Bad Bunny performs for the “Benito Bowl” Super Bowl LX halftime show at Levi’s Stadium Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times/TNS
Last Sunday, millions of people across the world sat down to watch the annual Super Bowl. While most people were excited because their favorite teams were playing, tons more were excited for the halftime show. This year, the entire world was buzzing with all kinds of emotions because of the 2026 halftime performer; Bad Bunny.
Back in September of 2025, the NFL announced the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer would be global Latino icon Bad Bunny.
There was an immediate outburst about the NFL’s decision. Lots of people were excited that someone as popular and talented as Bad Bunny was going to be performing at an event as big as the Super Bowl, but there was also tons of backlash from people who thought that there could’ve been someone better.
Those who opposed Bad Bunny being the halftime performer claimed that it should’ve been an American artist. Despite being of Puerto Rican descent and therefore an American citizen, many were still upset that Bad Bunny was performing.
When the Super Bowl finally came, there was more than just excitement amongst fans.
In the months leading up to the Super Bowl, ICE raids and the violence resulting from them got out of hand, to say the least. Innocent people were murdered in broad daylight, and the people being detained either went “missing” or were put in questionable prisons.
Bad Bunny had spoken up about this issue at the Grammy’s saying “ICE out,” and “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens—we’re humans, and we’re Americans.”
His words left people feeling hopeful and anxious to see what he was going to do at the Super Bowl.
As the show began, fans were thrilled to see that Bad Bunny was incorporating the same impactful and meaningful storytelling techniques that he uses in his concerts. He also kept his promise that he made a while back when he was announced to be this year’s performer; he sang and spoke only in Spanish, the first to do so in Super Bowl history.
His show was not only full of fun references to Latino culture but also included important messages that are relevant in today’s political climate.
He sang many songs from his Grammy-winning album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” which is a love letter and message to the world about his home country Puerto Rico.
The halftime show ended with him saying “God Bless America” and naming every country in the Americas and the Caribbean.
Bad Bunny’s message of love and unity touched the hearts of many around the world, not just his Latino viewers.
In any other circumstance, the halftime show would just be considered a performance honoring Latino culture. However, because of the current circumstances, it was more than that. It was a performance that will be remembered for years to come—not just for his amazing talent, but for his courage and reminding the world “segumios aqui.”