Burna Boy to headline NFL Paris halftime show

Nigerian Afrobeats star, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has been announced as the headline performer for the halftime show of the 2026 National Football League (NFL) Paris Game.

The Grammy Award-winning singer will perform during the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 25, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris.

The game will mark the NFL’s first regular-season fixture in France and is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time.

The announcement was made by the NFL on Thursday as part of its 2026 International Games programme, which features a record seven halftime shows across seven countries and four continents.

For Burna Boy, the performance will be a return to the Stade de France, where he made history in April 2025 as the first African artiste to headline a solo concert at the stadium.

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His concert reportedly sold out all 80,000 tickets, marking a major milestone in his international career.

Reacting to the NFL announcement, Burna Boy described his return to the Paris stadium as significant, noting that the NFL’s arrival in France would provide an opportunity for him to represent African music on another major international platform.

“The NFL is bringing something to France that has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it representing African music,” the singer said.

The NFL’s senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, Tim Tubito, said Burna Boy’s previous history at the stadium and the popularity of African music in Paris contributed to the decision to have him headline the performance.

Burna Boy has established himself as one of the Nigerian artistes with a strong international presence. His music blends Afrobeats with elements of hip-hop, reggae, dancehall and R&B.

He won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album for Twice As Tall in 2021 and has performed at several major international events, including the UEFA Champions League final kick-off show and the NBA All-Star Game.

His upcoming NFL appearance will also add to the growing presence of Nigerian artistes at major international sporting events.

Another Nigerian star, Ayra Starr, is scheduled to headline the halftime show at the NFL London Game on October 11, where the Philadelphia Eagles will face the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Other artistes announced for the NFL’s 2026 international games include Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio in Rio de Janeiro, Cage The Elephant in Munich and The Warning in Mexico City.

The NFL Paris Game will therefore combine American football with an international music performance, with Burna Boy set to provide the entertainment during halftime.

Details of his setlist or possible guest appearances have not yet been announced.