Jay-Z has officially been named the headliner of the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show, ending speculation about who will take the stage at the NFL's biggest game of the 2026 season.
The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced that the rapper and entrepreneur will perform on Sunday, February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The news was confirmed in an official NFL announcement and independently reported by The Associated Press.
Jay-Z steps onto the halftime stage
The booking gives Jay-Z a new role in a show his company has helped shape for several years. Roc Nation has worked with the NFL since 2019, advising on entertainment presentations and serving as an executive producer of the Super Bowl halftime show.
In the official announcement, Jay-Z reflected on the distance between his 1996 debut album and the upcoming performance, describing it as a journey built across three decades of music, work and culture.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league had previously discussed a halftime appearance with Jay-Z and that the timing now felt right. Roc Nation will executive produce the show, while veteran live-television director Hamish Hamilton is set to direct.
When and where is Super Bowl LXI?
Super Bowl LXI will be played at SoFi Stadium on February 14, 2027. The game and halftime show are scheduled to air in the United States across ESPN, ABC and Disney+, with mobile viewing available through NFL+.
Spanish-language coverage is also planned across ESPN Deportes, Disney+ and Univision, according to the NFL.
The performance brings Jay-Z back to the Los Angeles area after a milestone year. In 2026, he marked the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt with concerts in New York, London, Paris and Los Angeles.
What songs could Jay-Z perform?
No official setlist or guest performers have been announced. Any specific song list circulating before the artists or organizers confirm it should be treated as speculation.
Jay-Z has one of hip-hop's deepest catalogs, including fan favorites such as “Hard Knock Life,” “99 Problems” and “Empire State of Mind.” Albums including The Blueprint, The Black Album and Reasonable Doubt remain central to his legacy, giving the halftime production several eras to draw from.
The Super Bowl format usually allows only a short, tightly produced medley, so the final selection will likely focus on widely recognized songs. Collaborators are common at halftime shows, but the official announcement did not name any additional performers.
A major milestone in a historic career
Jay-Z is a 25-time Grammy winner and was the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He joined the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 and has also earned four Emmy Awards.
His Super Bowl booking is especially notable because it places one of hip-hop's most influential artists at the center of a broadcast watched far beyond the sport itself. It also marks a rare moment when the leader of the company helping produce the show becomes its featured performer.
The announcement follows a run of halftime shows in which Roc Nation has helped bring major artists to the stage, including Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, The Weeknd, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, Rihanna, Usher, Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny.
More details are still to come
The NFL has not yet revealed the length of Jay-Z's set, the complete production concept or whether special guests will join him. Those details are typically released closer to the game, and some surprises are kept secret until the broadcast.
For now, the central news is official: Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show at SoFi Stadium on February 14, 2027.