Afrobeats star Ayra Starr made history on Sunday, October 11, 2026, becoming the first African artist to headline an NFL halftime show.
The Nigerian singer performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London during the NFL International Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Performing before a record 61,322 fans at the London game, Starr delivered hits including “Rush,” “Hot Body” and “Heaven Baby,” which she has described as her favourite track to perform live. She performed on a midfield stage in a vintage-inspired purple corseted top and black skirt.
The NFL had announced the booking on August 27, describing her as the “first-ever Afrobeats artist to headline an NFL game” and a “global Afrobeats superstar.” The performance was presented by American Express as part of a record seven halftime shows across seven countries and four continents for the 2026 International Games.
The Eagles vs Jaguars game kicked off at 2:30 p.m. BST and aired on NFL Network.
Tim Tubito, NFL Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music and Entertainment, had said London’s strong connection to African music made her a fitting choice.
“London is one of the most influential music cities in the world, and African music has been at the centre of that conversation for years now. Ayra Starr is a generational talent with a real connection to fans in this market,” Tubito said.
Reacting to the announcement, Starr called it a dream come true.
“I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London. London is one of my favourite places in the world and to bring Starrgirl to the NFL global stage is a dream come true for me,” she said.
The milestone adds to Starr’s growing global profile. Since debuting in 2021 with “19 & Dangerous”, she has surpassed 7 billion global streams, earned two Grammy nominations for Best African Music Performance, won BET Award for Best International Act, and performed on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage. She released her third album, “Starrgirl”, in August.
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