DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Northerner.
Puerto Rican singer and rapper, Bad Bunny, performed at the Super Bowl 60 halftime show Sunday night. It was a proud display of culture, with richly detailed sets, energizing dances and guest celebrities; the show acted as a sweet display of unity.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known as Bad Bunny, recently won “Album of the Year” at the 2026 Grammy Awards on Feb. 1. In his acceptance speech, he called out ICE for their recent crackdown on immigrants in American cities.
“The hate gets more powerful with more hate,” he said. “The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”
Those last words were displayed on a billboard at the end of his halftime performance. As Bad Bunny led a crowd of people on the field, dancing and banging drums, he cited the names of North, South and Central American countries, every word punctuated by the wave of the countries’ flags held up by the dancers behind him.
This pride for Latin America was evident through every aspect of the show. From the beginning, Bad Bunny steps into a farm-like maze, Puerto Rican plants towering over him. As he sings in Spanish, he interacts with everyday people who dance around him. The set itself is a small representation of Puerto Rico; fit with a Spanish marketplace and barbershop, little motifs of the island are sprinkled throughout the performance.
Guest celebrities such as Cardi B, Pedro Pascal and Jessica Alba pop in for cameos. During a surprise family wedding scene, Lady Gaga appears dressed in the colors of Puerto Rico. She sings “Die with a Smile,” but with a Latin twist, live musicians accompanying her and the twirling dancers, young and old. This gave something for English speakers to understand. Weddings also symbolize joy and unity, so incorporating this into the show further added to the infectious energy of the performance.
Another surprise was Ricky Martin. Martin sang “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii” a song made by Bad Bunny himself. The album cover features two plastic chairs, which they recreated during Martin’s performance as he was sitting in one of them. In this song that Martin sings, it describes native Puerto Ricans being pushed out of their home; the same land they grew up in, worked in and the same land where generations before them lived and worked.
Before Martin’s section, a 5-year-old actor, Lincoln Fox, watches Bad Bunny’s Grammy acceptance speech on a small TV. With no music playing, Bad Bunny comes up to Fox, gifting him his Grammy award. Fox then looks at the camera and smiles. This was a heartwarming, symbolic moment, as if Bad Bunny was giving the award to his younger self.
Ella’s Opinion: Super Bowl performances are notorious for their gaudiness, with flashy lights and singers suspended in the air, but Bad Bunny transported the audience into the energizing, welcoming landscape of Puerto Rico in the middle of a football field. With everyday people and an everyday set, it felt like one big party, and we were all invited to join in. So much symbolism was interwoven into the show, and the pride and celebration for Latin America are definitely needed today.
Now I want to learn how to salsa dance.
Shared Opinion: Also, he is hot.
Jakob’s Opinion: Did I understand anything of what Bad Bunny said? No. But I didn’t care; it was a vibe, the energy was off the charts, you could just feel it. I don’t think people needed to fully understand what Bad Bunny was saying to enjoy the show at its core. The halftime show was amazing. The set design, the dancers, the choreography and the message were powerful statements.
The performance ranks among my favorites that the NFL has ever put on. Bad Bunny brought the energy right away; he makes you get up and dance. Knowing what he said in his opening statement gave me chills, as I was able to relate to his message. It was a great way to open his mini-concert.
“Mi nombre es Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, y si hoy estoy aquí en el Super Bowl 60, es porque nunca, nunca dejé de creer en mí. Tú también deberías de creer en ti. Vales más de lo que piensas. Confía en mí,” Bad Bunny said
This translates to, “My name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, and if I’m here today at Super Bowl 60, it’s because I never, ever stopped believing in myself. You should also believe in yourself. You’re worth more than you think. Trust me.”
The ending is what stuck with me the most, with Bad Bunny carrying a football that said “Together, We Are America,” while saying out the names of North, South and Central American countries felt like a moment of unity. The pride and ambition with which Bad Bunny performed was an amazing display of unity and the celebration of Puerto Rico’s culture, showing that we are all just one America and should be one.
The only downside to me was that it was hard to follow at some points, but isn’t that all halftime performances? As an English speaker who has only taken a few Spanish classes, this halftime show was enjoyable from start to finish.
I now have Tití Me Preguntó stuck in my head.