Watch the Superbowl Halftime Show On the LNC Network
Bad Bunny is making history tonight as the first predominantly Spanish-language artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show—and the NFL is betting big on Latino culture to drive its next decade of growth. Super Bowl LX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, with the New England Patriots facing the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch 11 years in the making.
The Puerto Rican reggaeton star’s selection wasn’t just about streaming numbers (though being the most-streamed artist globally doesn’t hurt). It’s a calculated play by the league to capture what NFL Senior VP Marissa Solis bluntly stated in 2024: growth “is mathematically impossible without Latinos.” With 39 million Latino fans in the U.S., the NFL’s “Por La Cultura” campaign has been laying groundwork since 2021—tonight is the payoff.
Where to Watch the Super Bowl and Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show for Free
NBC holds broadcast rights, with Peacock serving as the official streaming home. Telemundo provides Spanish-language coverage—a fitting touch for tonight’s cultural milestone. Here’s your playbook for free access:
- Peacock: The $10.99/month Premium plan streams the game live. Walmart+ subscribers get ad-supported Peacock free as a membership perk.
- NBC Over-the-Air: Old-school antenna access costs nothing and delivers the full broadcast.
- Free Trials: YouTube TV, DirecTV (5-day trial), and Hulu + Live TV all carry NBC and offer trial periods for new subscribers.
- UK Viewers: Channel 5 streams the game free on its website and app.
- International Access: VPN services like NordVPN can unlock regional streams if you’re traveling.
Game time is 6:30 p.m. ET, with Green Day kicking off pre-game festivities at 6 p.m. Bad Bunny’s halftime performance is expected between 8:00-8:30 p.m. ET, right after the second quarter wraps.
Why Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Performance Matters Beyond Music
The backlash was predictable. Conservative commentators erupted when Bad Bunny was announced in September 2025, with some calling him an “anti-ICE activist” and questioning whether Americans would tolerate a Spanish-dominant performance. Speaker Mike Johnson suggested Lee Greenwood as an alternative. Turning Point USA organized counterprogramming featuring Kid Rock.
Bad Bunny’s response? He told critics during his Saturday Night Live appearance they had “four months to learn” Spanish. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dismissed the controversy as typical noise, stating the selection was “carefully thought through” to appeal to global audiences. Jay-Z called the opposition astroturfing, noting: “They love him.”
The numbers back the NFL’s bet. Bad Bunny previously appeared at Super Bowl LIV alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, so he’s not a stranger to the stage. His Grammy-winning album “DtMF” dominated 2025 streaming charts. More importantly, his music carries cultural weight—from “El Apagón” denouncing Hurricane Maria’s aftermath in Puerto Rico to “VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR” celebrating reggaeton’s perreo dance as cultural resistance.
What to Expect From Tonight’s Halftime Show
Bad Bunny kept setlist details close, but expect hits like “DtMF,” “MÍA” (featuring Drake), and likely “El Apagón” given the song’s political resonance. The 12-15 minute performance will blend reggaeton rhythms with stadium-scale production. Apple Music is sponsoring the halftime show following its multi-year NFL partnership.
Pre-game performances include Charlie Puth on the National Anthem, Brandi Carlile singing “America the Beautiful,” and Coco Jones performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Green Day’s 6 p.m. ET pre-game set warms up the crowd before kickoff.
Patriots vs Seahawks: The Game Itself
Beyond Bad Bunny, there’s actual football happening. New England and Seattle last met in the Super Bowl in 2015, when Tom Brady led the Patriots to victory. Tonight’s rematch pits AFC champion New England against NFC champion Seattle at the 49ers’ home stadium.
Most experts predict a close game—six of eight NFL analysts favor one team (we’re avoiding spoilers here), though nearly all expect a one-score finish. MVP predictions are split between two players, suggesting the outcome could hinge on individual performances.
The Streaming Landscape Reality Check
NBC’s Peacock exclusivity highlights streaming’s fragmentation problem. The NFL has carved up broadcast rights across multiple platforms—Amazon Prime Video owns Thursday Night Football, ESPN+ carries select games, NFL+ offers mobile streaming, and traditional networks still hold Sunday and Monday slots. Viewers increasingly need subscriptions to multiple services just to follow one team through a season.
Tonight’s free trial strategy is the workaround cord-cutters have mastered: sign up for YouTube TV or DirecTV’s trial, watch the game, cancel before charges hit. It’s not sustainable for platforms banking on subscription conversion, but for a one-night event like the Super Bowl, free trials remain the savviest play.
Peacock’s Premium tier at $10.99 monthly is positioned as “affordable” streaming, but that’s before stacking Netflix, Disney+, Max, and sports-specific platforms many households now juggle. The Super Bowl remains one of the last true monoculture TV events—over 100 million viewers are expected—making it a rare moment when free, over-the-air antenna access still beats streaming convenience.
Bottom Line
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show represents more than a musical performance—it’s the NFL acknowledging that American culture has shifted, and the league needs to shift with it or risk irrelevance. Whether conservative critics like it or not, Latino audiences are now essential to sports business models, and Bad Bunny’s 15 minutes at Levi’s Stadium tonight codifies that reality on the biggest stage in American sports.
Stream it on Peacock, watch via NBC antenna, or grab a free trial. Just don’t miss the moment when the most-streamed artist in the world performs primarily in Spanish for 100 million people—and the NFL bets its future growth on that being exactly what America wants to see.