Bad Bunny Brings Puerto Rican Pride to Super Bowl Halftime Show

The Puerto Rican singer's Spanish-language performance celebrates Latino culture on the biggest stage.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 8:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar, is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. His decision to perform at the high-profile event has generated both enthusiasm and backlash, as his music is deeply rooted in Puerto Rican culture and politics. Bad Bunny's lyrics often feature local slang, references to the island's history, and commentary on issues like gentrification and corruption - all delivered in Spanish without translation. This unapologetic embrace of his Puerto Rican identity on the global stage is seen by many as an act of resistance and a way to assert the presence of the country's 65 million Latinos.

Why it matters

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance marks a significant moment for Latino representation in mainstream American media. By bringing his fully Spanish-language songs, charged with references to Puerto Rican culture and politics, to the biggest television event in the US, he is challenging the industry's historical push for Latin artists to soften their edges or neutralize their identity. This move is celebrated by his followers as an assertion of Latino pride, but it has also drawn criticism from conservative sectors who question the singer's political stances.

The details

Bad Bunny's lyrics don't just use Puerto Rico as a backdrop - they are deeply rooted in the island's history, politics, and culture. He incorporates local slang, references to events like the 1948 Gag Law that criminalized the display of the Puerto Rican flag, and commentary on issues like gentrification and corruption. Songs like 'LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii' directly address the displacement of communities and the privatization of natural resources, themes that resonate with younger generations on the island. By singing in Spanish without translation, Bad Bunny is making a statement about the validity and importance of his language and cultural identity.

  • Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday, February 12, 2026.
  • His most recent album, 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos,' made history days ago by becoming the first fully Spanish-language album to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.

The players

Bad Bunny

The Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is known for his unapologetic embrace of Puerto Rican culture and politics in his music.

Albert Laguna

A professor of American Studies at Yale University who has analyzed the political themes in Bad Bunny's lyrics.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The lyrics of that song, which criticize the gentrification of the island, US federal corruption, and local corruption within the Puerto Rican government … many people in Latin America can read those lyrics and think, 'Oh, this song reflects my reality living in Mexico or living in Cuba,'”

— Albert Laguna, Professor of American Studies (CNN)

“If you didn't understand what I just said, you have four months to learn Spanish.”

— Bad Bunny (Saturday Night Live)

What’s next

Bad Bunny's performance at the Super Bowl halftime show on February 12, 2026 will be a highly anticipated moment for Latino representation in American media.

The takeaway

By unapologetically celebrating Puerto Rican culture and politics through his music, Bad Bunny is using his platform to assert the presence and importance of the Latino community in the United States. His Super Bowl performance marks a significant step forward in mainstream recognition of Spanish-language art and the experiences of the country's 65 million Latinos.