Burna Boy Set to Electrify NFL Paris Halftime Show in 2026

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy is set to headline the highly anticipated halftime show at the 2026 NFL Paris Game, marking a significant moment for both the artist and the NFL's global expansion efforts. The historic game, featuring the New Orleans Saints facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, will take place on Sunday, October 25, at the iconic Stade de France in Paris.

Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, is renowned for his unique blend of reggae and dancehall with Afro-fusion melodies, making him a fitting choice for a prime-time international event. His impressive career includes landing nine tracks on the Billboard Hot 100, notably “Dai Dai,” his collaboration with Shakira for the FIFA World Cup 2026. This track not only topped Billboard’s Global Charts but also recently surpassed one billion views on YouTube. In 2021, he further solidified his global standing by winning a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album with his acclaimed work, “Twice As Tall.”

France, and specifically Stade de France, holds a deep personal and professional significance for Burna Boy, being his third most popular market for streams globally, behind only the United States and the United Kingdom. He previously made history on April 18, 2025, by becoming the first African artist to headline a solo concert at the venue, performing to a sold-out audience of over 80,000 fans. Reflecting on this return, Burna Boy stated, “Paris gave me one of the biggest nights of my career, and to walk back into Stade de France for a moment like this means everything. The NFL is bringing something to France that has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it representing African music and I intend to give the people a show they will not forget.”

The NFL's decision to bring its regular-season game to Paris is part of a broader, aggressive global expansion strategy, with a record nine international games planned for the upcoming season. Paris joins Melbourne, Australia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as one of three cities hosting its first regular-season game. Tim Tubito, senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment at the NFL, emphasized the importance of the halftime choice: “The first NFL game in France deserves a halftime moment that matches the occasion, and there is no artist better suited to it than Burna Boy. Paris is one of the great cultural capitals of the world, and African music sits right at the heart of what the city listens to. Burna Boy has already made history in this stadium, and bringing him back to perform in front of a global audience gives us the chance to create something genuinely memorable.”

The 2026 NFL Paris Game is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, with kick-off at 9:30 a.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CEST). French audiences can watch the game live on France Télévisions and beIN Sports, with L’Équipe providing a broadcast later the same evening.