Every year, millions of people tune into the Super Bowl; not just for the touchdowns but also for the halftime show. This year’s Super Bowl halftime show was a big one, as the famous 31-year-old global superstar rapper and singer Bad Bunny took the stage.
Bad Bunny, also known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, rose to fame via SoundCloud in 2016, blending trap and reggaeton to become one of Spotify’s most-streamed artists.
Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl LX halftime show was a massive success, bringing in more than 128 million viewers. This performance was ranked as one of the most-watched halftime shows, going just a little under last year’s record of 133.5 million viewers.
What truly made this performance significant was its cultural impact and the controversy surrounding it. His performance, featuring Spanish-language songs and themes of Puerto Rican pride, was aimed at broadening the cultural relevance of the halftime show. He was chosen because he is one of the world’s most popular artists, whose goal is to boost global and Latino viewership, despite some political controversy.
Bad Bunny’s appearance makes him the fourth most-watched halftime show behind Kendrick Lamar (133.5 million, 2025), Michael Jackson (133.4 million, 1993), and Usher (129.3 million, 2024)
“I’ve always been a Bad Bunny fan; it was cool to see him perform at the Super Bowl. I think it was a really big show,” said freshman Greg Mouradian.
Bad Bunny’s performance generated 4 billion social media views within 24 hours, which was a 137% increase from last year. It also broke NFL social media records and topped the Billboard Hot 100 with his single “DtMF,” which is from his 2025 album called DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.
This performance became the most-watched Super Bowl halftime in Spanish-language history, peaking at 4.8 million viewers on Telemundo.
“I loved his performance, but some songs felt too short. I wished I were there in person,” said freshman Kingston Lin.
Bad Bunny’s performance was a cultural event watched and discussed by millions across the entire world. He ended the performance with a powerful message and made international headlines. The show was filled with symbolism, including messages of Puerto Rican pride and independence.
