Bad Bunny wowed during the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, giving NFL fans an electric yet emotional performance that celebrated his native Puerto Rico.
The rapper brought the house down with fan-favorites like “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Yo Perreo Sola” and “DtMF,” as Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Karol G, Pedro Pascal, Alix Earle and Young Miko danced around him.
The lively performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., paid tribute to all aspects of Puerto Rico’s rich culture: the dancing, the food (and cafecito!), the focus on family, the agriculture, the occupations, the games and even the lasting effects of Hurricane Maria.
Even Lady Gaga — who delivered a surprise rendition of her and Bruno Mars’ “Die with a Smile” — wore the true blue of the Puerto Rican flag, which represents the fight for freedom and independence. She also sported the US territory’s official national flower, the Flor de Maga.
Fellow Puerto Rican Ricky Martin, another surprise guest, sang “Lo Que Pasó a Hawaii.”
The show had it all, including a real wedding and a tender yet powerful moment in which Bad Bunny handed one of his new Grammys to a young Puerto Rican boy who was watching him win it on TV.
The musician — who made sure to exclaim, “God bless America,” before rattling off all the countries and territories that make up the Americas — completed his set by holding up a football that read, “Together, we are America.”
And displayed on the jumbotron were the words, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
On Thursday, Bad Bunny — born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — teased his 2026 Super Bowl performance during the Apple Music Halftime Show press conference.
In a room full of reporters, including Page Six, the 31-year-old was asked about the person who supported him before the world knew his name. Tearfully, he credited his mother, Lysaurie Ocasio.
“My mom, because she believed in me. And I’m not talking about my music career; I’m just talking about before everything,” he explained.
“She believed in me as a person, as a human. She believed in me, in my decisions, in my opinions, in my taste, in my choices. She believes in me as a person — smart guy, talented — and I think that’s what got me here, you know?”
“You know, that’s something I’m not going to tell you. I don’t know why you ask that,” the six-time Grammy winner replied with a laugh, making it clear that viewers would not be disappointed.
“I just want to have fun. It’s going to be a huge party. … I don’t want to give spoilers. People only need to worry about dancing. They don’t even have to learn Spanish. It’s better if they dance, but there’s no better dance that comes from the heart.”
He added, “Of course, choose your team at the game.”
Bad Bunny also shared how he was feeling leading up to the major moment following his three big wins at the 2026 Grammy Awards last weekend.
“It’s been a lot. Of course, there is a lot of gratitude. It’s how I’ve been feeling this whole year with the [‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’] album. The biggest feeling is being grateful. I am taking things one day at a time and just living,” he explained.
In preparation for the halftime show, Bad Bunny said he was trying to “take it easy” and “enjoy the moment” of “what was happening.”
The recording artist revealed in September 2025 that he would be headlining the coveted Super Bowl halftime show.
After announcing the news via social media, he told Page Six in a statement, “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown. … This is for my people, my culture and our history.”
He added in Spanish, “Ve y dile a tu abuela que seremos el halftime show del Super Bowl,” which translates to, “Go and tell your grandma that we will be the halftime show of the Super Bowl.”
The decision to have the Spanish-speaking rapper headline the halftime show outraged some NFL fans who argued that he should sing in English.
Others pointed out that he has criticized the Trump administration and the cruel tactics used by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Bad Bunny endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” during one of President Trump’s rallies.
The following Fourth of July, he released the music video for his track “NUEVAYoL,” which features an artificial Trump voice apologizing for his stance on immigration.
But for every loud Bad Bunny critic is an even louder fan; Whoopi Goldberg has proudly referred to him as a “great American performer.”
Bad Bunny also expertly clapped back at his haters during his “Saturday Night Live” monologue in October 2025.
“I’m really excited to be doing the Super Bowl. I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy,” he said before beginning to speak in Spanish.
“Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors,” he continued in his native language. “It’s more than a win for myself; it’s a win for all of us. Our footprints and our contribution in this country — no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.”
Bad Bunny cheekily concluded his speech in English, “And if you didn’t understand know what I just said, you have four months to learn!”
