Burna Boy To Headline Historic NFL Paris Game Halftime Show

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, is set to headline the halftime show at the 2026 National Football League (NFL) Paris Game.

According to reports, Burna Boy will perform at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sunday, October 25, when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New Orleans Saints in the NFL’s first regular-season game in France.

The game is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. CEST, corresponding to 9:30 a.m. ET. The Paris halftime performance is part of a record seven halftime shows planned for the NFL’s 2026 International Games across seven countries and four continents.

Burna Boy’s appearance will also mark his return to the Stade de France, where he made history in April 2025 as the first African artist to headline a solo concert at the stadium. His April 18, 2025 concert reportedly sold out all 80,000 available tickets.

Reacting to the NFL announcement, Burna Boy said returning to the venue for such a significant occasion was meaningful to him.

“Paris gave me one of the biggest nights of my career, and to walk back into Stade de France for a moment like this means everything,” he said.

He added that the NFL’s arrival in France represented a historic moment and that he was proud to represent African music on the international stage.

The NFL’s Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music and Entertainment, Tim Tubito, said Burna Boy was chosen to perform because of the significance of the league’s first regular-season game in France.

“The first NFL game in France deserves a halftime moment that matches the occasion, and there is no artist better suited to it than Burna Boy,” Tubito said.

He also noted Burna Boy’s previous history at the Stade de France and the strong connection between African music and Paris.

The Nigerian singer joins other international artistes announced for the NFL’s 2026 International Games, including the Jonas Brothers for Melbourne, Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin for Rio de Janeiro, Ayra Starr for London, Cage The Elephant for Munich and The Warning for Mexico City.

Burna Boy has established himself as one of the leading Nigerian artistes on the global music scene. He won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album in 2021 for “Twice As Tall” and has performed at major international events, including the UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show in Istanbul in 2023 and the NBA All-Star Game that same year.

His NFL Paris appearance comes as other Nigerian artistes continue to secure performances at major international sporting events. Ayra Starr is scheduled to headline the halftime show at the NFL London Game on October 11, while Nigerian artistes including Davido, Tems and Rema have previously performed at major football and sporting events around the world.

Burna Boy’s full halftime performance will be broadcast live in France on France Télévisions and beIN Sports, while L’Équipe is scheduled to broadcast the game later in the evening. The NFL has not yet announced details of Burna Boy’s setlist or whether he will be joined by other performers.