Let’s be honest — we’re all tuning in to the Super Bowl for the Halftime Show, right?
Over the years, some of music’s biggest legends — from Madonna and Prince to Michael Jackson — have delivered the best Super Bowl Halftime Show performances. And with Bad Bunny set to take the stage at the 2026 Super Bowl, expectations are sky-high. It’s the only US performance he’ll give this year, having deliberately left the country off his world tour — so yes, we’re expecting something major.
It's all about the halftime show, let's be honest.
It won’t be an easy feat. The bar for the Halftime Show has never been higher. What was once a greatest-hits set has evolved into a full-blown spectacle, complete with surprise guests, pyrotechnics, and jaw-dropping choreography.
From R&B to rap, pop to pregnancy reveals, the best Super Bowl Halftime Show performances know exactly how to dazzle. Let’s dig in.
13. Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (2014)
This was a pairing nobody saw coming — but we’re not complaining. Bruno Mars personally invited the Red Hot Chili Peppers to join him as special guests during his Super Bowl performance. Interestingly, it was Mars himself who won the majority of praise, while the Peppers were considered less memorable. Many critics argued he could have carried the show solo.
Rehearsals weren’t without drama. Mars reportedly clashed with the NFL over the use of light-up bracelets in the audience. “If you take that camera off me, you’re doing yourself a disservice,” he said. “They spent all this money on these things, and it didn’t work.”
Despite the hiccups, the Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show became, at the time, the most-watched in Super Bowl history, drawing a record 115.3 million viewers — surpassing Madonna’s 114 million two years earlier. (It would be dethroned a year later by Katy Perry.)
12. Bruce Springsteen (2009)
America’s blue-collar boy, Bruce Springsteen, brought his iconic energy to one of the country’s most American traditions. Taking the stage, he cheekily told viewers to step away from the guac and “put the chicken fingers down” before rocking Tampa for the next 12 minutes.
The E Street Band powered through a four-song set of crowd favourites, but the showstopper came when Jersey’s finest slammed into a TV camera with his crotch during 10th Avenue Freeze-Out.
Many viewers say this performance changed their lives. It’s hard to put into words exactly why, so maybe the best advice is to watch it for yourself… and report back.
11. Diana Ross (1996)
Diana Ross was serving theatrics at the Super Bowl Halftime Show long before the likes of Lady Gaga. She kicked off her performance atop a sparkling crane lift and wrapped it up on a getaway helicopter — no mountain was high enough for this Supreme.
Ross delivered multiple outfit changes, including an iconic orange-and-purple gown and a full-length gold overcoat that firmly earned its place in fashion history.
10. U2 (2002)
This was a particularly significant Super Bowl Halftime Show. Taking place less than five months after the September 11 attacks, the nation was still in mourning.
Beloved band U2 took to the heart-shaped stage, opening with Beautiful Day. Then came their poignant 9/11 tribute.
As they performed Where the Streets Have No Name, a scrolling backdrop displayed the names of all the victims who perished in the attacks. Bono closed the song by opening his jacket to reveal the stars and stripes lining.
By today’s halftime-show standards, it might feel stripped-back or simple, but at the time, it was perfect — exactly what the country needed.
9. Michael Jackson (1993)
The King of Pop naturally commanded the Super Bowl stage, clad in black and gold with his signature aviators. The show kicked off as Michael Jackson appeared atop the stadium’s two jumbotrons (using body doubles), before catapulting from centre stage and standing completely frozen and silent for nearly two minutes — until his longtime guitarist, Jennifer Batten, began the performance.
Jackson whipped the audience into a frenzy with a lip-synced medley of Jam, Billie Jean, and Black or White. He then cued a snippet of We Are the World as the crowd revealed cards decorated by children from Los Angeles.
Surrounded by 3,500 youngsters, MJ closed the show with Heal the World, as a giant inflatable globe descended on the 50-yard line.
The performance was historic: for the first time in Super Bowl history, viewership increased during halftime. It remains the most-watched halftime show in the US before Nielsen began including out-of-home viewers in 2020.
In hindsight, Jackson’s show set the blueprint for future halftime performances, prioritising superstar names and spectacle — and is widely regarded as one of the greatest Super Bowl Halftime Shows of all time.
8. Jennifer Lopez & Shakira (2020)
We love girlies supporting girlies. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira doubled the star power at the 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show, packing an astonishing amount of energy into just 12 minutes and never once letting the momentum dip.
The duo powered through hits including Waiting for Tonight, On the Floor, She Wolf, and Hips Don’t Lie, delivering a performance that felt both celebratory and commanding. From Lopez’s jaw-dropping pole dance — a showcase of sheer athleticism as much as showmanship — to Shakira’s iconic belly dancing with ropes wrapped around her wrists, every moment landed.
Lopez’s daughter, Emme Muñiz, made a surprise appearance to sing Let’s Get Loud, blended with an excerpt from Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A., as Lopez stood in front of an all-female choir.
Cameos from J Balvin and Bad Bunny only heightened the spectacle, turning the show into a full-blown celebration of Latin music and culture. It also made history as the first Super Bowl Halftime Show headlined by two Latina artists.
And maybe — just maybe — they’ll return the favour at Bad Bunny’s halftime show this year.
The performance also carried a powerful political message. During her set, Lopez wore a feathered cape depicting both the Puerto Rican and American flags, while children on the field appeared in cage-like structures — a moment widely interpreted as a statement on the US–Mexico border crisis.
7. Katy Perry (2015)
Honestly, Super Bowl Halftime Shows were made for Katy Perry long before she ever entered the music scene. Name an artist who goes bigger, weirder, or more committed to spectacle. We’ll wait.
For the 2015 Halftime Show, Perry rode in on a giant golden tiger. And that was just the beginning. She grinded on Lenny Kravitz’s guitar. She gifted the internet the eternal Left Shark meme. Culture was changed.
Her 12-minute set was a kaleidoscope of lights, colour, special effects and fireworks — because, baby, she is a firework. Say what you will about the current girlfriend of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but Perry can sing and dance relentlessly, barely stopping for breath, all while wearing sky-high heels, wrangling props, and literally performing strapped to a mechanical shooting star.
With a discography beloved by all ages, the entire stadium (and sofa-bound nation) could sing along — even if some fan favourites (Last Friday Night, we’re looking at you) didn’t make the cut.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Missy Elliott joined her onstage, effortlessly tearing through Work It and Get Ur Freak On. Iconic behaviour, start to finish.
6. Lady Gaga (2017)
Anyone who’s been to a Lady Gaga concert won’t be surprised to see her on this list — she’s a born performer, through and through.
Gaga’s Super Bowl Halftime Show was peak Gaga mania: expect costumes, lights, stunts, and theatricality. She opened with a rooftop medley of “God Bless America” and “This Land Is Your Land”, before literally launching herself from the heavens onto the stage to perform dance-pop hits like “Poker Face,” “Born This Way,” and “Bad Romance.”
And then, the exit. The unforgettable exit. Gaga mic-dropped, caught a football toss, and jumped off a staircase into nothingness. No bow has ever been the same.
It’s widely regarded as one of the most visually stunning and vocally impressive halftime shows in Super Bowl history.
5. Beyoncé (2013)
The people would riot if this list didn’t include Beyoncé — and honestly, we wouldn’t blame them. Queen B was nothing short of spectacular, and this was even before Lemonade or Cowboy Carter, making us all desperate for a second act.
Picture it: her silhouette appears on stage, flames all around. She emerges from a cloud of smoke, belting out hit after hit. Dressed in an oversized black jacket, lace-and-leather bodysuit, and thigh-high stockings, Beyoncé delivered stunning vocals, powerhouse choreography, and a multimedia spectacle these stadiums had never seen. She performed classics including Love on Top, Crazy in Love, End of Time, and Baby Boy.
Then our dreams came true: she was joined by her Destiny’s Child sisters, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, performing Single Ladies together.
The show closed with an emotional rendition of Halo. And yes, we cried. We all cried.
4. Madonna (2012)
Honestly, we’re shocked it took Madonna this long to headline a Super Bowl Halftime Show. But when she finally did, she went all out. She was the first solo female headliner since Diana Ross in 1996 — though she didn’t spend much time alone, bringing LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and CeeLo Green along for the ride. Random? Yes. Iconic? Absolutely.
The show kicked off like a full-on spectacle. A procession led men dressed as gladiators, pulling a massive structure hidden behind gold-colored flags. As Vogue began, the flags dropped to reveal Madonna in a long gold cape and an ancient-Egyptian-style helmet, seated on a towering throne.
Alongside her guests’ hits, she performed classics like Open Your Heart, Express Yourself, and Like a Prayer. Our only gripe? Two LMFAO songs and not more Madonna? Come on, explain yourself.
3. Kendrick Lamar (2025)
Just when we thought the peak had already passed — yes, we’re looking at you, Rihanna — Kendrick Lamar delivered a truly stellar Super Bowl Halftime Show. It was a full-blown extravaganza.
Samuel L. Jackson took centre stage as Uncle Sam, issuing marching orders to the nation. Serena Williams appeared to perform a Compton c-walk. “Muuustaaard” became a panoramic rallying cry. Iconic, frankly.
The performance also felt perfectly timed — a full-circle moment following Lamar’s very public feud with fellow rapper Drake. Ahead of the show, speculation swirled over whether Kendrick would perform Not Like Us, given FCC and legal concerns. In the end, he did. Williams’ appearance was widely interpreted as an additional diss, given her rumoured past relationship with Drake.
That said, the show wasn’t without controversy. Several major figures in hip-hop criticised the decision to have Kendrick perform in Louisiana, viewing it as a snub of local rap legend Lil Wayne.
Much like U2’s politically charged halftime show, this was more than just a performance. It sparked widespread analysis for its social commentary on civil rights in the United States. The moment was further intensified when a protester waved Sudanese and Palestinian flags, with “Sudan” and “Gaza” written across them alongside a heart and raised fist, before being removed by security.
2. Prince (2007)
A true music industry legend delivered a Super Bowl performance for the ages. Prince wielded his iconic purple, unpronounceable-symbol-shaped guitar in unapologetically flamboyant fashion, playing behind a screen before launching into his classics: Baby, I’m a Star, 1999, and Let’s Go Crazy. He even threw in surprises from other artists’ discographies, including Proud Mary, Best of You, and All Along the Watchtower.
But the true climax was Purple Rain. As the actual sky began to pour, the performance became electrifying — and incredibly risky, considering Prince and his dancers were in heels and surrounded by live electric guitars. Prince reportedly loved every second, even asking showrunners if they could “make it rain harder.”
Many hailed it as the most thrilling Super Bowl Halftime Show ever, while others were simply grateful for the rain, which turned the performance into pure magic.
1. Rihanna (2023)
Where were you when Rihanna redefined the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2023? Or, more importantly, the next day, when the internet could talk about nothing else?
Rihanna hadn’t released an album in seven years or performed onstage in five. She’d been busy building the Fenty Beauty empire — not to mention becoming a mother — so it was no surprise that fashion felt just as integral to her halftime set as the music. Those marshmallow-like puffers? Instantly iconic.
She opened with Bitch Better Have My Money (a message, frankly, to the Super Bowl organisers) and closed with Diamonds. The choreography was razor-sharp. The rockstar energy was undeniable. The face card? Never declined.
And then she did the unthinkable by announcing her pregnancy mid-performance. Boom. History made. The peak of the best Super Bowl Halftime Show performances, like ever.
