The $500 Million Megashow: Everything To Know About The Super Bowl Halftime Show, From Kendrick Lamar To Bad Bunny

The Super Bowl Halftime Show has transcended its origins as a simple marching band interlude to become the most-watched 13-minute music performance on the planet, a cultural phenomenon that now dictates the trajectory of global music careers. As of the current date, December 12, 2025, the anticipation is already building for two powerhouse performances: Kendrick Lamar is confirmed to headline Super Bowl LIX in 2025, with global superstar Bad Bunny set to take the stage for Super Bowl LX in 2026, solidifying the show’s shift toward a new era of diverse, chart-topping artists.

This annual spectacle, now officially known as the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, is far more than just entertainment; it is a staggering logistical and economic machine. It commands a global audience of over 100 million viewers, drives a massive surge in an artist's music sales, and generates a media value that far outstrips the production cost, making it the most coveted, and most scrutinized, stage in the entertainment world.

The Confirmed Headliners: Super Bowl LIX (2025) and LX (2026)

The National Football League (NFL) has continued its trend of securing the biggest names in music well in advance, creating unprecedented buzz for the next two championship games. The selection of these artists highlights the league’s commitment to embracing diverse genres and global appeal, moving beyond the traditional rock and pop acts of past decades.

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Kendrick Lamar: Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans (2025)

The announcement that Kendrick Lamar would headline the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, sent shockwaves through the music world. Lamar, a Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, is known for his complex lyrical narratives and powerful stage presence.

• Event: Super Bowl LIX (59)
• Date: February 9, 2025
• Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Significance: Lamar's selection is a major nod to hip-hop's dominance and follows his critically acclaimed appearance as part of the 2022 ensemble show. Fans are speculating on potential guest appearances from collaborators like Dr. Dre, SZA, or J. Cole.

Bad Bunny: Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara (2026)

For Super Bowl LX, scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the NFL has officially named global sensation Bad Bunny as the headliner. This monumental booking marks the first time a Latin urban artist has solo-headlined the event, reflecting his status as the most-streamed artist in the world and his ability to sell out stadiums globally.

• Event: Super Bowl LX (60)
• Date: February 8, 2026
• Location: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
• Potential Guests: Rumors have swirled around appearances by Latin music powerhouses, as well as mainstream pop artists. The initial announcement mentioned potential involvement from Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile, and Coco Jones, suggesting a multi-genre approach.

Usher’s 2024 Performance and the Record-Breaking Viewership Numbers

The most recent show, the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show in 2024, set a new benchmark for both audience size and critical reception. Headlined by R&B icon Usher at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the performance was a masterclass in stagecraft and nostalgia.

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Usher’s 13-minute set was widely praised for its high-energy choreography, roller-skating segment, and a seamless medley of three decades of hits, including "Yeah!" and "OMG." Critics noted the visually stunning yet simple staging, which allowed the focus to remain on the veteran performer's undeniable talent.

More importantly, the game itself, Super Bowl LVIII, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers, drew an estimated average audience of 123.7 million viewers. This figure shattered previous records, making it the most-watched television broadcast in U.S. history. The halftime show’s audience typically peaks even higher than the game’s average, underscoring its immense cultural reach and power as a promotional vehicle for the featured artists.

The Fascinating Economics of the Halftime Show

The Super Bowl Halftime Show is a unique financial anomaly in the entertainment industry. While the production cost can easily exceed $10 million, the headlining artist is traditionally not paid a performance fee (a salary).

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The NFL and its partners cover all production expenses, travel, and accommodation for the artist and their massive entourage. The artists, such as Rihanna, The Weeknd, and Lady Gaga, accept this arrangement because the exposure is invaluable, effectively trading a performance fee for the world's largest, most lucrative marketing platform.

The "Super Bowl Effect" on Music Sales

The economic impact on the music industry is immediate and staggering. This phenomenon, often called the "Super Bowl Effect," sees a massive, instantaneous surge in the performing artist’s sales and streaming numbers.

• Download Surge: Artists frequently experience an increase in digital downloads of their music by up to 500% in the week following the performance.
• Tour Sales: The exposure can drastically boost ticket sales for upcoming tours. For example, after her 2015 performance, Katy Perry’s album sales saw a significant spike, and her subsequent tour was a global success.
• Brand Value: For artists like Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar, the global visibility further cements their status as billion-dollar brands, leading to more lucrative endorsement deals and partnerships with companies like Apple Music.

From Marching Bands to Cultural Firestorms: The Show’s Controversial History

The Halftime Show’s evolution from college marching bands in the 1960s to a pop culture flashpoint began with Michael Jackson's 1993 performance, which is credited with transforming the show into a must-watch event.

However, with massive viewership comes intense scrutiny, leading to some of the most controversial moments in television history. These moments often involve the intersection of celebrity, censorship, and cultural commentary.

The "Nipplegate" Incident (2004)

The most infamous controversy is the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show featuring Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. The final moment of their performance, which resulted in a "wardrobe malfunction" exposing Jackson’s breast, sparked a national outrage and a massive crackdown on broadcast decency by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The incident led to a decades-long chilling effect on live TV and fundamentally changed how the Halftime Show was produced, with a heightened focus on minimizing potential risks. The event remains a key entity in any discussion of Super Bowl history, often referred to simply as "Nipplegate."

Beyoncé’s Black Panther Tribute (2016)

In 2016, Beyoncé’s guest appearance during Coldplay’s Super Bowl 50 set caused a stir when her backup dancers wore costumes inspired by the Black Panther Party. The politically charged performance of her single "Formation" was seen by some as a powerful statement on racial justice, while others criticized it as an inappropriate political message for the event.

Other notable controversial moments include Prince’s legendary 2007 performance in a torrential downpour, which was hailed as one of the greatest ever despite the weather, and the initial backlash to the selection of artists like Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in 2020, which was later overshadowed by their spectacular performance.