Jay-Z to Perform at 2027 Super Bowl Halftime

The Super Bowl Halftime Show has long served as the most watched musical event in the United States, a slot that carries immense cultural weight and commercial value. On Monday, the NFL confirmed that Jay-Z will headline the 2027 edition of the event, marking a shift from his role as producer to his role as the main performer.

The announcement came during the halftime break of the Monday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. ABC commentator Scott Van Pelt revealed the news on air, stating, "It will be Jay-Z in SoFi on [Valentine’s Day]. We’ll all be looking forward to seeing that." Analyst Jason Kelce joined the broadcast to comment on the selection, calling Jay-Z the "GOAT" and noting that he possesses more stadium-ready hits than most artists have entire songs.

Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The game will air on ABC and ESPN. This date coincides with Valentine's Day, a detail that underscores the personal nature of the event for the artist, who often performs alongside his wife, Beyoncé.

Jay-Z has maintained a close relationship with the NFL through his company, Roc Nation. A deal struck in 2019 and renewed in 2024 tasked Roc Nation with producing the Halftime Show. The agreement included provisions for the company to advise the league on entertainment offerings and to support community initiatives through music. Given this long-standing partnership, industry observers had long predicted that Jay-Z would eventually take the stage himself.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to the history of the relationship in a statement. He said that when Roc Nation first agreed to produce the show, his only request was that Jay-Z perform "whenever the moment felt right to him." Goodell expressed excitement for fans to experience the artist's work on the world's biggest stage.

Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of music and international content, also issued a statement praising Jay-Z's impact on global music culture. Schusser noted that Apple has worked closely with the artist for several years to bring other performers to the Super Bowl stage. He added that the company is thrilled Jay-Z is finally taking that stage himself.

The 2026 Super Bowl LX Halftime Show was performed by Bad Bunny at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Puerto Rican artist delivered a 13-minute set that included songs such as "Tití Me Preguntó" and "MONACO." His performance was met with critical acclaim and won an Emmy. Jay-Z joins a list of past performers that includes Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Michael Jackson, and Bruno Mars.

The partnership between Jay-Z and the NFL has a complex history tied to league leadership and player advocacy. In 2019, the league sought to revitalize its brand after the Colin Kaepernick controversy. Jay-Z initially supported Kaepernick but later fell out with the former quarterback. In a September 2026 interview with NBC News, Kaepernick criticized the NFL for using Jay-Z to help manage the league's public image while the league effectively forced him out of the sport.