It’s Time to Predict the Super Bowl Halftime Show Performer

This time last year, we already knew that Bad Bunny was going to play the Super Bowl halftime show. He was announced on September 29. The year prior, Roc Nation confirmed Kendrick Lamar was taking the stage on September 8. This year, we’re into October and not a word.

Bad Bunny’s and Kendrick Lamar’s performances set a hard-to-match precedent for the halftime show. Both performers not only put on an exciting show, but they also picked up major Grammy Awards (Bad Bunny won Album of the Year and Lamar won both Song and Record of the Year) just one week prior. Even with all that pressure from previous years, it feels like an announcement is imminent. Rumors are flying online about who the performer might be (as is the misinformation). So let’s run down the top contenders.

Miley Cyrus

Cyrus has long been considered a potential get for the Super Bowl. She’s a household name and she’s got well-known hits over multiple decades, from “The Best of Both Worlds” to “Wrecking Ball” to “Flowers.” Plus, this year, she released her album Bass Persuades, which hit No. 1 on the “Billboard 200.” But, despite her talent as a live performer, she rarely tours, so the Super Bowl would be a departure for her. Talking to Variety earlier this year, she played coy. “I always think the Super Bowl feels like too much pressure,” she said. “I would have to do the mental work of making it not about the Super Bowl, because then you can’t help but go, ‘It’s millions of people, and it’s the most-watched thing in the world.’” But then she added, “But if I could find a way to make it exactly what the Hannahversary was — taking a journey through the discography and appreciating each song, each era for what it is — I think I could find it in myself.” Seems possible!

Jay-Z

Jay-Z is the king of the Super Bowl, essentially. Since his company Roc Nation made a deal in 2019 with the NFL to run the halftime show, Hov has had final say over the performer. So … why not himself? He’s had a banner year, performing tribute shows to his own albums around the world, celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint and the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt. Additionally, his new HBO documentary, JAŸ-Z in 8, just came out in September. He’s famous, he’s connected to the Super Bowl, and he’d probably bring out Beyoncé. Seems like a win all around.

Taylor Swift

In case you hadn’t heard, Taylor Swift is the most popular artist in the world. She’s had the biggest tour, the biggest albums, and some of the top singles of the decade so far. But she hasn’t done the biggest show. Given that her husband is a football player, it would seem like the perfect synergy. But that’s exactly why, she says, she hasn’t done it so far. “Can you imagine if he’s out there, every single week, putting his life on the line doing this very dangerous, very high-pressure, high-intensity sport, and I’m like, ‘I wonder what my choreo should be?’” Swift said on The Tonight Show to explain why she doesn’t do the show each year. Travis Kelce is still playing this year, so it seems unlikely that she’ll perform.

Drake

In 2025, Drake got publicly clowned on at the Super Bowl via Kendrick Lamar’s wide grin. It seemed like Drake’s career might be over. In 2026, Drake simultaneously released three albums that were freakishly popular and included the hit song “Janice STFU.” Drake is a superstar with tons of bangers. Would he and the Super Bowl be able to make peace? Reportedly, he turned down the chance to appear at last year’s Bad Bunny–focused show. Maybe this year is his chance to make good.