Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Will Celebrate Puerto Rico/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Bad Bunny is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show following a historic Grammy win. His performance is expected to center Puerto Rican culture, music and symbolism on the world’s biggest stage. From traditional instruments to political undertones, the show is shaping up to be a cultural milestone.
Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show: Quick Looks
- Halftime performance expected to run about 13 minutes
- Set will highlight Puerto Rican culture and musical traditions
- Music performed entirely in Spanish is likely
- Visual symbols tied to Puerto Rican history anticipated
- Possible surprise guests from Latin music world
- Political messaging possible but not confirmed
- Performance follows Grammy win for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”
Deep Look: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Will Celebrate Puerto Rico
NEW YORK — There are performances, and then there is the Super Bowl halftime show — a stage reserved for cultural moments that ripple far beyond football. On Sunday, Bad Bunny will step into that spotlight, fresh off a historic Grammy win for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, an album widely praised as a love letter to Puerto Rico.
The performance is expected to be one of the most culturally explicit halftime shows in recent history, with Bad Bunny positioning Puerto Rican identity — not crossover compromise — at its center.
What we know so far
During a recent conversation with Zane Lowe, the superstar confirmed that his halftime set will run approximately 13 minutes, well within the typical Super Bowl range. Beyond that, he has kept details tightly guarded.
“It’s going to be a huge party,” Bad Bunny said, describing the show as joyful, energetic and rooted in his culture. He has repeatedly emphasized that he does not want to spoil the experience.
A teaser released earlier this year offers clues. In it, Bad Bunny approaches a flamboyán tree and presses play on “Baile Inolvidable,” a modern salsa track performed with students from a San Juan music conservatory. The imagery immediately signals a performance anchored in Puerto Rican tradition rather than spectacle alone.
Will the performance be in Spanish?
Almost certainly. All of Bad Bunny’s recorded music is in Spanish, and he has made clear that language will not be diluted for broader appeal. If English appears at all, it would likely be limited to brief spoken remarks or on-screen text.
He previously joked that viewers had months to learn Spanish ahead of the Super Bowl, though he later clarified that no translation would be required — dancing would be enough.
Cultural symbols to watch for
Bad Bunny is known for embedding cultural references deeply into his performances, and the halftime show is expected to follow suit.
Puerto Rican flags are almost guaranteed. The colors and styles used may carry specific meaning — from the modern red, white and blue flag to versions associated with independence movements or historic uprisings.
Traditional expressions such as “Wepa!” or phrases celebrating Puerto Rican pride could appear organically in chants or lyrics.
Casitas, or small house structures used for gatherings, featured prominently in his Puerto Rico residency and could reappear as stage design elements.
Pavas, the straw hats worn by jíbaros (rural farmers), are another recurring symbol in Bad Bunny’s imagery, representing heritage and working-class pride.
The flamboyán tree, iconic in Puerto Rican art and landscapes, has already appeared in promotional materials. Alongside it, visual nods to native wildlife — such as the endangered sapo concho — may surface through animation or stage graphics.
Music and instruments
Because Debí Tirar Más Fotos blends bomba, plena, salsa and jíbaro traditions with reggaeton and pop, expect traditional instruments alongside modern production. These could include the cuatro, güiro, maracas, cowbells, panderetas and barrel drums.
The result is likely to be a sonic history lesson delivered through a global pop framework.
Surprise guests?
Nothing is confirmed, but the possibility is strong. Bad Bunny has frequently collaborated with major Latin artists and Puerto Rican legends. While any names would be speculative, fans are expecting company — whether fellow performers, musicians or dancers representing different generations of Latin music.
Will the performance be political?
That depends on interpretation. Bad Bunny has never separated his art from his beliefs. He has openly criticized Donald Trump, U.S. immigration policy and the federal response to disasters in Puerto Rico.
At the Grammys, he voiced opposition to immigration enforcement policies, and his most recent tour avoided the continental United States, citing concerns for his fans. That history suggests that even if the halftime show is celebratory, it may carry political resonance through symbolism rather than direct statements.
Trump has already dismissed Bad Bunny as a “terrible choice” and said he will not attend the game.
A cultural moment, not just a performance
Bad Bunny’s halftime show is shaping up to be more than entertainment. It is poised to be a declaration — that Spanish-language music, Puerto Rican history and Latino identity belong at the center of American pop culture’s biggest stage, without translation or apology.
Whether viewers see it as a party, a statement, or both, the performance is expected to resonate long after the final note.
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