Grammy Award-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy will headline the halftime show at the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in France, scheduled for October 25, 2026, at the Stade de France in Paris, according to an announcement by the league. The matchup features the Pittsburgh Steelers against the New Orleans Saints, forming a centerpiece of the league’s largest international schedule to date.
A Historic Return to the Stade de France
For Burna Boy, the booking marks a swift return to the iconic stadium just north of Paris. Last year, the Afrofusion pioneer made history at the venue by becoming the first African artist to headline a solo concert there. According to statements provided to the Associated Press, the upcoming performance carries deep personal and cultural significance.
“Paris me brindó una de las noches más importantes de mi carrera, y volver al Stade de France para un momento como este lo significa todo,” Burna Boy stated to the Associated Press, noting his pride in representing African music on such a prominent global platform. “La NFL está trayendo a Francia algo que nunca antes había sucedido aquí, y tengo el privilegio de estar en el centro de todo esto.”
The NFL’s Global Expansion and Halftime Scale
The Paris fixture is part of an aggressive international expansion by the league, which features games across four continents in 2026. Tim Tubito, director sénior de presentación global de partidos, música y entretenimiento de la NFL, emphasized that the magnitude of a debut game in France required an exceptional entertainment presence.
“El primer partido de la NFL en Francia merece un momento en el descanso a la altura de la ocasión, y no hay artista más adecuado para ello que Burna Boy,” Tubito told reporters, highlighting the artist’s proven stadium-level draw in the French capital and the surging popularity of African music genres worldwide.
The league has scheduled a record seven halftime shows for its international series in 2026, pairing games abroad with major musical acts. Burna Boy joins a roster of international performers announced for the slate, including Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio in Rio de Janeiro on September 27, Ayra Starr in London on October 11, Cage the Elephant in Munich on November 15, and Mexican rock band The Warning in Mexico City on November 22. The Jonas Brothers performed earlier this month during the league’s game in Melbourne.
Broadcast Details and Global Reach
With the NFL having contested more than 60 regular-season games outside the United States—spanning legacy hubs like London and Frankfurt alongside newer markets like Madrid, Dublin, São Paulo, and Toronto—the addition of France, Australia, and Rio de Janeiro broadens the league’s footprint.
Fans in France will be able to watch both the game and Burna Boy’s halftime performance live on television through national broadcaster France Télévisions and beIN Sports.
Worth a look
