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Super Bowl 2026: Bad Bunny's 13-Minute Halftime Show Turned Into a Unifying Party Across the Americas

· 5 min read
Super Bowl 2026: Bad Bunny's 13-Minute Halftime Show Turned Into a Unifying Party Across the Americas
Benito bowl Bad Bunny super bowl

En español

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio's Super Bowl halftime show began with a shot of the back of his jacket, which read "Ocasio 64," a tribute to his mother. It ended with a football bearing the words "Together We Are America." Bad Bunny was only scheduled to perform for 13 minutes during the Super Bowl, but he chose to unite the entire American continent.

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Just as the first take was personal, the last was for the public and very political. "We are all Americans," the Rabbit seemed to say, taking almost a minute to recite the names of all the countries of the American continent, from Canada to Argentina, including the English-speaking Caribbean islands. Behind him followed dancers with all the flags. They invited him, but he took us all.

While cameramen struggled to capture the production, which according to official Roc Nation figures cost $50 million, the electronic banners at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, outside of San Francisco, displayed the lyrics of the songs in Spanish and closed with the message that the Puerto Rican artist had said at the Grammys: "The only thing stronger than hate is love."

However, it wasn't all partying or "flavor, drums, and reggaeton." Bad Bunny brought out Ricky Martin to sing "Lo que le pasó a Hawaii," a song against colonialism and gentrification.

He used light poles as part of the set design, demonstrating that he hasn't forgotten the energy crisis in Puerto Rico, which worsened after Hurricane Maria in 2017. It was one of those things where "those who understood, understood."

@pagesix

Ricky Martin took the stage during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show, joining the fiesta with a special performance that lit up Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. ✨

♬ original sound - Page Six

The segment with the flags was also a clear message to those who think that America is only the United States and its kind of graphic representation of the saying "in unity there is strength".

But it wasn't all politics.

Puerto Rican pride

@pagesix

Bad Bunny kicked off his Super Bowl halftime performance transforming the culture, energy and hits to the Levi’s Stadium stage. ✨

♬ original sound - Page Six

True to his message since the beginning of his career, Bad Bunny shared his love for Puerto Rico, its culture (which he shares with all Caribbean countries and others in Latin America), its music and its customs.

In their presentation we saw sugarcane cutters, manicurists, boxers, jewelers buying gold, men playing dominoes, dancing, ladies chatting, children sleeping in chairs during a party, and speaking of parties, a celebration of a beautiful wedding where everyone danced with everyone, where dancers from all over Latin America were seen.

One of the biggest surprises of the show was Lady Gaga's appearance, singing "Die with a Smile" in a salsa version—the only concession to English, which the audience undoubtedly dominated. Bad Bunny has said in the past that Lady Gaga's music saved his life, and it must have been a dream of his to sing with her, especially on that stage. However, even Gaga represented Puerto Ricans. That huge hit for the Mother Monster was with Bruno Mars, the son of a Puerto Rican.

Before Lady Gaga started singing, a wedding was shown, which took place in real life, what a detail.

It wasn't just Puerto Ricans from the island who were represented. When NUEVAYoL started playing, Bad Bunny went to a street with a bodega and a bar, where he was served a drink by none other than the iconic Toñita, owner of a social club for Latinos in the Big Apple, where the song's official video was filmed.

Salsa, Bolero and Reggaeton

Benito had dozens of celebrities supporting him in the stands and on stage. Among those present at the recreation of his now-famous little house were Karol G, Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Alix Earle, Pedro Pascal, and Young Miko.

The setlist didn't disappoint, although she did avoid singing the most vulgar lyrics from some of her risqué songs, such as "Titi Me Preguntó" and "Yo Perreo Sola." Samples of "Dale Don Dale" by Don Omar and "Gasolina " by Daddy Yankee were heard.

He presented his Grammy to a little boy and then broke the fourth wall to say, "Good afternoon, Californians. My name is Benito, and if I'm here at the Super Bowl today, it's because I never stopped believing in myself. Your kid, never stop believing in yourself."

@jaqualanjones2000

WORST SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW #superbowl2026 #superbowl60 #nfl #superbowlhalftimeshow

♬ New Sun - Chihei Hatakeyama

Opinions about the performance are divided between Anglo Americans and many Latin Americans. Those who have no doubts about what Bad Bunny did today at the Super Bowl are undocumented immigrants and those of us who slept in those kids' seats, danced and twerked at parties, knew we should have taken more pictures with our loved ones, and said that America is the entire continent.

Two phrases from the songs El Conejo sang that perfectly sum it all up:

"Como Bad Bunny va a ser el rey del pop, con reggaetón y dembow" "Bad Bunny is going to be the king of pop, with reggaeton and dembow"

"Ahora todos quieren ser latinos, pero les falta sazón, batería y reggaetón". "Now everyone wants to be Latino, but they lack flavor, rhythm, and reggaeton."

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Tags: Bad Bunny, Cardi B

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