Credit : Variety's X
LOS ANGELES, October 27, 2026 – Jay-Z will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show, taking the stage himself at one of the world’s most-watched live performances after years of shaping the event from behind the scenes through his company Roc Nation.
The halftime show will take place on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, according to Variety, which first reported the announcement on its X account and website.
“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world’s biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”
A Request Years in the Making
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed that the booking fulfils a wish he had held since the league first partnered with Roc Nation to produce the show.
“For several years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with Jay-Z and Roc Nation, and I’ve seen the extraordinary impact he has had on the Super Bowl Halftime Show,” Goodell said. “When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that Jay-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him. I couldn’t be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring to the Super Bowl stage.”
Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Music and International Content, said: “Jay-Z’s impact on global music culture is as profound as it is undeniable. We’ve had the privilege of working closely with him these last few years to bring some of the world’s most exciting and prolific artists to the Super Bowl Halftime Show stage and we are so thrilled that he will be taking that stage himself this year. We know it’s going to be an incredible show.”
Roc Nation will executive produce the show, while Hamish Hamilton will serve as director. The performance will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney+, and on mobile devices through NFL+.
Capping the “Jay-Z 30” Victory Lap
The announcement follows a year-long celebration under the banner “Jay-Z 30”. The rapper opened the festivities as a headliner at the Roots Picnic in late May, then played three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium in July marking the 25th anniversary of “The Blueprint” and the 30th anniversary of his debut album “Reasonable Doubt”.
The run also included international shows in Paris and London, and an eight-part docuseries, “Jay-Z in 8”, in which he sat down with producer Rick Rubin to break down hits and deep cuts from his catalogue.
Just this past weekend, Jay-Z closed out his global string of dates with two nights at SoFi Stadium, the same venue that will host the Super Bowl. The shows featured guest appearances from Scarface, DJ Khaled, John Legend, Blue Ivy Carter, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Too Short.
Following Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar
Jay-Z follows Bad Bunny, who headlined the halftime show earlier this year with a celebration of his Puerto Rican heritage. Dubbed the “Benito Bowl” by fans, the set featured a mock sugar-cane field and a Puerto Rican neighbourhood, with surprise appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.
That show drew an average of 128.2 million viewers, above the Super Bowl’s overall average of 124.9 million but below the 133.5 million reached by Kendrick Lamar in 2025. Last month, Bad Bunny’s performance won the Emmy for outstanding special (live), one of seven wins for the production.
Source: Variety
About The Author
