Super Bowl 2026: Bad Bunny brings Puerto Rican culture to halftime show stage

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The highly anticipated Bad Bunny halftime show is here.

Bad Bunny took the stage at halftime on Sunday in an all-white jersey-like outfit with "Ocasio" on the back, representing the star's last name.

The Grammy-winning global sensation brought his Puerto Rican culture to the stage at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California, along with a collection of his hit songs, starting with "Tití Me Preguntó."

Bad Bunny's performance began with a scenic shot of the star walking through a field of tall crops walking alongside cropper backup dancers.

The show also included special guests Alix Earle and Cardi B, and several more stars, appearing on stage before Lady Gaga's performance of "Die With a Smile."

Ricky Martin also gave an impassioned performance.

Bad Bunny went on to perform a large collection of hit songs, including "BAILE INoLVIDABLE" and "NUEVAYoL," which he performed in front of a set design of a market called "La Marqueta."

Midway through the show, the star crashed through a roof onto a new set before continuing the show uninterrupted.

At one point, Bad Bunny was seen paying homage to his recent success, handing a Grammy award to a young boy on stage.

Fireworks erupted at the end of the performance during a rendition of his hit song "DtMF."

His background played a prominent role in the performance as the star carried a Puerto Rican flag on his back while singing for a portion.

Lady Gaga performs "Die With a Smile."

Lady Gaga joined forces with Bad Bunny mid-way through the halftime show singing a salsa-inspired version of "Die with a Smile." She dawned a light blue dress with a red flower pinned near her shoulder, adding to the tropical theme of the show.

Dancers, matching Bad Bunny's all-white look, danced along on stage, and Bad Bunny and Gaga shared a dance for a moment during the show.

Gaga's portion of the show saw a band with red suits and blue undershirts play alongside the stars.

Ricky Martin sings during halftime show

Singer Ricky Martin also joined in on the fun singing a portion of the Bad Bunny song "Lo Que Le Paso a Hawaii"

Stars join in on the show

Alix Earle, Cardi B, Jessica Alba and Pedro Pascal were among the celebrities who joined in on the celebratory show.

Bad Bunny's global impact

The performance marks a turning point for the Spanish-language genre and Puerto Rican culture, something integral to the artist's identity. Bad Bunny made history at last weekend's Grammys when his album became the first fully Spanish-language project to win album of the year.

Ahead of the Super Bowl, the three-time Grammy winner remained tight-lipped about what to expect out of the show, a posture he's mostly maintained since it was announced he would headline the event in September.

"I'm just trying to enjoy it," he said at a Thursday press conference. "I know I'm gonna have fun. All the crew, all the people, they're going to have fun that day."

The September halftime performance announcement from Apple Music, the NFL, and Roc Nation, sparked celebration from Bad Bunny supporters and backlash from some conservative groups and commentators, including on his outspokensupportof immigrants in the United States.

In his album of the year acceptance speech at the Grammys on Feb. 1, Bad Bunny dedicated the award "to all the people that had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams."

Turning Point USA, the conservative advocacy group whose associated pundits have been some of the most vocal critics of the Bad Bunny selection, plans to stream its own counterprogrammed halftime show featuring Kid Rock on Sunday.

The NFL, for its part, has stood by its selection of the Puerto Rican superstar. At a press conference ahead of the Super Bowl, commissioner Roger Goodell appeared to reaffirm his support for Bad Bunny, calling him "one of the great artists in the world."

The Super Bowl stage marks the latest peak of a unique rise to superstardom for Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

The singer was raised in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, by his parents Tito Martínez and Lysaurie Ocasio, a truck driver and schoolteacher, respectively.

"I was never looking for this," Bad Bunny said of the success he's achieved. "My biggest pleasure is to create, have fun doing it and connect with the people."

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