When Bad Bunny steps onto the Super Bowl halftime stage in 2026, he will deliver one of the most high-profile performances of his career without earning a traditional performance fee.
The announcement surprised some fans, especially given the historic nature of his appearance, but the reason behind it has everything to do with how the NFL has always handled its biggest musical moment.
Bad Bunny Will Perform at the Super Bowl For Free
Despite months of preparation for the 12–15-minute set, Bad Bunny will not receive a paycheck for the performance. This isn’t a special case or a snub; it’s standard practice. The NFL does not pay halftime performers, no matter how big the artist or how historic the moment. That rule has applied to every major act that has taken the stage over the years.
Following the announcement, Bad Bunny spoke openly about what the opportunity meant to him. He said the moment went far beyond himself and described it as something he was doing for his people, his culture, and their history. He acknowledged those who came before him and paved the way, framing the performance as a cultural milestone rather than a business deal.
The NFL’s approach to the halftime show has remained consistent for decades. Instead of paying artists a performance fee, the league covers all production and travel expenses tied to the show. According to Reuters, those costs reached an estimated $13 million in 2020, reflecting the massive scale of staging, lighting, choreography, and technical production involved.
Artists do receive what is known as “union scale,” a minimum payment required under union contracts. Based on the most recent SAG-AFTRA agreement, that figure amounts to just over $1,000 per day; far below the six- or seven-figure sums artists like Bad Bunny typically earn for concerts and tours.
Has the NFL Ever Paid the Artists?
No artist has ever been paid a traditional fee for performing at the Super Bowl halftime show. The situation once nearly flipped entirely. In 2015, the NFL reportedly asked artists such as Rihanna, Coldplay, and Katy Perry to pay for the opportunity to perform during halftime.
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Those performers declined the proposal. While Katy Perry ultimately agreed to headline the show, she made it clear she refused to pay. She later explained that she didn’t want an asterisk attached to her name for the rest of her career and wanted to say she earned the Super Bowl stage based on her talent and merit alone.
For Bad Bunny, who has already made history with Grammy wins, record-breaking tours, and sold-out residencies, the Super Bowl halftime show gives him a global spotlight and cultural recognition that goes beyond money.
