Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Spanish Learning Spike

Duolingo reports a 35% jump in Spanish language learners after the Puerto Rican artist's performance.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Bad Bunny's highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime show, which was primarily in Spanish, led to a significant spike in Spanish language learning activity on the Duolingo app. The app reported a 35% increase in Spanish learners during and after the 13-minute performance, as many viewers sought to understand the lyrics and connect with the artist's Latin roots.

Why it matters

Bad Bunny's halftime show represented a landmark moment for Latino representation and culture on the biggest stage in American sports. The surge in Spanish learning interest highlights the growing demand for cultural understanding and language skills, especially among younger generations eager to engage with diverse musical artists and perspectives.

The details

Duolingo shared data showing an initial drop in overall app activity as viewers tuned in to watch the big game, but then a major spike in Spanish learners after Bad Bunny took the stage. The app noted the spike represented a 35% increase over normal Spanish language learning volume on their platform.

  • Bad Bunny's 13-minute halftime show performance took place on Sunday, February 9, 2026.

The players

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican rapper, singer and songwriter who headlined the Super Bowl LX halftime show, performing primarily in Spanish.

Duolingo

A popular language learning app that reported a 35% spike in Spanish learners during and after Bad Bunny's halftime show performance.

Carlos Ayala

A 36-year-old resident of San Juan, Puerto Rico who praised Bad Bunny's performance for bringing Latino culture together.

Luke Lavanway

A 35-year-old New Yorker vacationing in Puerto Rico who expressed support for Bad Bunny's Spanish-language halftime show.

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What they’re saying

“I thought it was phenomenal that Bad Bunny brought all Latinos together in one place and represented them all equally. It's an important moment for Latino culture.”

— Carlos Ayala

“That's part of us. That's what makes us great, and we should just enjoy it.”

— Luke Lavanway

What’s next

Duolingo will continue to monitor whether the initial spike in Spanish learning interest following Bad Bunny's halftime show performance leads to sustained growth in their Spanish language learner base.

The takeaway

Bad Bunny's landmark halftime show performance, which was primarily in Spanish, underscores the growing demand for cultural representation and language skills, especially among younger generations eager to engage with diverse musical artists and perspectives.