INGLEWOOD, California — October 27, 2026. Jay-Z will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the National Football League, Apple Music and Roc Nation officially announced Monday night.
The performance will mark the first time the 25-time Grammy Award-winning rapper has taken the Super Bowl halftime stage as a performer, despite playing a major role in producing and shaping the event since Roc Nation partnered with the NFL in 2019.
NFL CONFIRMS JAY-Z AS SUPER BOWL LXI HEADLINER
The announcement was made on October 26 during ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast featuring the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
A promotional video showed Jay-Z inside SoFi Stadium alongside goats, a reference to the popular acronym GOAT, meaning “Greatest of All Time.”
The announcement confirmed days of speculation about who would lead the halftime entertainment at the NFL’s championship game.
Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027, coinciding with Valentine’s Day.
JAY-Z CELEBRATES 30 YEARS IN MUSIC
The performance comes during a milestone period in Jay-Z’s career, marking three decades since the release of his debut studio album, Reasonable Doubt, in 1996.
In a statement accompanying the announcement, the rapper reflected on his career and described the upcoming performance as a continuation of a lifelong dream.
“Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world’s biggest stage,” Jay-Z said.
His anniversary celebrations have included the JAY-Z 30 concert series, featuring sold-out performances at Yankee Stadium in New York and concerts in London, Paris and Los Angeles.
The rapper also performed at SoFi Stadium in October, returning to the same venue that will host the Super Bowl in February.
FROM HALFTIME PRODUCER TO HEADLINING ARTIST
Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has been closely involved in the NFL’s halftime entertainment since his entertainment company, Roc Nation, entered a partnership with the league in 2019.
Through that agreement, Roc Nation became a strategic entertainment adviser and helped produce halftime performances featuring some of the biggest names in music.
The company’s involvement has included shows headlined by Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Usher, Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny.
For the 2027 event, Jay-Z will move from a behind-the-scenes leadership role to performing in front of the global Super Bowl audience.
Roc Nation will also serve as executive producer of the upcoming halftime show.
NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed enthusiasm about Jay-Z’s decision to perform.
Goodell explained that when the league initially partnered with Roc Nation, he hoped Jay-Z would eventually take the halftime stage himself.
The commissioner praised the artist’s influence on the event and his contributions to music and popular culture.
Apple Music executives also welcomed the announcement, emphasizing Jay-Z’s role in shaping contemporary music and the Super Bowl’s entertainment programming.
A CAREER MARKED BY GRAMMYS AND CULTURAL INFLUENCE
Jay-Z has won 25 Grammy Awards and is recognized as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop.
His music catalog includes major albums such as Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint and The Black Album.
Among his best-known songs are Empire State of Mind, 99 Problems and Run This Town.
Beyond music, he has developed business interests spanning entertainment, sports and other industries.
He became the first hip-hop artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and joined the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
SUPER BOWL RETURNS TO SOFI STADIUM
Super Bowl LXI will be the second Super Bowl hosted at SoFi Stadium, home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
The venue previously hosted Super Bowl LVI in February 2022, when Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar participated in a halftime celebration of hip-hop.
The 2027 championship will air on ESPN and ABC, with additional streaming and Spanish-language coverage available through the NFL’s broadcast partners.
The halftime performance is expected to attract significant attention from music fans as well as football viewers.
WILL JAY-Z BRING SPECIAL GUESTS?
The NFL has not announced whether other artists will join Jay-Z during the halftime show.
Speculation has already centered on musicians who have collaborated with him throughout his career, including Beyoncé and other prominent hip-hop performers.
However, no guest appearances have been officially confirmed.
Details about the setlist, production design and additional performers are expected to emerge closer to the event.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
With Jay-Z confirmed as the headliner, attention now turns to preparations for the February 14 performance.
Roc Nation and the NFL will oversee production, while veteran director Hamish Hamilton is scheduled to direct the halftime broadcast.
The show will represent a milestone in Jay-Z’s career, bringing his three decades of music and his years of involvement with the NFL’s entertainment strategy together on the Super Bowl stage.
For now, the headlining performer, date and venue are confirmed, while the complete lineup and production details remain undisclosed.
