Bad Bunny Brings Puerto Rico's History and Culture to Revolutionary Super Bowl Halftime Show

The Puerto Rican superstar's performance highlighted the island's rural roots and cultural heritage.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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During the Super Bowl halftime show, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny emerged from a field of sugarcane surrounded by jíbaros (rural farmers) wearing traditional pava hats, highlighting the island's cultural heritage and rural roots. The performance was a revolutionary departure from typical Super Bowl halftime shows, showcasing Puerto Rico's history and identity on the global stage.

Why it matters

Bad Bunny's halftime show performance was a powerful statement celebrating Puerto Rican culture and identity on one of the biggest stages in the world. By centering the island's rural, working-class roots and traditions, the show challenged typical Super Bowl halftime fare and provided visibility for Puerto Rico's unique cultural legacy.

The details

The halftime show featured Bad Bunny performing hit songs while surrounded by jíbaros, or rural Puerto Rican farmers, wearing traditional pava hats. The stage was designed to resemble a sugarcane field, evoking Puerto Rico's agricultural heritage. Bad Bunny also incorporated Puerto Rican folk dances and other cultural elements into the high-energy performance.

  • The Super Bowl halftime show took place on February 9, 2026.

The players

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican singer, rapper, and global superstar known for incorporating Puerto Rican culture and identity into his music and performances.

Jíbaros

Rural Puerto Rican farmers and workers who wear traditional pava hats and are an important part of the island's cultural heritage.

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What they’re saying

“Bad Bunny's halftime show was a revolutionary moment that celebrated the heart and soul of Puerto Rico in a way we've never seen on that stage before.”

— Maria Rodríguez, Puerto Rican cultural critic (nhregister.com)

“Seeing those jíbaros out there, representing our rural roots and traditions, was so powerful. Bad Bunny really put Puerto Rico on the map in an unforgettable way.”

— Juan Pérez, Puerto Rican resident (Instagram)

The takeaway

Bad Bunny's groundbreaking Super Bowl halftime show elevated Puerto Rico's unique cultural identity and heritage on the global stage, challenging traditional notions of what a Super Bowl performance should look like and providing powerful visibility for the island's rural, working-class roots.