The Headline Act: A Fiesta with a Message
In the 60-year history of the NFL’s Super Bowl, the halftime show has served as a mirror to American culture—reflecting its pop obsessions, its patriotism, and occasionally, its divides. On Sunday night, Bad Bunny (born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) didn’t just perform in that mirror; he shattered it and reassembled the shards into a mosaic of Latino identity that refused to be translated.
Taking the stage for Super Bowl LX, the Puerto Rican global superstar delivered a 13-minute spectacle that was joyous, defiant, and performed almost entirely in Spanish. Amid a political climate fraught with tension over immigration and a direct feud with the Trump administration, Bad Bunny turned the biggest stage in the United States into a “Nuevayol” street party, complete with a bodega, salsa rhythms, and a definition of “America” that stretched far beyond the 50 states.
Joined by heavyweights Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and Cardi B, the show was a masterclass in cultural counter-programming. While critics on the right, including President Trump, decried the performance, the show cemented Bad Bunny’s status not just as a musician, but as a geopolitical force.
The Performance: “Nuevayol” on the 50-Yard Line
The show opened not with pyrotechnics, but with atmosphere. The field transformed into a vibrant New York City street scene—a nod to the Nuyorican experience that has long bridged the island of Puerto Rico and the mainland U.S.
The set design was meticulous. A corner bodega, bearing a glowing neon sign that read “We accept EBT,” served as the backdrop—a subtle but pointed embrace of working-class reality often hidden during the glitz of the Super Bowl.
Bad Bunny kicked off the set with “Nuevayol,” a track from his Grammy-winning Album of the Year, Debí Tirar Más Fotos. The song, a rhythmic exploration of migration and identity, set the tone immediately: this was a show about movement, belonging, and the spaces Latinos have carved out in the U.S.
The Guests: A Unified Front
The energy spiked with the arrival of the guest stars, each representing a different facet of the Latin and pop crossover experience:
- Ricky Martin: The Puerto Rican icon who kicked down the door for Latin Pop in the 90s joined Bad Bunny for a high-octane rendition of “Baile Inolvidable.” The intergenerational chemistry between the two—Martin the polished showman, Bad Bunny the raw innovator—was palpable.
- Lady Gaga: In the night’s most surprising musical twist, Gaga appeared not for a pop anthem, but to deliver a salsa-infused version of “Die With a Smile,” her smash hit duet with Bruno Mars. Singing in English but dancing to the clave rhythm, Gaga bridged the language gap, symbolizing allyship in motion.
- Cardi B: Bringing the Bronx to the Super Bowl, Cardi B’s appearance solidified the “Nuevayol” theme, adding her signature grit and flow to the proceedings, celebrating her Dominican and Trinidadian heritage alongside Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican pride.
The Politics: What Was Said (and What Wasn’t)
The lead-up to Sunday’s game was dominated by political noise. Following Bad Bunny’s explicit “ICE out” statement at the Grammy Awards just a week prior, speculation was rampant. Would he protest? Would he be censored?
Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, had stoked the fires in the fall, stating that ICE agents would be “all over” the Super Bowl. While NFL security clarified there would be no enforcement operations, the atmosphere was charged.
In the end, Bad Bunny chose nuance over confrontation. There were no anti-ICE chants. Instead, he employed a powerful rhetorical sleight of hand.
Towards the end of the set, the music swelled, and Bad Bunny shouted, “God Bless America!” But before the cheers could settle, he began to read a list:
“Brazil… Colombia… Venezuela… United States…”
By listing nations across North and South America, he reclaimed the word “America.” He wasn’t just blessing the country hosting the game; he was blessing the entire hemisphere. It was a moment that suggested the “American” experience is not exclusive to English speakers or those within U.S. borders.
The Reaction: A Nation Divided
As with everything in 2026, the reaction was instant and polarized.
The Trump Administration & Conservative Backlash
President Trump, who had previously criticized the NFL’s decision to hire Bad Bunny, took to social media minutes after the show concluded.
“Absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” Trump wrote. “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying.”
The disconnect was further highlighted by Turning Point USA. The conservative organization, led by Charlie Kirk, organized a counter-event titled the “All-American Halftime Show.” Streaming simultaneously, it featured Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, and Lee Brice, marketing itself as a “no ‘woke’ garbage” alternative. This split-screen reality—one America watching a reggaeton fiesta, the other watching country rock—perfectly encapsulated the cultural fragmentation of the era.
The Cultural Triumph
Conversely, for millions of Latinos and fans of global music, the show was a triumph of representation.
- Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli of the New York Times Popcast praised the show for its refusal to pander, noting that Bad Bunny brought his specific aesthetic—avant-garde fashion, authentic rhythms, and political awareness—to the mainstream without dilution.
- Social media lit up with praise for the “EBT” sign, interpreting it as a validation of those relying on government assistance, a demographic rarely acknowledged in the corporate showcase of the Super Bowl.
Context: The Year of Benito
To understand the weight of this performance, one must look at Bad Bunny’s trajectory over the last year.
1. The Album: Debí Tirar Más Fotos His latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos), marks a mature turn for the artist. Moving beyond the party anthems of his youth, the record explores nostalgia, the pain of leaving home, and the complex history of Puerto Rico. Winning Album of the Year at the Grammys—a rare feat for a Spanish-language album—validated his artistic evolution.
2. The Activism Bad Bunny has never been “just” a singer. From leading protests in San Juan to oust a corrupt governor in 2019, to his recent critiques of overdevelopment and the federal response to Hurricane Maria, he has consistently used his platform to advocate for Puerto Rico. His friction with the Trump administration is not a marketing gimmick; it is the continuation of a years-long struggle for respect and resources for his island.
3. The Streaming Giant Despite the President’s claim that “nobody understands” him, the data suggests otherwise. Bad Bunny has been Spotify’s top-streaming artist for four of the last six years. His dominance proves that in the streaming era, English is no longer the default language of global pop supremacy.
Visual Breakdown: The “La Casita” Connection
Fans of Bad Bunny’s recent tour recognized elements of the stage design. His 31-show residency utilized a set piece known as “La Casita”—an ode to the colorful, traditional wooden houses of Puerto Rico.
For the Super Bowl, this concept was expanded and urbanized. The transition from the rural “Casita” of his tour to the urban “Bodega” of the halftime show mirrors the migration path of millions of Puerto Ricans. It told a visual story: We come from the island, but we built this city, too.
The update from reporters James Wagner and Annie Correal noted that the house on stage was populated with a “surprising mix,” likely referencing the diverse array of dancers and extras representing the diaspora—Afro-Latinos, indigenous faces, and people of all ages, countering the often homogenized look of backup dancers.
Conclusion: A New Standard
The 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show will be remembered not for a wardrobe malfunction or a flying stunt, but for its language. By performing largely in Spanish, Bad Bunny forced the Super Bowl audience to meet him on his terms.
He didn’t translate his art for America; he showed America that his art is American.
In the face of threats from ICE, criticism from the President, and a divided electorate, Bad Bunny danced. He brought a bodega to the most expensive advertising space in the world, invited Lady Gaga to sing salsa, and reminded the world that America extends from the Yukon to Tierra del Fuego.
As the fireworks faded over the stadium, the message was clear: The culture has shifted, and Bad Bunny is leading the parade.
Quick Facts: Bad Bunny SB60 Halftime Show
- Headliner: Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio)
- Setlist Highlights: “Nuevayol”, “Baile Inolvidable”
- Special Guests: Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Cardi B
- Key Prop: A bodega sign reading “We accept EBT”
- Controversy: Trump called it “terrible”; Turning Point USA aired counter-programming.
- Political Statement: Redefined “America” by listing North and South American countries.
- Recent Win: Debí Tirar Más Fotos won Grammy Album of the Year.