After nearly five months of bustle, controversy, and speculations that revolved around this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, headliner Bad Bunny officially made history — and powerful statements — at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday (Feb. 8).
The almost 15-minute-long show that took place during the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots faceoff (Seahawks won 29-13) was not your typical halftime show: it was intentional, it was prideful, it was cultural, it was en Español, and it was “a huge party,” as the Puerto Rican artist promised during a press conference earlier in the week.
Benito (his real name) loudly and proudly sang some of the biggest hits — ”Tití Me Preguntó,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” “NuevaYol,” and “Baile Inolvidable,” to name a few — that ultimately made him the No. 1 music artist in the world right now, and the 2026 Grammy winner of the coveted album of the year award with Debí Tirar Más Fotos. Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Karol G, Cardi B, and Pedro Pascal were among his surprise guests.
But beyond that, he brought a message of unity to the field: “Together We Are America,” read a football he held at the end of his performance. Bad Bunny previously admitted that he “never thought” his Grammy-winning album would land him as a headliner on music’s biggest stage.
“I wasn’t looking for the album of the year at the Grammys and Latin Grammys,” he noted during the conference. “I wasn’t looking to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. I was just looking to connect with my roots, my people more than ever, connect with myself, my history, my culture. I did it in a very honest way […] You always have to be proud of who you are and feel comfortable being yourself, but don’t let that limit yourself. I know where I come from, but I also know where I can go.”
Over at the stadium, Seahawks and Patriots fans gathered alike but also a wave of fans that were rooting for the highly-anticipated Benito Bowl, flaunting their pava straw hats and “Team Benito” merch.
Below, check out some things you didn’t see on TV:
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Sounds of Perreo Across Town
Trending on Billboard
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}Just days before the Super Bowl game, the streets of San Francisco filled up with passionate football fans rocking their team’s jersey, but also many people blasting Bad Bunny’s music. The hotel lobby where the Billboard team was staying at, for example, had Bad Bunny music videos on loop at the bar every night leading up to the Super Bowl.
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Bad Bunny Cries Ahead of Game
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard Trending on Billboard
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}At the press conference held on Thursday, Feb. 5 — which became the most watched in Super Bowl history with more than 63 million views, according to stats provided to Billboard — the Puerto Rican artist got emotional when speaking about his mom after a young reporter with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America asked: “When you think about the person you were before everyone knew your name, who’s someone that always supported you and how did they impact your life?”
“I would have to say my mom because before I became this, she believed in me,” he replied. “She believed in me as a person, as a human, in my decisions, in my opinion, in my taste, in my choices; and she believed that I could be a good person: smart guy, talented, and [chokes up] I think that’s what got me here. Not because she believed that I was a great artist, but she believed that I’m a great person and that’s better than anything else.”
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Pro-Benito Bowl
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard Trending on Billboard
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}Billboard was present at many invite-only Super Bowl parties throughout the week including the star-studded Michael Rubin’s Fanatics event, where many of the celebrities who walked the red carpet expressed their love and support for Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Ciara, Ty Dolla $ign, Diplo, Spike Lee, Jamie Foxx, J Balvin and Too $hort, among other big-name artists, shared similar sentiments and opinions about this year’s headliner, mostly speaking on the positive cultural impact his performance will make.
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ICE Not in Sight
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}Despite rumors that made the rounds on the Internet, ICE enforcement operations were not in sight at the stadium — but heavy security was present in every corner: local police, search and rescue dogs, and the national guard. Meanwhile, a large group of anti-ICE demonstrators peacefully marched outside the Levi’s Stadium, and even handed out “ICE OUT” towels to spectators entering the venue on Sunday.
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A Lit Media Pit. Stadium Not So Much
Image Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images Trending on Billboard
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}A group of reporters and photographers gathered at section 133 of the stadium to watch the Halftime Show. Of course, a handful of Latino journos, including yours truly, enjoyed the 13-minute set to the fullest — chanting each lyric and dancing perreo from the media pit. Spectators around us, not so much: A few here and there would bop their head to the reggaetón beat, others would sway their hips to Lady Gaga’s salsa rendition of “Die with a Smile,” or pump their fist in the air to the sound of dembow, but for the most part, sports fans were just standing and watching the show, in either disbelief or admiration.
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A Fiesta With Los Pleneros
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}While some audience members opted not to dance — as Benito himself encouraged everyone to do—others formed a real party on the outskirts of the stadium. Following the halftime show, Los Pleneros de la Cresta, who collaborated with Bunny on “Café con Ron” and joined him for the grand finale, headed their way from the stadium to the talent tent playing music and singing — a huge crowd followed behind, dancing and chanting.
“For us, being able to represent Puerto Ricans in such an important space is of immense value,” the group told Billboard at the game. “We are strengthening our identity through bomba and plena music to continue defending our beaches, our rivers, our education, and our healthcare. And being here on this stage, in this space, on behalf of all the people who are fighting for the people’s beaches today, being able to represent them and give our heart and soul is always of the utmost importance.”
Watch the exclusive interview below: