Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Ayra Starr is set to make history after being announced as the headline performer for the 2026 NFL London Game halftime show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Grammy-nominated singer will perform on Sunday, October 11, 2026, when the Philadelphia Eagles face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. BST at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The performance will make Ayra Starr the first major African artist and first Afrobeats artist to headline an NFL game halftime show, giving the Nigerian star one of the biggest international sporting platforms of her career.
A major moment for Afrobeats
Ayra Starr’s NFL appearance represents another major step in Afrobeats’ continued expansion into global entertainment.
The NFL described Starr as one of the defining voices of a new generation of global music coming out of Africa, highlighting her connection with fans in London and the wider international music audience.
Her performance is also part of the NFL’s 2026 International Games, which will feature a record seven halftime shows presented by American Express across seven countries and four continents.
NFL senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment Tim Tubito said London is one of the world’s most influential music cities and that African music has been central to the city’s musical conversation.
Ayra Starr takes the Starrgirl era to the NFL
The announcement comes shortly after the release of Ayra Starr’s third studio album, Starrgirl, which arrived on August 14, 2026.
The project features major collaborations including Wizkid, Rema, ZAYN and Leon Thomas, giving the singer an extensive catalogue of material to draw from when she takes the NFL stage.
Ayra Starr expressed her excitement about the opportunity, describing performing at the NFL London halftime show and bringing the Starrgirl era to the global sporting stage as a dream come true.
The London performance also comes after another major run of international appearances for the singer, including her performance at Glastonbury Festival and her growing presence across major global music events.
Since breaking through with her 2021 debut, Ayra Starr has developed into one of Africa’s most recognizable young music stars.
The NFL says she has accumulated more than seven billion global streams and over one billion YouTube views since her debut. She is also a two-time Grammy nominee for Best African Music Performance and a BET Award winner for Best International Act.
Her rise has been driven by international hits such as “Rush” and “Away”, alongside collaborations with major artists and increasingly high-profile performances around the world.
Eagles vs. Jaguars in London
The halftime performance will take place during the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game, one of the NFL’s international fixtures for the 2026 season.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host two NFL regular-season games on consecutive Sundays in October. The first, on October 4, will see the Indianapolis Colts face the Washington Commanders, while the Eagles and Jaguars will meet a week later.
Ayra Starr’s halftime show is scheduled for the second London game.
The performance will be broadcast in the UK
Fans unable to attend the game will still be able to watch Ayra Starr’s full halftime performance.
The NFL has confirmed that the performance will be broadcast live and free-to-air in the UK on Channel 5, as well as on Sky Sports.
The show is therefore expected to reach a much wider audience than the tens of thousands of fans inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Another global stage for Nigerian music
Ayra Starr’s selection continues a growing trend of Nigerian artists appearing at major international sporting events.
Nigerian and African stars have increasingly been brought into major global sports entertainment, including Burna Boy, Rema and Tems at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, while Burna Boy also co-headlined the UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show that same year.
Ayra Starr’s NFL booking adds another major sporting platform to that list and further demonstrates the increasing commercial and cultural reach of Afrobeats.
On October 11, the Starrgirl era will move from the music charts to the NFL stage as Ayra Starr brings Afrobeats to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Ayra Starr headlines the 2026 NFL London Game halftime show on October 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
