Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show Packed with Cultural References

The Puerto Rican rapper's performance highlighted Latin American history, identity, and resilience.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Bad Bunny's groundbreaking Super Bowl halftime show, the first ever performed entirely in Spanish, was filled with powerful cultural references and symbolism. From nods to Puerto Rican sugarcane workers and the ongoing power grid issues on the island, to shoutouts to Latin American taquerias and boxing culture, Bad Bunny used his platform to celebrate his heritage and uplift marginalized communities.

Why it matters

Bad Bunny's halftime show represented a significant milestone for representation and visibility of Latin culture on the biggest stage in American sports. By centering Puerto Rican and broader Latin American experiences, the performance challenged the traditionally white-dominated world of the Super Bowl and sent a message of pride, resilience, and unity across the Americas.

The details

Throughout the 13-minute set, Bad Bunny incorporated numerous cultural references and Easter eggs. He opened with men pretending to harvest sugarcane, honoring the slave labor that took place in Caribbean sugarcane fields. He also gave a shoutout to the popular taco stand Villa's Tacos in Los Angeles, and included a cameo of a child sleeping - a nod to the Latin American tradition of finding kids napping at family events. The artist also wove in appearances by celebrities like Cardi B, Jessica Alba, and Pedro Pascal, and referenced Puerto Rican culture in Brooklyn through a shoutout to the iconic Caribbean Social Club. Additionally, Bad Bunny sang his 2022 song 'El Apagón,' highlighting the ongoing power outages in Puerto Rico, and included boxers Xander Zayas and Emiliano Vargas as a wink to Hispanic boxing culture. The light-blue Puerto Rican flag he carried also sent a message of pro-independence.

  • Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance took place on February 8, 2026.

The players

Bad Bunny

The Puerto Rican rapper whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, and who made history with the first Super Bowl halftime show performed entirely in Spanish.

Villa's Tacos

A popular taco stand in Los Angeles that Bad Bunny featured in his performance, as the artist himself is a fan of their food.

Toñita

Also known as María Antonia Cay, the owner of the Caribbean Social Club in Brooklyn, New York, a cultural staple that Bad Bunny highlighted during his show.

Xander Zayas

A Puerto Rican boxer who made a cameo appearance during Bad Bunny's performance, representing the rich Hispanic boxing culture.

Emiliano Vargas

Another Puerto Rican boxer who appeared alongside Xander Zayas in Bad Bunny's halftime show.

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What they’re saying

“I know what it means to succeed without letting go of where you come from. I know how heavy it is, what it costs, and what is sacrificed when you decide not to change because others ask you to. That's why what you have achieved is not just a historic musical accomplishment, it's a cultural and human victory.”

— Ricky Martin, Singer (Vulture)

The takeaway

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show was a powerful celebration of Latin American culture, identity, and resilience. By centering Puerto Rican and broader Latin experiences, the performance challenged the traditionally white-dominated world of the Super Bowl and sent a message of pride, unity, and resistance against cultural erasure across the Americas.