Jay-Z to headline Super Bowl LXI halftime show at SoFi Stadium in 2027

Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl halftime show at SoFi Stadium in Southern California, The Associated Press (AP) reported. ESPN and Reuters said the announcement came on Monday and that the show will take place in February 2027. According to ESPN, the show is part of Super Bowl LXI.

ESPN and AP also report that Jay-Z has previously helped produce the halftime show through his company's work with the league.

What is reported

According to ESPN, the NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced the selection on Monday night. Reuters reported that the NFL made the announcement. ESPN said the game and show are scheduled for 14 February 2027 in Inglewood, California. According to ESPN, the game will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC and streamed on Disney+.

ESPN reported that Roc Nation will executive produce the show, with Hamish Hamilton directing. According to ESPN, Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, founded Roc Nation in 2008. ESPN said the company has partnered with the NFL since August 2019 as the league's "live music entertainment strategist" and has helped produce the halftime show since Super Bowl LIV in 2020.

ESPN said Jay-Z recently performed at SoFi Stadium during a 30th-anniversary celebration of his 1996 debut album "Reasonable Doubt." The run included three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium and sold-out shows in London and Paris, ESPN reported. It also said he has won 25 Grammy Awards from 89 nominations. That is the second-most nominations in history, behind Beyoncé.

Bad Bunny's halftime show last season averaged 128.2 million viewers, according to ESPN. That ranks fourth, behind Kendrick Lamar (2025), Michael Jackson (1993) and Usher (2024). ESPN said Bad Bunny's performance won a record seven Emmys.

What each side says

In a statement quoted by ESPN, Jay-Z said: "From 'Reasonable Doubt' to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey. Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true."

According to ESPN, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he had one request when the league first reached its agreement with Roc Nation. He asked that Jay-Z take the stage himself "whenever the moment felt right to him."

Jay-Z had taken a different position in 2019. ESPN reported that, at the time of the partnership, Jay-Z said he had told Goodell: "If this is about me performing at the Super Bowl, then we can just end this conversation now."

What is not yet known

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe guest performers, a set list or other show details. They do not include financial or contractual terms. They do not include the full official announcement. The NFL post quoted by ESPN does not name Jay-Z in its text. The reports do not explain why Jay-Z changed his 2019 stance, beyond his statement and Goodell's account. The 14 February date and the production details come only from ESPN, which is also the game's broadcaster. The Reuters and AP reports reviewed consist only of headlines and summaries.

Analysis

The selection links the halftime show's long-time producer with its headliner. This may raise questions about how the NFL and Roc Nation separate those roles. The reports reviewed do not address that question. Viewership will likely be compared with recent records, but past audiences do not determine future ones. Several key details, including the exact date and production team, currently rest on ESPN alone, and ESPN is also the broadcaster. Fuller independent reporting, or the official announcement text, could confirm or refine these points. Details on guest performers and the set list are also still to come.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.