Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show Still Most Watched in History

Bad Bunny's 2026 performance falls short of Lamar's record-breaking viewership numbers from the previous year.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Kendrick Lamar's 2025 Super Bowl halftime show performance remains the most-watched in history, drawing 133.5 million viewers. This surpasses the 128.2 million viewers that tuned in for Bad Bunny's 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, despite previous reports that Bad Bunny had surpassed Lamar's numbers.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most high-profile musical performances of the year, with viewership numbers that can make or break an artist's career. Lamar's record-breaking viewership cements his status as one of the biggest stars in music, while Bad Bunny's lower numbers, despite his growing popularity, show the challenges of matching the hype and anticipation around Lamar's performance.

The details

Kendrick Lamar's 2025 halftime show featured a collaboration with R&B singer SZA, and he performed several tracks from his album GNX, including the controversial Drake diss song "Not Like Us" which won multiple Grammy Awards the week prior. Bad Bunny's 2026 performance included guest appearances from Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and a cameo from Cardi B, but it fell short of Lamar's viewership numbers. An alternative halftime show put on by the right-wing non-profit Turning Point U.S.A. featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett reportedly drew 5.1 million viewers, likely siphoning some viewers away from the official NFL halftime show.

  • Kendrick Lamar's 2025 Super Bowl halftime show performance
  • Bad Bunny's 2026 Super Bowl halftime show performance

The players

Kendrick Lamar

An American rapper and songwriter who is considered one of the most influential and acclaimed hip-hop artists of his generation.

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and songwriter who has become one of the biggest global stars in Latin music in recent years.

SZA

An American singer and songwriter who frequently collaborates with Kendrick Lamar.

Turning Point U.S.A.

A right-wing non-profit organization that put on an alternative halftime show to spite the NFL's choice of Bad Bunny.

Kid Rock

An American singer, songwriter, and rapper who performed at the Turning Point U.S.A. alternative halftime show.

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The takeaway

Kendrick Lamar's record-breaking Super Bowl halftime show viewership in 2025 solidifies his status as one of the biggest music stars of his generation, while Bad Bunny's lower numbers in 2026 show the challenge of matching the hype and anticipation around Lamar's performance, even for an artist as popular as Bad Bunny.