Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime was historic: Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin star in a bold celebration of LGBTQ+ inclusion
Bad Bunny blends music, culture and unity in a star‑studded Super Bowl halftime show celebrating Latin identity and togetherness
By Aaron Sugg
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime performance was something the sporting world had never seen before, from surprise appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin to a message of unity at a time of political division.
The Spanish-speaking rapper had faced backlash following his announcement as headliner for the 2026 National Football League (NFL) halftime show. Despite this, he delivered a performance that America, and the globe, will not soon forget.
On Sunday night (8 February), Bad Bunny honoured his hometown of Puerto Rico with a halftime show that brought together music icons and buzzy Latino stars, from Cardi B to Pedro Pascal.
Bad Bunny wears Zara at the Super Bowl
The 31-year-old made a statement before even opening his mouth to perform ‘Tití Me Preguntó’, donning an all-white outfit by Spanish label Zara, reinforcing ideas of accessibility and cultural pride.
He kicked off his performance in a Super Bowl setting never seen before. Walking through tall grass among field workers, he paid tribute to Puerto Rico’s agricultural history.
Moving through different cultural settings, viewers were transported to the set of a casita, where he was joined by celebrity guests including Pascal, Jessica Alba and podcaster Alix Earle, who appeared as part of the background ensemble.
Celebrity guests: Cardi B, Pedro Pascal and more
He was also joined by Puerto Rican singer and rapper Young Miko, Colombian singer-songwriter Karol G and fellow rap superstar Cardi, with whom he previously collaborated on her 2018 chart-topper ‘I Like It’.
Bad Bunny later rose out of the field on an electric pole to perform ‘El Apagón’, a passionate critique of Puerto Rico’s socio-economic crisis and the impact of ongoing power blackouts on the island.
In a nod to his musical achievements, the rapper handed a mock Grammy award to a young boy on set, mirroring his own Album of the Year win at the 2026 Grammys. The moment served as a homage to his younger self and his growing legacy.
Lady Gaga makes a surprise musical appearance
Bad Bunny transported viewers to a Latino-style wedding during his Super Bowl halftime show – and yes, it was a real ceremony between a couple who were married live on stage – before the scene revealed his first musical guest.
Gaga delivered a salsa-inspired rendition of her Bruno Mars collaboration ‘Die With a Smile’, dancing alongside Bad Bunny following her performance.
Fellow Puerto Rican pop star Martin closed the guest appearances with a cover of Bad Bunny’s ‘Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii’, a song that warns Puerto Ricans against allowing their culture to be erased.
The high-energy halftime performance also wove together a medley of fan-favourite tracks from across his catalogue such as ‘EoO’, ‘BAILE INoLVIDABLE’, ‘NUEVAYoL’ and ‘Café Con Ron’.
Bad Bunny unites countries across America in his Super Bowl performance
Towards the end of the set, Bad Bunny marched across the field alongside his dancers, proudly waving flags representing countries across the Americas, a powerful symbol of unity.
Holding an American football with the words “Together, we are America” written across it, the rapper listed the names of countries from across the American continents.
A message promoting love over hate was displayed across screens boarding the stadium, underscoring the performance’s uniting theme: “The only thing stronger than hate is love”.
“It was my absolute honour to be a part of Benito’s halftime show” – Lady Gaga praising Bad Bunny
The performance has been praised worldwide with hundreds of influential figures praising Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl set.
Gaga took to social media following the halftime show, captioning a clip of her salsa-inspired performance: “It was my absolute honour to be a part of Benito’s halftime show.”
“Thank you, Benito, for inviting me, and thank you to the entire cast for welcoming me onto your stage. I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she continued.
And let’s not forget to mention that amid his show-stopping Super Bowl performance, Bad Bunny’s set featured two male dancers grinding on one another, a subtle but powerful touch of queer representation on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Attitude editor-in-chief Cliff Joannou left comment after watching the show, calling it “a genius blend of art and protest”.
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