Imagine being one of the biggest names in music, with millions of fans worldwide, and being asked to perform at the pinnacle of sporting events—the Super Bowl halftime show. It’s a dream gig, right? But here’s where it gets controversial: Bad Bunny, the global sensation who just made history at the 2026 Grammy Awards, won’t be paid a dime for his 2026 NFL Super Bowl halftime performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Yes, you read that right—no paycheck for one of the most high-profile gigs in entertainment.
For most artists, headlining the Super Bowl halftime show is a career-defining moment, a chance to perform in front of hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. Yet, despite its prestige, the NFL has a long-standing policy of not paying performers. Instead, the league covers the massive production costs, which can exceed $21 million, but the artists themselves walk away without a performance fee.
And this is the part most people miss: The NFL argues that the exposure from the broadcast—which drew over 127 million viewers in 2025—is compensation enough. As an NFL spokesperson told Forbes in 2016, “We do not pay the artists.” This policy has remained unchanged, even when global icons like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Usher took the stage.
While artists don’t receive appearance fees, they are reportedly paid a minimal rate for their time, including rehearsals. For Usher, this reportedly amounted to just a few thousand dollars. So, is the exposure really worth it? For Bad Bunny, whose career is at an all-time high after winning Album of the Year at the Grammys for Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, the Super Bowl performance is another milestone in a year of triumphs.
But let’s pause for a moment: Is it fair for artists to trade their talent for exposure alone? The debate has raged for years, with some arguing that the NFL profits immensely from these performances while artists bear the creative and physical burden. Others counter that the global visibility is priceless, opening doors to sold-out tours and skyrocketing streaming numbers.
Speaking of tours, after the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny will kick off a global tour, with confirmed dates in Sydney and Melbourne. Interestingly, this comes after he avoided touring the U.S. due to concerns about immigration enforcement, opting instead for an extended residency in his home base of Puerto Rico.
Looking back at the last decade of halftime performances, the lineup reads like a who’s who of music royalty:
- 2026: Bad Bunny
- 2025: Kendrick Lamar
- 2024: Usher
- 2023: Rihanna
- 2022: Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, and Anderson .Paak
- 2021: The Weeknd
- 2020: Shakira and J.Lo
- 2019: Maroon 5 featuring Big Boi and Travis Scott
- 2018: Justin Timberlake
- 2017: Lady Gaga
- 2016: Coldplay featuring Beyoncé and Bruno Mars
Each of these artists brought their unique flair to the stage, but none were paid for their performance. So, here’s the question: Should the NFL rethink its policy and start compensating artists for their halftime performances, or is the exposure truly enough? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s far from over.
