Ayra Starr makes history as the first Afrobeats artiste to headline an NFL halftime show
Ayra Starr is set to make history as the first Afrobeats artiste to headline an NFL halftime show in London.
Ayra Starr is taking Afrobeats to one of the biggest sporting stages in the world.
The Nigerian singer has been announced as the headline performer for the halftime show at the 2026 NFL London Game, making her the first Afrobeats artiste to headline an NFL halftime show.
She will perform on October 11, when the Philadelphia Eagles face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. British Summer Time.
The National Football League announced the performance on Thursday, August 27, with Ayra Starr also confirming the news on her social media platforms.
The performance represents another step in the global expansion of Afrobeats, placing one of Nigeria’s leading contemporary artistes at the centre of an international sporting event.
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The NFL described Ayra Starr as a “global Afrobeats superstar”. It said her London performance would be part of a record seven halftime shows being staged during the league’s 2026 International Games.
The shows will take place across seven countries and four continents, reflecting the NFL’s growing push to build its audience beyond the United States.
Tim Tubito, the NFL’s Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music and Entertainment, said London’s strong connection to African music made Ayra Starr a fitting choice for the event.
He described her as a generational talent with a strong connection to fans in the London market.
Ayra Starr’s NFL appearance adds to a growing list of international milestones for the singer.
Since making her debut in 2021, she has accumulated more than 7 billion global streams and 1 billion YouTube views, according to the NFL. She is also a two-time GRAMMY nominee for Best African Music Performance and won the BET Award for Best International Act.
Her international profile has continued to expand through performances at major global events, including Glastonbury Festival.
The NFL appearance also comes shortly after the release of her third studio album, Starrgirl, which arrived on August 14 with collaborations including Wizkid, ZAYN and Leon Thomas.
For Afrobeats, the significance goes beyond the performance itself.
The NFL has become another major global platform through which African music is reaching audiences outside its traditional markets. Ayra Starr’s selection signals Afrobeats’ growing commercial and cultural influence in the international entertainment industry.
Her performance will also give the genre another major sporting platform at a time when Nigerian artistes are increasingly appearing at high-profile global events.
On October 11, Ayra Starr will not just be performing in London. She will be carrying Afrobeats onto the NFL stage for the first time as a headline halftime act.
