American rapper Jay-Z is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February 2027, marking his first performance at the NFL’s championship event.
The National Football League (NFL) announced the news, confirming that the hip hop star will take centre stage at Super Bowl LXI, scheduled for February 14 near Los Angeles.
Jay-Z’s entertainment company, Roc Nation, has been responsible for producing the halftime show since 2019. Although the rapper has played an influential role in selecting performers for the annual spectacle, he has never previously appeared on the stage himself.
Reacting to the announcement, the NFL said attention would now turn to the possibility of special guest appearances during the show.
“Anticipation as to who Jay-Z might have guest star at halftime for the big game will now kick off,” the league stated, adding that his wife, Beyoncé, would naturally be among the names fans might expect.
Jay-Z’s appearance will place him among a list of major stars who have performed during recent Super Bowl halftime shows, including Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna and The Weeknd.
The halftime performance is one of the event’s biggest attractions, drawing international attention alongside the championship game, which attracts tens of millions of viewers across the United States.
Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the 2025 Super Bowl set a record as the most-watched halftime show in the event’s history. It also earned an Emmy Award for outstanding music direction.
The announcement followed two performances by Jay-Z in Los Angeles last weekend at the stadium scheduled to host the upcoming Super Bowl. The shows formed part of celebrations marking 30 years since the release of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt.
Reflecting on the milestone, the rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, described the opportunity as a significant moment in his musical journey.
“From ‘Reasonable Doubt’ to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z said.
“Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world’s biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also welcomed the announcement, expressing enthusiasm about what the rapper would bring to the global event.
“I couldn’t be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring,” Goodell said.
He added that when the NFL first partnered with Roc Nation to produce the halftime show, he had hoped Jay-Z would eventually perform, whenever he felt the time was right.
“When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that Jay-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him,” Goodell said.
Jay-Z has built an extensive career in music and entertainment, earning 25 Grammy Awards and becoming the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar.