The decision for Bad Bunny to head the Super Bowl halftime show this year was one met with strong opinions coming from all angles, but after his press conference, one thing is clear: he’s here to have a good time and take the stadium vibes to a new level on the biggest stage.
Editor’s Note: This article was written by PFSN Special Contributor Marisa Vattana and edited by PFSN Managing Editor Kyle Soppe
Bad Bunny’s Mindset Heading Into Super Bowl Weekend
As an artist who is less than a week removed from doubling his Grammy count to six, becoming the first with a primarily Spanish language album to win Album Of The Year, you’d expect Benito Ocasio to walk into Levi’s Stadium with the world in his palm and his confidence at an all-time high.
Some of that is true, but the man they call Bad Bunny is making his second Super Bowl appearance (he was a special guest with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira in 2020) with plenty of nerves as he prepares to share his talents with the masses in a way that is new to the global icon.
“I was thinking about it [the show] last night, and I couldn’t sleep,” Bad Bunny said at a crowded press conference. “I want to think that it’s just 13 minutes doing something that I love. I know I’m going to have fun … just trying not to [think about] the pressure of the moment.”
He’s not new to the Super Bowl stage, however; he was on stage six years ago when Jennifer Lopez and Shakira led the way, but he knows that moving into centerstage is a completely different experience because it’s going to be his own creation.
This is the line for the Bad Bunny press conference. I’ve been a journalist since 1983. I’ve never stood in line to get into a press conference pic.twitter.com/tiBsnDr65U
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) February 5, 2026
Most of the nerves come from how much this opportunity means to him. Performing at the biggest game of the biggest sport in this country is naturally a pressure point, but it’s the pride he takes in sharing his culture with the world that had him lighting up more than anything as he met with the media on Thursday morning.
“The people who have always believed in me, this moment, the culture. That’s what makes this show my biggest pleasure.”
In 2022, Bad Bunny launched a $500,000 campaign with Cheetos, awarding twenty $25,000 grants to individuals advancing Hispanic communities via art, education, or social projects. He’s also the top artist right now in China, not bad for a 31-year-old who is still finding his form as a force in the social landscape (rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, producer, and, when pressed into duty, a professional wrestler).
Bad Bunny Brings Puerto Rican Pride and Party Energy to Super Bowl Halftime
Performing at the big game is clearly a bucket list type of opportunity for him, even if playing at this level was never really in the cards.
“I’m not good at sports … but I do love sports…Puerto Rico has a huge sports culture – baseball, boxing, basketball … I love sports … actually it’s one of my favorite combinations, sports with music is … something I feel passion about that.”
READ MORE: Conservatives Call for Boycott of Super Bowl 60 Over Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show: ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’
When pressed to spill the beans about who might be sharing a stage at the intermission of Patriots-Seahawks, he laughed but refused to share, but he did say that his special guests at the show will be his friends and family, so read into that what you will when trying to forecast who will join him at midfield.
The Super Bowl carries real weight for fans. Whether your team is chasing a title or you’re staring down a long NFL offseason, the stakes feel personal. Halftime is going to be a reprieve from that.
Bad Bunny is going to perform at a high level. He’s going to do what makes him happy because he wants to spotlight his Puerto Rican culture and pride while making it a party on stage. That’s the passion. That’s what has made him a breakout star, and that is exactly what you’re going to feel at halftime.
“It really doesn’t matter if you know Spanish or not, I just want you to dance and have a good time … it’s going to be a party!”
