Green Day To Open Super Bowl 60 In Bay Area

On February 8, 2026, the Super Bowl will mark its 60th anniversary with a distinctly local twist, as Green Day, the legendary East Bay punk rock trio, takes center stage for the opening ceremony at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The NFL’s decision to enlist Green Day—comprised of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool—injects a dose of Bay Area pride into the championship’s milestone celebration, honoring both the sport’s storied past and the region’s musical heritage.

This landmark event, announced by the NFL on January 18, 2026, is more than just a prelude to the year’s biggest football game. It’s a tribute to six decades of Super Bowl history, complete with a procession of generations of Super Bowl Most Valuable Players (MVPs) onto the field as Green Day delivers a medley of their most iconic rock anthems. According to Billboard, the band’s setlist is expected to span hits from their mid-’90s breakthrough—think “Basket Case” from their 1994 album Dookie—to more recent favorites, ensuring a high-voltage kickoff that resonates with fans of all ages.

“We are super hyped to open Super Bowl 60 right in our backyard!” lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong declared in a statement released by the NFL. “We are honored to welcome the MVPs who’ve shaped the game and open the night for fans all over the world. Let’s have fun! Let’s get loud!” These words echo the excitement felt not only by the band but by the broader Bay Area community, which has long claimed Green Day as one of its most influential musical exports.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to air live at 3 p.m. Pacific Time (6 p.m. Eastern Time) on NBC, Telemundo, Peacock, and Universo, allowing millions of viewers across the country and around the world to join in the festivities. According to The Associated Press, the event is designed as a “collective celebration for fans in the stadium and around the world,” blending the thrill of football with the energy of live music in a way that only the Super Bowl can.

Tim Tubito, the NFL’s senior director of event and game presentation, underscored the significance of the moment in a statement: “Celebrating 60 years of Super Bowl history with Green Day as a hometown band, while honoring the NFL Legends who’ve helped define this sport, is an incredibly powerful way to kick off Super Bowl LX. As we work alongside NBC Sports for this opening ceremony, we look forward to creating a collective celebration for fans in the stadium and around the world.” Tubito’s remarks, reported by Rolling Stone, highlight the league’s intent to bridge past and present, sports and music, local pride and national spectacle.

Green Day’s involvement in Super Bowl LX is part of a packed week of events across the Bay Area. The band is also slated to headline the FanDuel Party powered by Spotify at Pier 29 on February 6, alongside fellow Bay Area rockers Counting Crows. This pre-Super Bowl gig is just the latest in a series of high-profile local performances for the trio, who have previously headlined both the 2025 BottleRock Napa Valley and the 2022 Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco, as noted by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Levi’s Stadium, the venue for this year’s Super Bowl, last hosted the big game in 2016 for Super Bowl 50. The stadium’s return to the national spotlight is a testament to the Bay Area’s enduring appeal as a sports and entertainment hub. For Green Day, whose roots in the region stretch back to their formation in the late 1980s, the opportunity to perform on such a grand stage in their hometown area is a full-circle moment that resonates deeply with both the band and their fans.

The opening ceremony will set the stage for an evening of star-studded entertainment. Immediately following Green Day’s performance, the official pregame entertainment will feature pop singer-songwriter Charlie Puth performing the national anthem, folk rock artist Brandi Carlile singing “America the Beautiful,” and Coco Jones—star of the Peacock series “Bel-Air”—delivering the Black national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” These performances, as reported by Billboard and Rolling Stone, aim to reflect the diversity and spirit of both the NFL and its audience.

Of course, no Super Bowl would be complete without a show-stopping halftime performance. This year, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny is slated to headline the halftime show, promising to bring his signature energy and global appeal to the world’s most-watched sporting event. According to Billboard, Bad Bunny’s recent album Un Verano Sin Ti dominated the Billboard 200 chart for four weeks in 2025, and his world tour has already broken records, grossing $107 million across 697,000 tickets sold in just the first 12 shows. The halftime show teaser, released by Apple Music, promises that “the world will dance,” setting high expectations for an unforgettable performance.

The NFL’s decision to spotlight Green Day at the opening ceremony is not just a nod to local flavor—it’s a recognition of the band’s enduring influence and the powerful connection between music and sport. Formed in the East Bay subregion of the San Francisco Bay Area, Green Day has cultivated a global following while remaining closely tied to their hometown. Their journey from Bay Area clubs to the Super Bowl stage mirrors the Super Bowl’s own evolution from a fledgling championship to a global cultural phenomenon.

For many fans, the chance to see Green Day usher MVPs onto the field while playing a medley of hits is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The band’s music, characterized by its infectious hooks and rebellious spirit, has provided the soundtrack to countless memories—and now, it will help launch one of the most memorable nights in sports history. As Armstrong put it: “Let’s have fun! Let’s get loud!”

As the countdown to Super Bowl LX continues, all eyes will be on Levi’s Stadium—not just for the clash on the gridiron, but for the celebration of history, music, and community that will kick it all off. With Green Day leading the charge, the 60th Super Bowl is poised to be as much about honoring the past as it is about making new memories for the future.