Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has been announced as the headliner for the Super Bowl LX halftime show, scheduled for February 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This significant performance will mark the first fully Spanish-language halftime show in Super Bowl history and the first time a Latino man has taken the spotlight as the main act.
Despite his anticipated performance, questions arise regarding the safety of his fans due to concerns about the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, previously expressed worries about ICE targeting attendees during his concerts in the U.S. He opted to avoid touring his latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, in the continental U.S. because of these fears. In an interview with i-D magazine, he stated, “There was the issue of — like, f— ICE could be outside. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
Instead, Bad Bunny focused on his successful residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, which attracted over 600,000 tourists and generated an estimated $733 million for the local economy. The singer has remained vocal about the ICE presence in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated U.S. territory, sharing a video on social media depicting an ICE raid in Carolina in June 2025.
Interestingly, since the announcement of his Super Bowl performance, Bad Bunny has softened his stance on performing in the U.S. He indicated on X (formerly Twitter) that he is considering one performance in the U.S., despite his previous claims. The change comes as Santa Clara County is recognized as a sanctuary jurisdiction, where local law enforcement is less likely to cooperate with ICE. Lina Baroudi, an immigration attorney based in San Jose, noted that while sanctuary laws protect residents, they do not completely shield them from federal agents.
ICE has ramped up its operations in California, demonstrating a significant rise in arrests. Between January and July 2025, the agency made 2,640 arrests in the Bay Area, reflecting a 123% increase compared to the previous year. Baroudi pointed out that by mid-2025, around 60% of ICE’s daily arrests were of individuals without criminal charges or convictions. Although ICE may be restricted from operating within the stadium, their presence in surrounding public areas, such as parking lots, remains a concern for fans attending the event.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance carries profound cultural significance, especially in light of the past administration’s immigration policies and its impact on the Latino community in the U.S. The artist has emphasized that his performance will honor his heritage, stating, “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”
The decision to feature Bad Bunny not only amplifies the cultural representation at one of the most-watched sporting events globally but also provides a commercial advantage for the NFL. The league has recognized the growing demographic of Latino fans in the U.S., which now stands at approximately 39 million. Recent statistics show that Latino viewership of the Super Bowl surged by 51% from 2021 to 2024, making them the fastest-growing segment among NFL fans.
The NFL has made concerted efforts to expand its appeal in Latin America, previously enlisting Colombian pop star Karol G for a halftime show in Brazil. With Latino purchasing power in the U.S. estimated at $3.6 trillion, Bad Bunny’s performance is poised to significantly enhance the league’s international reach and attract new audiences.
Bad Bunny’s recent accomplishments further bolster his appeal. He recently broke Amazon Music’s livestream record for the most-watched single artist performance on the platform. His album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, maintaining his status as one of Spotify’s most-streamed artists in recent years.
As anticipation builds for the halftime show, it remains to be seen how the event will navigate the intersection of cultural celebration and the safety concerns of fans. With viewership records continuously broken at the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny’s performance is expected to draw significant attention, potentially reshaping the narrative around representation in American sports culture.
