On February 8, 2026, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, pulsed with energy as Bad Bunny took center stage for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. In a performance that instantly became one of the most talked-about moments in recent music history, the Puerto Rican superstar not only delivered a set packed with hits and high-profile guests, but also used his global platform to celebrate Hispanic culture and deliver a pointed message of unity and love.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was joined by a constellation of stars—Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and even Pedro Pascal, who surprised fans as a backup dancer. Other celebrities, including Cardi B, Alix Earle, Jessica Alba, and Karol G, danced alongside the six-time Grammy winner, amplifying the spectacle’s sense of occasion. The show unfolded during the Seahawks’ 29-13 victory over the Patriots, a game that, as Fox Sports noted, was only the second Super Bowl in history to see no touchdowns until the final quarter.
The performance was more than just a musical showcase. According to Apple Music, real-time listening data revealed an unprecedented spike in Bad Bunny’s global engagement. Immediately after the halftime show, listens to his music on Apple Music soared sevenfold, cementing his status as a worldwide phenomenon. The most streamed songs in the aftermath included “DtMF,” “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” and “Tití Me Preguntó.”
“You’re listening to music from Puerto Rico, from the neighborhoods, from the slums,” Bad Bunny said during his set, emphasizing his roots and the authenticity of his art. The show’s opening number, “Tití Me Preguntó,” set the tone as Bad Bunny walked through a stage designed to evoke a typical Puerto Rican landscape, complete with boxers and domino players—a nod to the island’s vibrant culture.
The setlist, as reported by Fox Sports, was a tour de force of Bad Bunny’s hits: “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” “EoO,” “VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR,” “MONACO,” “Die With A Smile” (performed as a salsa version with Lady Gaga), “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” “NUEVAYoL,” “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,” “El Apagón,” “CAFÉ CON RON,” and “DtMF.” The inclusion of “Nuevayol,” a tribute to Latin immigrants in New York, and “Debí tirar más fotos,” the title track from his Grammy-winning album, underscored the show’s celebration of Latin identity and experience.
The halftime show wasn’t just about music and dance. It was a carefully choreographed homage to Hispanic heritage and resilience. As the performance drew to a close, Hispanic backup performers paraded with flags from Central and South American countries, turning the stage into a vibrant tapestry of Latin pride. In a stirring moment, Bad Bunny delivered a clear message against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting Spanish-speaking immigrants, declaring, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” He punctuated this message by holding up a football inscribed with “Together, we are America.”
The show’s emotional resonance was heightened by a series of symbolic gestures. In one segment, Bad Bunny handed his Grammy to a child watching his acceptance speech on television, a scene many interpreted as a nod to the struggles of young Hispanic immigrants. Some speculated the child represented Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old recently detained by ICE, while others believed it was a portrayal of Bad Bunny’s own childhood. Regardless, the moment struck a chord across social media, as reported by Fox Sports.
Adding yet another layer of spectacle, professional boxers Xander Zayas and Emiliano Vargas staged a mock bout on stage, with Bad Bunny weaving between them. And in a twist that caught even seasoned Super Bowl watchers off guard, a real wedding took place during the show. After a man proposed to his partner, Bad Bunny facilitated the ceremony on stage, a moment later confirmed as legitimate by NBC News’ Rohan Nadkarni.
The scale of the event was matched by its digital footprint. Apple Music reported that the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Press Conference with Bad Bunny became the most watched in Super Bowl history, racking up over 63 million views within the first 48 hours across livestreams and social media clips. In the lead-up to the big game, plays of “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” surged by 54 percent in the U.S. and 36 percent globally, with non-Spanish-speaking countries like Canada, the UK, and Brazil seeing especially notable increases. Lyrics views for the song jumped by 119 percent in the U.S. and 79 percent globally, and it soared to No. 1 on the U.S. Latin chart, breaking into the top 10 in nine major U.S. cities.
Shazam data echoed this meteoric rise. In January, average daily recognitions of Bad Bunny’s tracks in the U.S. were up 8 percent over the previous month, and “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” saw a 130 percent spike in Shazam volume when the official Halftime Show trailer dropped on January 16. U.S. radio spins of Bad Bunny’s music hit their highest levels since June 2025, registering a 13 percent increase in January 2026 alone.
Yet, the halftime show’s cultural and political significance extended beyond music charts. Bad Bunny’s headlining slot, as Fox Sports and NBC News pointed out, became a flashpoint in the United States’ ongoing debates over immigration and national identity. Some politicians, including former President Donald Trump, criticized the NFL’s choice, with Trump remarking, “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred.” In contrast, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stood firmly behind the decision, stating, “Bad Bunny is one of the greatest artists in the world. It’s one of the reasons we chose him … He understood the platform he was on.”
Bad Bunny himself has not shied away from political statements. At the Grammys, he declared, “ICE out. We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.” He reiterated this sentiment during the halftime show, emphasizing unity and humanity over division.
Despite the controversy, the show’s impact was undeniable. The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show with Bad Bunny drew over 100 million viewers in the U.S. alone, with millions more tuning in worldwide. The event’s success was reflected not only in viewership numbers and streaming spikes but also in its ability to spark conversations about culture, politics, and the power of music to bring people together.
From the intricate choreography and star-studded guest list to the heartfelt messages woven throughout, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX Halftime Show will be remembered as a milestone in both music and cultural history—a dazzling reminder that, even on the world’s biggest stage, the most powerful force is love.