There are stages, and then there is the Super Bowl halftime show and on Sunday, global music star Bad Bunny is expected to deliver a landmark performance that places Puerto Rican and Latino culture at the center of the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.
Fresh from a historic win at the Grammy Awards for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” widely described as a love letter to Puerto Rico, the artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is preparing a 13-minute halftime set during the Super Bowl that insiders say will blend music, symbolism and celebration.
What is known so far
During a recent interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music, Bad Bunny confirmed the length of the performance while keeping details tightly under wraps.
“It’s going to be a huge party,” he said, declining to confirm whether there will be surprise guest appearances. “I want to bring a lot of my culture to the stage… It’s going to be fun.”
A teaser trailer released last month set the tone, featuring Bad Bunny dancing to “Baile Inolvidable,” a modern salsa track from Debí Tirar Más Fotos, beneath a flamboyan tree a powerful symbol of Puerto Rican identity and resilience. The album itself fuses traditional genres such as bomba, plena, salsa and música jíbara with reggaeton, trap and pop.
A Spanish-language spectacle
All of Bad Bunny’s music is performed in Spanish, and his halftime show is expected to follow suit. While he has previously joked that fans have time to “learn Spanish,” the artist has said audiences do not need to understand every lyric to enjoy the performance only to be ready to dance.
Cultural symbols expected on stage
Observers anticipate a strong visual and cultural statement, with Puerto Rican flags likely to feature prominently. Variations in the flag’s colors from red, white and blue to light blue or black-and-white may carry historical and political meaning tied to the island’s independence movement, resilience and past struggles.
Other expected elements include traditional expressions such as “Wepa,” rural symbols like the pava straw hat, and references to everyday Puerto Rican life, including the casita — a small house often associated with family gatherings and music.
Traditional instruments linked to bomba and plena, such as the cuatro, güiro, maracas and panderetas, may also appear, reinforcing the folkloric roots of his sound.
Possible guest appearances
While no guests have been confirmed, speculation is high that other Latin music stars particularly Puerto Rican artists could join the performance. Names frequently mentioned include Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Wisin y Yandel, Gilberto Santa Rosa and emerging artist Young Miko. Bad Bunny has a history of sharing the stage, including his appearance during the 2020 halftime show.
Art, identity and politics
Whether the performance will carry an explicit political message remains to be seen. Bad Bunny has never shied away from social commentary, having criticized U.S. immigration policies and the Trump administration’s response to disasters in Puerto Rico. His recent comments at the Grammys and decisions around touring have also underscored those views.
With an audience of more than 100 million expected worldwide, Sunday’s halftime show is shaping up not just as entertainment, but as a cultural moment one that places Puerto Rico, its music and its identity firmly in the global spotlight.
