The Super Bowl is the one of the biggest stages in American sports, bringing together an enthusiastic community of fans. In this short addition to the blog I summarise my views on the impact of the Half-time show and how its political shadow is cast over the game itself.
A glorified, all-American showcase of sheer talent, passion, and athleticism—that is how I have come to define the NFL’s Super Bowl.
The love for the game is unquestionable; fans from all over the globe travel to the event, dress in the colours of their chosen teams, and unite with friends for watch parties, whether through the night or during the day. However, each year the Super Bowl appears to have one roughly 15-minute segment that garners more media coverage and public speculation than anything else: the Half-time Show.
Arguably one of the biggest stages in American music, the coveted responsibility of headlining the Half-time Show has been held by some of the industry’s biggest names, including Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Rihanna, and Beyoncé. In 2026, the baton was passed to six-time Grammy Award–winning artist Bad Bunny.
While sport provides some of the largest audiences in society, recent years have seen an increase in artists using their platforms to share political and social messages. As this is a delicate topic to navigate, Bad Bunny chose to promote a unifying message of peace and love across the American continent, highlighting the many countries of which it consists. Although many have expressed opposing views, I personally believe that his consistent message of love and self-belief was an admirable way to advocate for the symbolic message he conveyed: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
What would you do in those 15 minutes?
Naomi Downs 
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