Bad Bunny's Historic Super Bowl Performance Celebrates Puerto Rico and Latin America
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show was a heartfelt tribute to his native Puerto Rico, highlighting pride in his homeland and the broader Americas, while promoting unity with the United States.
The 14-minute performance featured guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, alongside cameos by Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba. These celebrities appeared dancing on the porch of Bad Bunny's iconic casita, a recurring element in his shows designed to resemble a traditional Puerto Rican home.
The 31-year-old artist, recognized as the world's most-played musician in 2025 by Spotify, made history as the first performer to deliver an entire Super Bowl halftime show in Spanish, an event traditionally attracting the largest US television audience.
He did include one English phrase, saying
"God bless America"before naming countries from Central, South, and North America while dancers carried their respective flags.
Behind the performers, a billboard displayed the message
"The only thing more powerful than hate is love". At the conclusion of the segment, Bad Bunny held a football bearing the English slogan:
"Together, We Are America."
Trump's Criticism and Alternative Event
Despite the absence of explicit political commentary against the current US administration during his performance, Bad Bunny faced criticism from former US President Donald Trump. Trump, who did not attend the Super Bowl, condemned the show on his social media platform Truth Social, calling it
"absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!"
Trump further described the performance as
"an affront to the Greatness of America"and claimed
"nobody understands a word this guy is saying".
In response, an alternative event titled the All-American Halftime Show was organized by Turning Point USA, headlined by Trump-supporting singer Kid Rock.
Performance Details and Cultural Significance
Bad Bunny's set at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, marked his first US performance since releasing his Grammy Award-winning album Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos) in 2025.
Puerto Rico, a self-governing US territory, was central to the show’s theme. The performance began with Bad Bunny emerging from a sugarcane field and featured set pieces evoking the sights and sounds of his homeland.
His journey through a Latin American landscape included representations of a nail salon and a bar, as he performed a medley of his biggest hits such as "Tití Me Preguntó," "MONACO," and "BAILE INoLVIDABLE."
Family was a prominent motif, illustrated by a young couple marrying amid a crowd of Latino dancers and a symbolic moment where Bad Bunny handed his Grammy award to a small child while his 2026 acceptance speech played on a small television screen.
Climbing an electricity pylon—symbolic of the infrastructure damaged during the devastating 2017 Hurricane Maria—Bad Bunny rapped while paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the storm.
His outfit further conveyed a message; he wore a beige sweater with the number 64, possibly referencing the official death toll, which was widely considered an underestimation compared to the thousands estimated to have died.
At the time of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricans criticized President Trump's administration for inadequate federal support compared to responses to mainland hurricanes.
Political Context and Previous Statements
Notably, Bad Bunny refrained from direct criticism of President Trump during the Super Bowl, which some found surprising given his recent Grammy Awards speeches where he spoke out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
After winning Best Música Urbana Album at the Grammys, he called for
"ICE out".
In 2025, he chose not to bring his world tour to the US mainland, citing concerns that his fans might be targeted by ICE officers. He explained to i-D magazine that there were
"many reasons"for not performing in the US at that time,
"none of them were out of hate."
Tour Elements and Celebrity Appearances
Elements from Bad Bunny's international tour, which has visited Central and South America and is scheduled to continue to Australia, Japan, and Europe, were incorporated into the Super Bowl performance.
This included his casita, which has gained viral attention on social media for hosting celebrity guests.
Among the guests on stage were Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, and Cardi B, who danced and enjoyed the show.
Despite some initial sound difficulties, Bad Bunny focused on hits from his latest album, with songs like "EoO" and "DtMF" standing out as highlights.
Having previously appeared as a guest with Shakira at the 2020 Super Bowl, Bad Bunny took the main stage with confidence, moving energetically across the platform while delivering strong vocals.
Guest Performances and Closing Moments
Lady Gaga contributed a salsa-inspired rendition of her Bruno Mars collaboration "Die With A Smile," adding a vibrant touch to the show.
Fellow Puerto Rican pop icon Ricky Martin performed "Lo Que Le Pasó A Hawaii," a song cautioning Puerto Ricans against cultural erasure.
Bad Bunny concluded his performance by shouting
"God Bless America"and naming multiple countries and territories, including Puerto Rico and the United States, whose flags were carried side-by-side behind him.
Celebration of Latin Culture on the Global Stage
Sunday's halftime show showcased the richness of Latin culture on one of the world's largest sporting stages, blending music, dance, and cultural symbolism to deliver a powerful and historic performance.
