Nigerian Afrofusion superstar Burna Boy is set to headline the halftime show at the 2026 NFL Paris Game, marking another major international milestone for the Grammy-winning artist.
The performance will take place on October 25, 2026, at the Stade de France, during the matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints. The game will be the NFL’s first regular-season game in France, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CEST.
Burna Boy’s return to the Stade de France adds another significant chapter to his relationship with the Paris venue. In April 2025, he became the first African artist to headline a solo concert at the stadium, selling out an 80,000-capacity show.
Reacting to the NFL announcement, Burna Boy said returning to the stadium for an event of this scale is particularly 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,” the singer said.
He added that he would be representing African music on the international stage and promised a performance audiences would not forget. L
The NFL also highlighted Burna Boy’s connection to Paris and his role in taking African music to audiences around the world. Tim Tubito, the league’s senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, said the first NFL game in France called for a major halftime performance and pointed to the singer’s previous history at the stadium.
The Paris performance will be part of a record seven halftime shows across the NFL’s 2026 International Games, spanning seven countries and four continents. Other announced performers include Ayra Starr for the London Game, Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio in Rio de Janeiro, the Jonas Brothers in Melbourne, Cage The Elephant in Munich and The Warning in Mexico City.
Burna Boy’s appearance also continues the growing presence of African music at major international sporting events. The singer has previously performed at the UEFA Champions League Final and the NBA All-Star Game, while Nigerian artists including Ayra Starr, Tems and Rema have also appeared at major global sporting events.
The NFL Paris Game will be presented by American Express and staged in partnership with GL events, with support from France’s Ministry of Sports. Burna Boy’s full halftime performance will be broadcast live in France on France Télévisions and beIN Sports.
For Burna Boy, the October performance represents another opportunity to place African music at the centre of one of the world’s biggest sporting platforms this time as the NFL makes its historic regular-season debut in France.
