warning against the erosion of Puerto Rican culture.
The show also featured a symbolic moment where Bad Bunny handed his Grammy Award to a young child as his 2026 acceptance speech played on a small television screen. The performance included hits from his latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, such as Tití Me Preguntó, MONACO, and BAILE INOLVIDABLE.
A message of unity
While Bad Bunny avoided explicit political statements, his performance carried a powerful message of pride and unity. He listed nations across the Americas as dancers carried their flags, culminating in a moment where Puerto Rico's and the U.S. flags were displayed side by side. A billboard behind him read, "The only thing more powerful than hate is love," and he held a football at the end of the segment with the slogan, "Together, We Are America."
In a rare moment of English, he declared, "God bless America," before returning to Spanish for the remainder of the show. The performance marked the first time the Grammy-winning artist has taken the stage in the U.S. since the release of his 2025 album, which won Album of the Year.
Reactions and controversy
Despite the historic nature of the performance, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who did not attend the Super Bowl, criticized the show on his social media platform, Truth Social. He called it "absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!" and added that it was "an affront to the Greatness of America," claiming, "nobody understands a word this guy is saying."
In contrast, an alternative halftime event organized by Turning Point USA and headlined by Trump-supporting singer Kid Rock took place elsewhere. Bad Bunny's decision to perform entirely in Spanish at the most-watched event on U.S. television was seen as a bold statement, particularly given his past comments about U.S. immigration policies. At last week's Grammy Awards, he used his acceptance speech to call for "ICE out," referencing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Last year, he opted not to bring his world tour to the U.S. mainland, citing concerns about his fans being targeted by ICE officers.
A night of firsts
Bad Bunny's halftime show was not his first appearance at the Super Bowl-he previously performed with Shakira in 2020-but it was his first as the headliner. The performance showcased his confidence and vocal prowess as he moved across the stage, delivering a medley of his biggest hits. Despite early sound issues, the show was widely praised for its energy, cultural significance, and celebration of Latin identity on one of the world's biggest stages.
