The halftime show 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated live performances in years. With the 60th Super Bowl (Super Bowl LX) taking place on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, fans across the country are eagerly waiting to see which artist will headline the world’s biggest stage.
This year’s event will celebrate six decades of Super Bowl history — and the NFL is preparing to make it one of the most spectacular halftime shows ever.
Table of Contents
Where It’s Happening
Super Bowl 2026 will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, bringing the NFL’s biggest event back to the home of the San Francisco 49ers nearly a decade after it last hosted the game. The venue is remembered for the iconic 2016 halftime show featuring Coldplay, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars, a performance that helped redefine modern Super Bowl entertainment.
As the NFL returns for the 60th Super Bowl, the setting in Silicon Valley is shaping the show’s direction. Producers are planning a technologically driven spectacle that matches the region’s innovation culture. Expect large-scale drone displays, crisp LED lighting effects, and interactive visual elements designed to transform the entire stadium into an immersive environment. These enhancements aim to elevate the viewing experience for both the live crowd and millions watching at home, making the 2026 halftime show one of the most visually ambitious productions ever attempted.
When and How to Watch
Super Bowl 2026 will take place on Sunday, February 8, 2026, marking one of the most anticipated sports and entertainment nights of the year. This edition returns to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, a venue known for its modern design, massive capacity, and prime location in the heart of Silicon Valley. With its advanced infrastructure and open layout, the stadium is expected to provide a perfect backdrop for a visually rich halftime performance and a high-energy championship game.
Fans in the U.S. can catch the entire event live on FOX, the official broadcast partner for this season’s Super Bowl. FOX is planning a full-day lineup of pregame features, analyst segments, interviews, and behind-the-scenes coverage leading up to kickoff, making it easy for viewers to follow all the storylines building toward the big game.
For audiences who prefer to stream, the NFL is offering multiple options. The game and halftime show will be available on Apple TV+ and NFL+, both of which provide high-quality streaming and support for a range of devices, from smart TVs and tablets to mobile phones. This expanded streaming availability reflects the league’s continued push to reach younger and more mobile-focused viewers who want flexible ways to watch.
This year also continues a major partnership: Apple Music returns as the official sponsor of the halftime show for the fourth year in a row. Their involvement has brought a new level of creative direction, premium production value, and global visibility to the performance. The collaboration has helped push the show into a new era defined by elevated sound, cinematic visuals, and top-tier artist selection.
Adding to the momentum, Roc Nation, the entertainment powerhouse helmed by Jay-Z, will once again co-produce the halftime show. Since joining forces with the NFL, Roc Nation has been instrumental in reshaping the halftime spectacle into a cultural centerpiece that blends music, fashion, choreography, and technology. Their ongoing partnership is expected to deliver another bold, dynamic, and highly polished performance in 2026.
Together, FOX, Apple Music, and Roc Nation aim to make Super Bowl 2026 not just a game, but a worldwide entertainment event watched by millions across platforms — ensuring that fans, wherever they are, have multiple ways to experience the biggest night in American sports and live music.
Who Will Perform?
As of late November 2025, the NFL has not yet confirmed who will headline the 2026 halftime show, but preparation behind the scenes is already well underway. Production crews are finalizing stage blueprints, coordinating choreography concepts, and testing visual effects that will match the scale of a milestone Super Bowl taking place in Silicon Valley. Even without an official announcement, the buildup has sparked widespread speculation, with fans and insiders closely watching touring schedules, social media activity, and industry chatter for hints about the potential headliner.
Several major artists are currently seen as strong possibilities.
Taylor Swift remains the most talked-about name thanks to her global popularity and her massively successful Eras Tour, which dominated charts, streaming platforms, and stadiums around the world. Many fans believe 2026 could finally be the moment she steps onto the Super Bowl stage after years of anticipation.
Another frequent contender is Drake, whose long list of chart-topping hits and continued influence on hip-hop and pop culture make him a natural fit for a high-energy, collaboration-filled performance. His broad appeal across generations keeps him on the shortlist for many analysts.
Bad Bunny is also generating buzz as one of the biggest artists in the world and a driving force behind the global rise of Latin music. His inclusion would further the NFL’s recent push toward international representation and cultural diversity—something viewers have embraced in recent years.
Fans are also discussing Dua Lipa, known for her polished choreography, futuristic pop sound, and devoted international fanbase. Her style aligns well with the high-tech environment expected at Levi’s Stadium, making her a compelling candidate for a visually striking show.
Traditionally, the NFL reveals the official halftime performer between December and January, and the 2026 announcement is expected to dominate entertainment news the moment it’s released. Until then, fans are eagerly waiting to see which global superstar will take on one of the most-watched stages in the world.
A Look Back at Recent Shows
To understand how much pressure this year’s headliner will face, it helps to remember how incredible recent halftime performances have been.
| Year | Location | Performer(s) | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | New Orleans, LA | Rihanna | Jay-Z surprise guest; record-breaking audience |
| 2024 | Las Vegas, NV | Usher | Alicia Keys and Ludacris joined for medley |
| 2023 | Glendale, AZ | Rihanna | Stunning solo set and viral pregnancy reveal |
| 2022 | Los Angeles, CA | Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar | Iconic West Coast tribute |
| 2021 | Tampa, FL | The Weeknd | Cinematic visuals and viral choreography |
Each performance has built on the last — combining powerful vocals, visual storytelling, and unforgettable stagecraft. That growing tradition raises expectations for 2026, especially as it coincides with the Super Bowl’s 60th anniversary.
Why Levi’s Stadium Is the Perfect Venue
Levi’s Stadium stands out as one of the most technologically advanced venues in professional sports, making it an ideal location for a milestone Super Bowl. Situated in the center of Silicon Valley, the stadium is surrounded by some of the world’s most influential tech companies and creative innovators, a setting that naturally lends itself to a halftime show built on cutting-edge production and next-level visual design. The venue was constructed with large-scale multimedia events in mind, offering high-speed connectivity, advanced audio capabilities, and infrastructure that can support massive staging equipment and intricate performance setups.
With room for nearly 70,000 fans, Levi’s Stadium is also poised to host one of the largest Super Bowl crowds ever. The arena’s open-bowl layout enhances visibility and allows producers to incorporate sky-based elements—such as drones, fireworks, and aerial lighting—without obstruction. Its powerful LED systems are capable of creating synchronized, stadium-wide displays that can shift colors, patterns, or visuals in real time, transforming the entire venue into part of the show itself. This flexibility is especially important for halftime productions that rely on quick set changes, bold light sequences, or immersive crowd effects.
Fans attending Super Bowl 2026 can expect an experience that reflects the spirit of California’s innovation and creativity. The event will likely combine high-level musical performances with interactive elements, futuristic stagecraft, and visual spectacles powered by the region’s technological expertise. By blending the NFL’s world-class production standards with Silicon Valley’s forward-thinking environment, Levi’s Stadium is set to deliver a halftime show that feels both iconic and ahead of its time.
How the Halftime Show Comes Together
Executing the Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most intense and complex live productions in the world. Everything happens under extreme time pressure, with the entire stage needing to be assembled in under eight minutes and removed just as quickly after the performance ends. This rapid transformation requires a highly coordinated system in which every second counts and every movement is pre-planned to perfection.
Behind the scenes, the production relies on a massive team of more than 400 crew members, including stagehands, rigging specialists, lighting designers, pyrotechnic experts, choreographers, and broadcast technicians. Dozens of camera operators and sound engineers work together to ensure that the performance not only looks spectacular inside the stadium but also translates flawlessly to millions of viewers watching at home. Each camera angle, lighting transition, musical cue, and firework burst is rehearsed repeatedly and timed down to the millisecond to prevent even the slightest delay or technical glitch.
For the 2026 show, insiders are already pointing to several major technological upgrades that will push the production into new territory. New augmented reality (AR) elements are expected to be integrated directly into the broadcast, creating layered visual effects that can’t be seen in the stadium but appear in stunning detail for TV and streaming audiences. These AR enhancements could range from floating animations to interactive environments that evolve with the music.
Additionally, the NFL is preparing for a new level of real-time audience participation, using mobile-powered light displays and coordinated color effects that turn the entire stadium into part of the performance. Fans may see their wristbands, phones, or seating sections light up in sync with the show, creating a massive, unified visual spectacle. These features, combined with Silicon Valley’s innovative environment, will make the 2026 halftime production one of the most ambitious and immersive ever attempted.
The Global Reach of the Event
The Super Bowl halftime show has evolved into far more than a mid-game performance — it has become the most-watched live music event on the planet, drawing a level of global attention unmatched by award shows, festivals, or televised concerts. Last year’s halftime show drew more than 125 million viewers worldwide, a staggering number that outperformed nearly every major entertainment broadcast combined. Its cultural impact stretches far beyond the U.S., reaching audiences in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East who tune in specifically for the performance, even if they don’t follow American football.
The 2026 edition is expected to push those numbers even higher. With the NFL broadening its international partnerships and Apple’s streaming platforms expanding global accessibility, the audience is predicted to grow both in traditional television viewership and in digital streams. Features like real-time interactive elements, enhanced visuals, and multi-angle streaming options are also anticipated to bring a new layer of engagement for fans around the world watching from their phones, tablets, and smart TVs.
For musicians, the halftime show represents a career-defining moment — one capable of reshaping their commercial reach overnight. After Rihanna’s 2023 performance, her catalog saw a massive resurgence, with streaming up nearly 400% in just one week. Usher’s 2024 set sparked a renewed wave of interest in his classic album Confessions, pushing it back into the Billboard Top 10 nearly twenty years after its original release. The power of the halftime stage doesn’t just promote new music — it revives entire discographies, influences global trends, and introduces artists to millions of viewers who may not have been part of their core fanbase.
Whoever takes the stage in 2026 will immediately join an elite circle of performers whose careers have been elevated by the visibility and prestige of the show. For many artists, it serves as a lasting cultural milestone — a moment that defines their legacy and resonates worldwide long after the final note is played.
Fan Excitement Builds Online
Across social media platforms, anticipation for the 2026 halftime show is already reaching new heights. Fans are sharing predictions, dream lineups, and bold theories, turning Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit into nonstop discussion hubs. Hashtags such as #HalftimeShow2026, #SuperBowlLX, and #WhoWillPerform have been trending well before any official announcement, showing just how invested audiences are in the reveal. Memes, mock posters, and fantasy stage designs are circulating widely, with some posts racking up millions of views as fans rally behind their favorite artists.
Many viewers are hoping for a major collaborative performance — the kind that brings multiple genres and generations together on one stage. The 2022 hip-hop ensemble left a strong impression, and fans are wondering if the NFL might repeat that formula with a multistar lineup for the Super Bowl’s 60th edition. Others are rooting for a throwback theme, calling for early 2000s icons or artists whose hits defined an era, imagining a performance packed with nostalgia and classic anthems.
But regardless of who ultimately headlines, one sentiment is universal: fans are expecting a show that unites millions around the world in a single, electrifying moment. With Silicon Valley’s influence, Apple’s streaming power, and Roc Nation’s production expertise, the anticipation suggests that the 2026 halftime show could become one of the most widely discussed and celebrated performances in Super Bowl history.
The Legacy of the Super Bowl Halftime
The Super Bowl halftime show has grown from a simple mid-game break into one of the most influential entertainment platforms in the world. Its modern legacy began with Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking 1993 performance, a moment that transformed the halftime segment into a global showcase capable of commanding its own audience. Since then, each year has pushed creative boundaries, blending music, artistry, and emerging technology to create spectacles that reflect the cultural pulse of their time.
Over the decades, the show has become a living timeline of American music — highlighting pop icons, genre-defining artists, and cross-generational collaborations that dominate global conversation long after the final whistle. Staging, lighting, choreography, and broadcast innovation have evolved with each performance, turning the halftime show into a high-stakes blend of art and engineering, watched by more than a hundred million viewers every year.
The 2026 edition will carry special significance as the event returns to Levi’s Stadium, the same venue where the unforgettable 2016 halftime performance by Coldplay, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars set a new standard for creativity and musical fusion. Now, a decade later, the NFL is determined to elevate the spectacle even further. With Silicon Valley’s tech-driven environment, next-generation production tools, and global streaming access, the league aims to deliver a show that honors the legacy of past performances while setting a bold new benchmark for the future of live entertainment.
The countdown to Super Bowl 2026 is officially underway, and with it, the excitement for the halftime performance that will captivate millions. Who do you hope to see headline next February? Share your predictions in the comments and join the conversation as the biggest show in sports and music approaches.