The Super Bowl halftime show draws millions of viewers every year. Some watch for the football. Many tune in just for the performance. This year brings something historic to the stage.
Bad Bunny headlines Super Bowl LX as the first male Latin American artist to perform solo. He’ll also become the first artist to perform primarily in Spanish at a Super Bowl halftime show. This marks a major moment for Latino culture on the world’s biggest entertainment stage.
Here’s everything you need to know about the start time, performers and how to watch for free.
What Time is the Super Bowl Halftime Show 2026?
Super Bowl LX kicks off Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM Eastern Time. The halftime show typically starts around 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET. Game pace determines the exact start time.
Here’s when to tune in across different time zones:
- Eastern Time (ET): 8:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Central Time (CT): 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Mountain Time (MT): 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Pacific Time (PT): 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Alaska Time (AKST): 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Hawaii Time (HST): 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
- United Kingdom (GMT): 1:00 AM – 1:30 AM (Monday, Feb 9)
- Canada (ET): 8:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Australia (AEDT): 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM (Monday, Feb 9)
The show begins after the second quarter ends. Plan to be ready around 8:00 PM ET.
How Long is the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Regular NFL halftime breaks run 12 to 15 minutes. The Super Bowl halftime show extends to about 25 or 30 minutes total. This extra time lets crews set up the elaborate stage and prepare for the live performance.
The actual performance lasts 12 to 15 minutes. You’ll see high-energy performances, choreography and special effects packed into that window.
Who is Performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show 2026?
Bad Bunny takes center stage as this year’s headliner. The Puerto Rican superstar will perform primarily in Spanish, making Super Bowl history.
Bad Bunny is the most-streamed artist in the world with 19.8 billion streams in 2025. He just won three Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys on February 1. His album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” became the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year. He now has six total Grammy Awards.
His music blends Latin trap and reggaeton with his Puerto Rican heritage. He previously appeared at the 2020 Super Bowl alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. This time he’s the main headliner.
His recent 30-show residency in Puerto Rico drew over half a million fans. The halftime show will feature sign language interpretation by Celimar Rivera Cosme, who interpreted during his Puerto Rico residency.
Super Bowl LX Pregame Performances
Four major performances happen before kickoff.
Opening Ceremony (6:00 PM ET)
Green Day performs at the Super Bowl LX Opening Ceremony. The Bay Area punk rock band celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Super Bowl while welcoming generations of Super Bowl MVPs onto the field.
National Anthem (Around 6:20 PM ET)
Charlie Puth sings “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The multi-platinum artist has hits like “Attention” and “We Don’t Talk Anymore.” His new album “Whatever’s Clever!” drops March 27, 2026. Deaf music artist Fred Beam performs the anthem in American Sign Language.
“America the Beautiful”
Brandi Carlile performs “America the Beautiful.” The 11-time Grammy winner brings powerful vocals to this patriotic classic. Deaf music performer Julian Ortiz delivers the ASL performance.
“Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Coco Jones sings “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The Grammy-winning R&B artist won Best R&B Performance in 2024 for “ICU.” She stars in Peacock’s “Bel-Air.” Fred Beam also performs this song in ASL.
Do Super Bowl Halftime Performers Get Paid?
No. Super Bowl halftime performers don’t receive a traditional performance fee. The NFL and Apple Music cover production costs between $10 million and $15 million. Artists get only the union-mandated minimum of approximately $1,200 total.
The exposure makes up for the lack of payment. Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance boosted his Spotify streams by 430%. Usher’s 2024 show increased his streams by 550%. Rihanna’s 2023 performance drove an 833% increase in Fenty Beauty sales.
The career boost from performing for over 100 million viewers beats any paycheck.
What Channel is the Super Bowl Halftime Show On?
United States
NBC broadcasts the game on television. Peacock and NFL+ provide streaming options. Telemundo offers Spanish-language coverage.
United Kingdom
Channel 5 carries free-to-air television coverage. Sky Sports broadcasts for satellite subscribers. ITVX offers free streaming with a free account.
Canada
CTV and TSN broadcast on television. DAZN provides streaming for cord-cutters.
Australia
Channel Seven shows free-to-air TV coverage. 7Plus streams it live online. ESPN (via Disney+) also carries the broadcast.
Mexico
Azteca 7 broadcasts for free. ESPN, Fox Sports and Televisa also carry coverage.
Germany
ProSieben broadcasts for free on television. Their website offers free streaming with simple registration.
Can I Watch the Super Bowl Halftime Show for Free?
Yes. Several free options exist depending on your location.
United States Free Options:
Over-the-air NBC is the best free option. Use an antenna to watch in HD quality at no cost.
Free trials work if you don’t have an antenna. YouTube TV offers a 21-day trial. Hulu + Live TV has a 3-day trial. DirecTV provides a 5-day trial. Remember to cancel before billing starts.
Walmart+ subscribers get Peacock Premium included with their subscription. Instacart+ subscribers get an annual Peacock Premium plan after a 14-day trial. Peacock Premium costs $10.99 per month and doesn’t offer free trials.
International Free Options:
United Kingdom: Channel 5 broadcasts for free. ITVX streams with a free account.
Australia: 7Plus provides free streaming without subscription.
Canada: CTV broadcasts for free on traditional television.
A VPN lets you access these international free streams from anywhere. Many VPN services offer free trials or money-back guarantees.
The NFL YouTube channel uploads the full halftime performance within hours after the show. You can watch it for free there after it airs.
Can I Watch Only the Super Bowl Halftime Show Without the Game?
Not during the live broadcast. The halftime show is part of the full Super Bowl coverage.
The NFL YouTube channel uploads the complete performance shortly after it ends. You can watch just the halftime show there without sitting through the entire game. Most uploads happen within a few hours.
Where Can I Rewatch the Super Bowl Halftime Show After It Airs?
Several platforms host the halftime show after it airs:
- NFL YouTube Channel (usually within hours)
- NFL’s Official Website
- Peacock (replay availability varies)
- Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
The NFL YouTube channel provides the best quality replay and posts it first.
Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show FAQs
Has a Country Artist Ever Performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Yes. The 1994 show featured Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt and The Judds. Shania Twain performed in 2003. She remains the last country artist to headline the show.
How Much Does It Cost to Produce the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Production costs range between $10 million and $15 million. The NFL and Apple Music cover all these costs.
Why Do Artists Perform for Free at the Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl reaches over 100 million viewers worldwide. Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 show increased his streams by 430%. Usher’s 2024 performance boosted his streams by 550%. Rihanna’s 2023 show increased Fenty Beauty sales by 833%. The exposure value exceeds any performance fee.
What Was the Most-Watched Super Bowl Halftime Show Ever?
Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance set the record with 133.5 million viewers. This beat Michael Jackson’s 1993 performance of 133.4 million viewers. Usher’s 2024 show drew 123.4 million viewers. Rihanna’s 2023 performance attracted 121 million viewers.
Is the Super Bowl Halftime Show Live or Pre-Recorded?
Most lead vocals are performed live. Background instrumentals and some vocal elements use pre-recorded tracks. This ensures sound consistency across the stadium and broadcast. Major live events commonly use this approach for audio quality.
Has Bad Bunny Performed at the Super Bowl Before?
Yes. Bad Bunny appeared as a guest during the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez at Super Bowl LIV in Miami. This marks his first time as the main headliner.
Where is Super Bowl LX Being Held?
Super Bowl LX takes place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This is the home stadium of the San Francisco 49ers. The venue hosted Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
What Time Does the Super Bowl Start?
Kickoff happens at 6:30 PM Eastern Time on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The Opening Ceremony with Green Day starts at 6:00 PM ET. The National Anthem begins around 6:20 PM ET.
