Bad Bunny’s Definition of America: Super Bowl LX Halftime

When Bad Bunny was chosen to head the 2026 Superbowl Halftime show, the decision was immediately catapulted into the chasm of United States political divides. The debate over Bad Bunny’s role raised a larger question: who gets to represent America on its largest stage, and in what language? Nonetheless, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance delivered, serving as a bold, unapologetic reminder that music can say what words cannot.

A common argument against Bad Bunny leading up to the show was that he is not “American” enough to be granted the Super Bowl stage. Interestingly, several critics didn’t scrutinize his musical qualifications but focused on his use of Spanish and his pride in his Puerto Rican heritage. These skeptics ignored his record-breaking music career and claimed that Bad Bunny didn’t reflect American culture, even though he was born and raised in a U.S. territory. Despite the politically charged climate, Bad Bunny avoided overtly partisan comments, instead using his songs and stage design to send a message of community and acceptance.

He began on a set designed as a sugarcane field, creating a background reminiscent of Puerto Rico’s past in agriculture. The scenery served as Bad Bunny’s reclamation of a part of Puerto Rican history traditionally tied to exploitation and slave labor. The power lines on the side of the sugarcane field represented another important aspect of Puerto Rico: the frequent and lengthy power outages. The stage was meticulously designed to portray Puerto Rico, transforming the stadium into a vivid recreation of the island. However, this expansive set was not without limitations. In some cases, the ambitiousness of the field, with its height and sprawl, took away from the dances, crowding the floor and overshadowing the choreography. 

After opening with “Tití Mi Preguntó,” Bad Bunny shifted into the song “Yo Perreo Sola” as a group of all-women dancers performed, underscoring the lyrics’ focus on female independence and safety. While he sang on top of “La Casita,” a replica of a Puerto Rican-style house, various celebrities danced below, including Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, and Cardi B. The music then transitioned into the violin-based opening of “MONACO,” over which Bad Bunny introduced himself with his full name, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. 

The camera then panned to a couple getting married on stage, catching them just as they were pronounced husband and wife. As they walked away, Lady Gaga stood applauding behind them as she launched into a salsa-inspired version of “Die With a Smile.” As the song continued, the newly-married couple enjoyed their wedding reception, cutting their cake and joining in the dances themselves. The communal nature of the scene immersed the audience in the moment, making them feel as though they were part of the celebration.

The show continued with Bad Bunny falling off the side of a building and into the hands of his dancers while his song “NUEVAYoL” played. The new set included accurate recreations of intimate establishments in New York City, from a market in Harlem to a social club in Williamsburg. 

Ricky Martín, another Puerto Rican singer, then made an appearance to give an emotional rendition of Bad Bunny’s song “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii.” The song warns of the consequences that come with overdevelopment, using the gentrification of Hawaii as an example. 

To conclude, Bad Bunny transitioned into “CAFé CON RON,” an upbeat, energetic song that had the dancers bouncing and jumping across the stage. As the track progressed, flags of North American and South American countries were run across the stage. For his final words, he declared “God bless America,” before listing almost every country in the Americas, loosening the phrase from its narrow borders and returning it to the many nations of the continent. He closed his performance with the chorus of “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” hugging one of his background dancers as fireworks exploded across the stadium. Behind him, the stadium screens read, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”

The Super Bowl is among the most-watched events in the U.S., but it rarely gets widespread international attention. However, this year’s halftime show drew viewers from across the world, with the NFL reporting that more than half of its audience came from international markets. This year's show garnered over 125 million viewers, ranking in the top five most-watched in Super Bowl history. Additionally, Telemundo, a Spanish broadcaster, reported 4.8 million views at its peak, which was during the halftime show. 

A strength of the show was that Bad Bunny made a point to highlight Puerto Rican artists throughout it. In “NUEVAYoL,” he features a sample of the song “Un Verano en Nueva York,” written and performed by another Puerto Rican group. During a set change, he included a clip of the chorus from the hit song “Gasolina” from an older Puerto Rican artist, Daddy Yankee, who helped bring reggaeton to a global stage. Incorporating these artists, especially alongside Ricky Martín joining live, showcased the global reach of Puerto Rican music, a testament to the tenacity of a small island. However, this made the choice of Lady Gaga as a guest feel rather out of place among the rest of the artists. While she did modify her song to have salsa influences, her appearance ultimately distracted from the celebration of Puerto Rican success.

The central theme that Bad Bunny focused on was love. At one point in the show, a boy, meant to represent a younger version of Bad Bunny, watched in awe as the singer walked up and handed a Grammy over to the boy himself. The moment was well-executed, but convoluted in a show flush with nods to Bad Bunny’s past. By contrast, the inclusion of a genuine wedding was a powerfully symbolic decision, placing community at the forefront of his performance in a time when it feels increasingly rare.

The 2026 halftime show exemplified the saying “music is a universal language.” Through synchronized dancing, lively songs, and successful variation, Bad Bunny created a performance that anyone, no matter their background, could watch and enjoy. Although the show was overly ambitious in some places, it was meaningful and exhilarating throughout. Every move at the halftime show felt as though it would be dissected for political meaning, yet the most political statement Bad Bunny made was one of love, for his home and for the world in general. From the real marriage to the closing words, Bad Bunny delivered a message of unity, one that is needed now more than ever.