Bad Bunny to make Super Bowl history as Spanish-language headliner

Benito “Bad Bunny” Martínez Ocasio is poised to become the first Super Bowl halftime headliner to sing primarily in Spanish, a milestone that fuses commercial spectacle with a pronounced cultural and political moment.

Fresh off three Grammy wins, Bad Bunny brings a body of work that recent critics and fans say blends folkloric Puerto Rican rhythms with contemporary reggaeton, trap and pop. His album Debí Tirar Más Fotos marries bomba, plena, salsa and música jíbara with modern production, and its single “Baile Inolvidable” has been used as a narrative beat in the trailer for the halftime show, which opens on imagery drawn from the artist’s Puerto Rican residency: flamboyan and plantain trees, a salmon-colored “La Casita” evocative of home, the coquí frog and animated references to the endangered sapo concho.

The National Football League has promoted Bad Bunny’s full Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show interview and placed his media appearances alongside the game’s roster of performers and coaches. League officials have defended the choice amid pushback. Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “I think Bad Bunny understands that,” and added, “I think he’ll have a great performance,” arguing the halftime platform “is used to unite people.”

For many viewers the moment is about representation and language. Tens of millions of Spanish speakers in the United States and around the world are expected to watch; industry observers describe the booking as a cultural earthquake that reshapes familiar halftime-show narratives previously dominated by English-language pop. Fans have already dubbed the event “Benitobowl,” and images from the artist’s residency have fueled expectations that he will weave Puerto Rican iconography and live community elements into a mainstream commercial event.

But the slot has also sharpened political debate. Bad Bunny has been outspoken on issues ranging from Puerto Rico’s hurricane recovery to immigration. At the Grammys he said “ICE out” while accepting an award, and on Saturday Night Live he quipped, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.” At a press conference he promised a celebratory mood, saying, “I know that the world is gonna be happy at this Sunday, and they're gonna have fun, and they're gonna dance and they're gonna have a good time.”

Some Puerto Rican fans fear pressure to dilute that identity. “I hope he doesn't let critics determine what kind of songs he plays,” said Victor Almeda, a Puerto Rican living in Orlando. “It's important to stick to his roots and represent Puerto Rico the most he can.” Others see a broader mandate. “With the hard times we're dealing with, when it comes to ICE and deportation, he'll be a leader for the whole Latino community,” said Miranda, who expects symbolism or direct commentary on immigration. Scholars warn the appearance is inherently political: Vanessa Díaz, a professor of Chicano and Latino studies at Loyola Marymount, described Bad Bunny’s presence on the halftime stage as “profoundly political.”

Conservative groups have already mounted a response, organizing a counterprogram featuring acts intended for an alternate audience, and former President Donald Trump has criticized the selection and said he will not attend. That friction underscores how the Super Bowl halftime show has become more than a ratings driver for advertisers and streaming platforms; it is a contested cultural forum where language, identity and national politics intersect with billion-dollar sports entertainment.

What Bad Bunny will actually perform remains under wraps. The trailer, residency visuals and the artist’s recent record suggest a set shaped by Puerto Rican sound and imagery. Whether that translates into a commercial triumph, a political statement, or both, the halftime stage will amplify the conversation for a global audience.