Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Pride in Chicago's Humboldt Park

The Puerto Rican superstar's performance celebrated Latin culture and resilience on a global stage.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Millions tuned in to watch Bad Bunny's historic Super Bowl halftime show, which put Puerto Rican culture in the spotlight. In Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood, watch parties at local businesses and community centers drew fans and residents together to celebrate the performance, which featured guest appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin and included references to Puerto Rico's colonial past and ongoing struggles.

Why it matters

Bad Bunny's halftime show was a landmark moment for Latinos, especially amid a tense political climate surrounding immigration. The performance served as a powerful statement of cultural pride and resilience, resonating deeply with the Puerto Rican community in Chicago's Humboldt Park.

The details

Bad Bunny performed entirely in Spanish, bringing Puerto Rican culture to a worldwide audience. The show included references to Puerto Rico's colonial past and ongoing struggles, such as the island's power grid issues since Hurricane Maria. Ricky Martin sang a song titled "What Happened to Hawaii," described as a rallying cry for Puerto Rico's cultural autonomy. Bad Bunny closed the performance with the Spanish phrase "seguimos aqui," implying resilience and moving forward.

  • Bad Bunny's historic Super Bowl halftime show took place on February 10, 2026.

The players

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican superstar who headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, putting Puerto Rican culture on a global stage.

Ricky Martin

A Puerto Rican singer who made a guest appearance during Bad Bunny's halftime show, performing a song about Puerto Rico's colonial past.

Lady Gaga

A pop superstar who also made a guest appearance during Bad Bunny's halftime show.

Giancarlo Guerrero

The principal conductor of the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago, who led a group of young string players during the halftime show performance.

Billy Ocasio

The Executive Director of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, who spoke about the symbolic significance of the halftime show.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“His presentation was outstanding, phenomenal and not only Puerto Ricans are proud of it, but Latin Americans are proud because he has defended Latin America.”

— Ricardo Jimenez, Director of Health Initiatives for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (wgntv.com)

“What he was saying was look, we're all facing certain struggles, we're all facing these different items, but we need to come together. We need to love each other.”

— Billy Ocasio, Executive Director of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (wgntv.com)

“Because it is an issue that a lot of people are affected with on the island constantly throughout the years, so to see him kind of use his platform to take note of that.”

— Jacob Diaz, Outreach worker with the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (wgntv.com)

“We continue here, it just means that this is where we are now, and together we have to move forward.”

— Lorenzo Taylor, Program manager for the youth initiative at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (wgntv.com)

What’s next

The impact and significance of Bad Bunny's halftime show performance is expected to continue being discussed and analyzed in the coming weeks and months, as it serves as a powerful symbol of Latino cultural pride and resilience on a global stage.

The takeaway

Bad Bunny's historic Super Bowl halftime show was a landmark moment that celebrated Puerto Rican culture and identity, resonating deeply with the Latino community in Chicago's Humboldt Park and beyond. The performance's references to the island's colonial past and ongoing struggles, as well as its message of unity and resilience, underscored the show's symbolic importance during a time of political tension surrounding immigration.