Backstreet Boys Petition for 2027 Super Bowl Halftime Show

The band says they'd bring out Britney Spears, *NSYNC, and other 2000s stars for a "pop explosion" performance.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Backstreet Boys have started an online petition to perform at the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show, which will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The band members say they would bring out other music icons from the '90s and early 2000s, like Britney Spears and *NSYNC, for a "pop explosion" performance. The Backstreet Boys previously turned down a chance to perform during the Super Bowl halftime show, opting instead to sing the national anthem in 2001.

Why it matters

The Backstreet Boys were a defining musical act of the late 1990s and early 2000s, and their potential Super Bowl halftime show performance would tap into the strong nostalgia many fans have for that era of pop music. Securing the coveted halftime show spot would also be a major career milestone for the band.

The details

The Backstreet Boys are currently in the middle of a residency at Las Vegas' Sphere, but they're already looking ahead to their next big performance opportunity - the Super Bowl halftime show in 2027. AJ McLean says he has started an online petition on behalf of the group to try to land the gig, especially since it will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which is home turf for him and bandmate Kevin Richardson. The band members envision a "pop explosion" performance that would bring out other iconic artists from the '90s and 2000s, like Britney Spears and *NSYNC. However, the Backstreet Boys did previously turn down a chance to perform during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2001, opting instead to sing the national anthem that year.

  • The 2027 Super Bowl halftime show will take place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
  • The Backstreet Boys performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl in 2001.

The players

Backstreet Boys

A popular American boy band that rose to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

AJ McLean

A member of the Backstreet Boys and one of the band's lead vocalists.

Nick Carter

A member of the Backstreet Boys and one of the band's lead vocalists.

Britney Spears

A popular American singer and performer who rose to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

*NSYNC

A popular American boy band that rose to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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What they’re saying

“I just started an online petition on behalf of the group for us to do halftime 2027. You better vote yes for us to do halftime, especially because it's gonna be in Los Angeles at SoFi next year. That's home for me and Kevin [Richardson], so that would be pretty awesome.”

— AJ McLean, Backstreet Boys member (PEOPLE)

“We're bringing back Britney Spears, we're bringing back *NSYNC.”

— Nick Carter, Backstreet Boys member (PEOPLE)

“We're bringing back 98 Degrees, I don't care. We're headlining. We're bringing all of our pop friends back; it would be something like that.”

— Nick Carter, Backstreet Boys member (PEOPLE)

What’s next

The Backstreet Boys will continue to promote their online petition for the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show performance.

The takeaway

The Backstreet Boys' desire to headline the Super Bowl halftime show reflects the enduring popularity and nostalgia for the boy band era of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their potential performance would be a highly anticipated event that could bring together multiple iconic artists from that musical era.