Green Day kicked off the opening ceremony of Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Green Day consists of lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt on the bass, and Tré Cool on the drums. Their selection felt regionally symbolic, as the band was formed near the Bay Area in Rodeo, California. They are also a highly acclaimed punk-rock band with a career that includes five Grammy Awards and decades of cultural relevance.
They rose to fame in the mid-1990s, later releasing hit singles “American Idiot” and “Holiday”, both of which were performed for their set. Their performance also included “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, along with an orchestral introduction of their song “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” as past Super Bowl MVPs walked onto the field.
While “American Idiot” and “Holiday” are their most political songs, the band notably softened their message and refrained from using explicit political lyrics. Green Day avoided the whole second verse of “American Idiot”, a section widely interpreted as mocking nationalist rhetoric associated with the modern “MAGA agenda.”
Many fans were outraged, interpreting the omission as a deliberate act of self-censorship from. Some felt Green Day was “playing it safe” to avoid backlash, a criticism that clashes with the band’s long-standing reputation for protests. This was a shock to some, as Armstrong had a lot to say at a pregame party on Pier 29 in San Francisco days prior. He also dedicated that pregame performance to Minneapolis amid the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Audience reactions were split, with some viewers enjoying the lively, upbeat performance, while others did not. One fan on X wrote, “Disappointing show by @GreenDay ….skipping full verses of Holiday & American Idiot out of fear of angering MAGA. Pretty cowardly if you ask me. I expected real protest from them. They sounded good though for 50 years old.”
In the end, Green Day delivered a polished and energetic performance, but one that prioritized legacy over the statement that many fans were hoping for. Despite the mixed reviews, one thing is certain: their performance showcased that punk rock is still here and worthy of being on one of the biggest stages in America.
While Green Day’s performance left something to be desired, viewers overwhelmingly enjoyed the half-time performance by 17-time Latin Grammy winner Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, known professionally as Bad Bunny. Met with controversy from audiences fixated on his use of Spanish, Bad Bunny faced the same doubt and misunderstanding that Latin artists in the U.S. have long endured. Because some demographics were uncomfortable enjoying an art that they cannot “understand”, an alternate half-time show was created by Turning Point USA. Ironically, this backlash created a heavier focus on Bad Bunny’s performance, which ultimately gained the highest viewership of any Super Bowl halftime show in history.
Bad Bunny received much backlash after stating that his show would mostly be in Spanish. Additional criticism stemmed from fans who were disappointed that Latina artist Cardi B did not perform alongside Bad Bunny. This frustration was worsened by the inclusion of Lady Gaga, a non-Latina artist, who was given a dedicated segment during the performance. However, the inclusion of Lady Gaga can be seen as an act of unity, rather than a slight. Gaga’s appearance functioned as a form of allyship, which is much needed in times of such harsh division. Her “salsafied” version of “Die With A Smile” proves how non-Latino artists and people can be willing to adapt and diversify themselves to create something new.
Rather than dilute his vision, he fully embraced it, performing his entire set in the Spanish language. Facing the backlash, Bad Bunny delivered a powerful, cultural exchange of love through music, dance, and performance. His set opened with “Tití Me Preguntó”, a global hit with d over 1.9 billion Spotify streams, immediately setting an electric tone. The rest of the setlist ranged from slow, intense ballads like “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii”, as sung by Ricky Martin, to upbeat tracks with political undertones like “El Apagón”. The show also featured the wildly popular “DtMF” as the closer of the performance, emphasizing the need to keep and hold close the love shown to you. The lively and love-filled setlist created an atmosphere of joy, celebration, and appreciation of Latin culture.
Structurally, Bad Bunny’s performance encapsulated the spirit of Latin American culture, architecture, politics, and tradition. From spotlighting regional dances, to unifying Latin American countries & territories, and even celebrating a newlywed couple onstage, the production center of a single theme: love conquers hate. This theme was reinforced by the phrase “the only thing more powerful than hate is love,” displayed across the stadium screens.
This message extended beyond just performance and spectacle. Love was present when Bad Bunny wore the number “64” to honor his late uncle, when he offered up his Grammy to a young boy, when he danced alongside Lady Gaga, and when he highlighted Latin American countries and territories. In these moments, he shed the superstar persona and appeared simply as Benito – a young Puerto Ricangrounded in memory, grief, and pride for his people and his home. These moments of vulnerability transformed the performance from entertainment to leadership.
More specifically, Bad Bunny used the platform to advocate for Puerto Rico by calling attention to the ongoing lack of aid and electricity following Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017. This ongoing humanitarian issue will soon reach a decade of struggles, but with this newly shed light may finally receive the attention it deserves.
Bad Bunny showed up for his people and extended his kindness while defending what is important to him. He did all of this while the stadium filled with the words to his nostalgic anthem. One that implores others not to take people and moments for granted. Living and loving with humility and gratitude are values that cannot be discarded. Love must infiltrate every corner of the earth. By merging celebration with protest, joy with accountability, Bad Bunny delivered not just a halftime show, but a cultural statement — one that demanded visibility, respect, and empathy on the largest stage in American sports.