Bad Bunnyguaranteed one thing about his Super Bowl performance: the rhythm is gonna get you.
Theglobal music titandelivered on his promise during his 13-minute halftime spectacle Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, commanding the stage with swagger and unapologetic authenticity.
But Bad Bunny also pulled a few other tricks out of his metaphorical hat for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.
Welcoming Lady Gaga for a salsa-fied version of "Die with a Smile" was perhaps the most surprising guest Bad Bunny could have enlisted as they danced feverishly and injected the performance with a feeling of family and fun.
Her lively appearance followed an energetic musical mélange – reggaeton, bomba, hip-hop and pop – as Bad Bunny worked his way through a backdrop of sugar cane, taco and jewelry stands with "Tití Me Preguntó."
The party continued with "Yo Perreo Solo" and a ribald verse from "Safaera." Standing atop a pink house (fans will recognize "La Casita" from his previous concerts) in his cream suit emblazoned with "Ocasio 64," Bad Bunny danced across the roof before crashing down through the ceiling, kicking the door open and joining his dancers for a nod to his mentor Daddy Yankee with "Gasolina."
His other high-profile singing guest, fellow Puerto Rican Ricky Martin, sang a verse of "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii," while Cardi B – a singing friend on their hit "I Like It," which made her appearance but not contribution a bit odd – and actorPedro Pascaljoined a swarm of dancers.
Bad Bunny's invigorating performance, which, as expected, was performed entirely in Spanish, was filled with cultural references, numerous moving parts and even one of his new Grammys handed to a little boy.
He packed 14 songs into his set, including fan favorites "Nuevayol" and "EoO," while navigating power lines, set pieces and phalanxes of dancers.
"God Bless America!" Bad Bunny yelled, followed by his namechecking other countries as a multitude of flags from around the world followed him through the field for the closing "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos."
More:Bad Bunny Super Bowl setlist – Every song from his halftime show
Fresh off a historic win at the Grammys, Bad Bunny headlines the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Feb. 8, 2026. See the photos." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Bad Bunny headlines the Super Bowl 60 halftime show – Photos
Fresh off a historic win at the Grammys,Bad Bunnyheadlines the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Feb. 8, 2026. See the photos.
Bad Bunny wanted Super Bowl viewers to 'only worry about dancing'
Prior tohis vigorous performance, the Puerto Rican superstar born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio had a message for critics quick to dismiss his music performed primarily in his native language.
"People only have to worry about dancing. They don't even have to learn Spanish," he said at aSuper Bowl 60 press conferencelast week. "Better they learn to dance. There is no better dance than the one that comes from the heart."
The selection of Bad Bunny, 31, as the halftime headliner – one of the most enviable platforms for a career boost –ignited a firestorm of controversyas he became a symbol of the nation's culture wars.
Everything from his music – which landed him three more Grammy Awards last week,including a history-making album of the yearwin for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" – to hisbold fashion choiceshave been dissected since his appointment was announced in September.
Much of the criticism lobbed at Bad Bunny stemmed from PresidentDonald Trumpand his followers, who took exception to the "King of Latin Trap" singing almost exclusively in Spanish.
Bad Bunny, a fierce protector of his Puerto Rican heritage, has been vocal withcriticism about Trump, starting with the administration's delayed relief efforts following Hurricane Maria in 2017, which devastated parts of the U.S. territory.
Bad Bunny also took exception to a comedian at a Trump election rally referring to his homeland as "a floating island of garbage" in 2024, leading the musician to endorse Kamala Harris.
Who is Bad Bunny?
But Bad Bunny, his nickname borne of a childhood photo wearing a bunny costume, achieved his massive stardom by retaining his artistry and always spotlighting his roots. It's a career path that has netted him 113 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 – both with artists such as Drake, Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez and solo – as well as accolades includingSpotify's Global Top Artistfor four years this decade,six Grammysand 17 Latin Grammys.
Bad Bunny's career continued its stratospheric trajectory when "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" was released in January 2025. The album sold nearly 48,000 copies on vinyl its first week, making it the single-largest vinyl sales week for a Latin album since 1991,according to Billboard."Debí Tirar Más Fotos," which focuses on traditional Puerto Rican music styles including plena and bomba, stayed at No. 1 for four weeks while singles "DTMF" and "Baile Inolvidable" launched into the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Bad Bunny accepts the album of the year award for "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" onstage during the 68th Grammy Awards on Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny poses with the album of the year, best música urbana album and best global music performance awards during the 68th Grammy Awards." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny performs onstage during the first show of his 30-date (which ended up being 31 in total) concert residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 11, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny thanked his fans for "letting me sing in my home in front of my friends, my family and my people" on what was the final night of his residency in September 2025. "Thank you for that," he said. "I love you, thank you for being a part of this."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
On top of his Puerto Rico residency, Bad Bunny was also juggling life as a Hollywood actor attending the premiere of "Caught Stealing" on Aug. 26, 2025, in New York City. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny starred alongside Austin Butler in the movie. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Earlier in summer 2025, Bad Bunny was spotted at Netflix's "Happy Gilmore 2" premiere on July 21, 2025, in New York City, which he starred alongside Adam Sandler." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny at the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025. Bad Bunny gave a playful Puerto Rican twist to the Black dandy theme with a crisp espresso brown suit. He paired the custom-made Prada ensemble with a brimmed hat resembling a pava, a traditional straw hat made from leaves of the Puerto Rican hat palm." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny onstage at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 17, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny onstage at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 17, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny onstage at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 17, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
In February 2025, Bad Bunny attended "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" in New York City. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny performs during his Most Wanted Tour at the Kaseya Center in Miami on May 24, 2024. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny attends the Dior Homme Menswear spring/summer 2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2024. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny performs at the Crypto.com Arena during his Most Wanted tour in Los Angeles, March 13, 2024." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Cardi B, Chencho Corleone, Ivy Queen and reggaeton duo Jowell y Randy." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
declaring Oct. 1 as the official Bad Bunny Day." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
two new wax figures at Orlando and New York's Madame Tussauds on April 19, 2022. The figure at Madame Tussauds New York is wearing the iconic all-silver look from the Grammy-winner's 2020 Super Bowl performance alongside Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and J Balvin, complete with the same silver jacket he wore. The wax figure in Orlando is wearing an outfit originally from his WWE Royal Rumble performance and is featured in his "Booker T" music video. For the figure, Bad Bunny donated his trenchcoat, vest, trousers, and pants." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny is set to portray the title role in "El Muerto," making history as Marvel's first Latino lead in a live-action film. He calls the film the "perfect role" for him.Before suiting up as the super-powered wrestler, the Puerto Rican rapper will make his big-screen acting debut in the neon-drenched "Bullet Train" (in theaters July 29), doing battle with Brad Pitt." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
April 2021 at WWE's WrestleMania 37. In this photo, taken Jan. 29, 2022, Bad Bunny jumped into the ring again during the Royal Rumble match at The Dome at America's Center." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
22nd Latin Grammy Awards. That night he took home the award for best rap/hip hop song for "Booker T" and best urban music album for "El Último Tour del Mundo."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Bad Bunny makes history at the Super Bowl. The Puerto Rican star's career in photos.
Bad Bunny accepts the album of the year award for "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" onstage during the 68th Grammy Awards on Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles
Given his sustained success, Bad Bunny has no reason to shift his approach to creating music.
As hetold Spin in 2021, "I'm pleased that we are in a time where I don't need to change anything about myself – not my musical style, not my language, not my culture – to go far. That doesn't mean I'll never sing in English. I already sang in Japanese, so maybe one day I'll sing in English. It feels great to do things my way."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Bad Bunny drops swagger on Super Bowl halftime performance
