Super Bowl 2026 Halftime Show Time: When Bad Bunny Performs, What “Benito Bowl” Means, and Why Citizenship Questions Keep Coming Up

Super Bowl 2026 is here, and the biggest question for many viewers isn’t just who wins — it’s what time the halftime show starts and when Bad Bunny goes on. With “Benito Bowl” trending as a nickname for the night’s entertainment, fans are planning watch parties and timing bathroom breaks around a performance that can easily become the most-watched 15 minutes on American television.

What time is the Super Bowl 2026 halftime show in ET?

The game’s scheduled kickoff is 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 8, 2026. From there, the precise halftime moment depends on how the first half unfolds: scoring pace, reviews, injuries, and timeouts can all stretch or compress the clock.

That said, the most realistic window for the halftime show start is roughly 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET.

If you’re trying to catch Bad Bunny’s first song without watching every snap, a practical rule is:

• Start paying attention around 7:50 p.m. ET

• Be fully settled by 8:05 p.m. ET

• If the first half runs long, you may be waiting closer to 8:20 p.m. ET

What time is Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl?

Bad Bunny is expected to perform during halftime, which usually begins around 8:00–8:15 p.m. ET in a typical Super Bowl pacing scenario, with a wider “safe” range that reaches toward 8:30 p.m. ET if the first half drags.

Also important: people often confuse two different time blocks:

• The halftime break length (how long the game pauses) can approach about 25–30 minutes at the Super Bowl.

• The actual musical performance is typically about 12–15 minutes.

So, if you tune in “at halftime,” you still might catch ads, stage setup, and the transition before the first beat drops.

Is Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl?

Yes — the current plan is that Bad Bunny headlines the Super Bowl 2026 halftime show. If you’re seeing posts that frame it as rumor, that’s mostly the internet’s habit of treating entertainment news as “unconfirmed” until the moment it happens on live TV.

“Benito Bowl” explained: why the nickname took off

“Benito Bowl” is a fan-made label riffing on Bad Bunny’s first name, Benito. The nickname matters because it reflects a bigger reality: for a huge chunk of the audience, the halftime show is not a break from the main event — it’s the main event.

That creates incentives for everyone involved:

• The league wants maximum global attention and crossover viewers who might not watch a full game.

• Advertisers want the halftime-adjacent minutes, when casual viewers are most likely to be tuned in.

• The artist and team want a set that reads as a career-defining statement: instantly recognizable hits, big staging, and maximum replay value.

• Viewers want a precise start time, because nobody wants to miss the opening seconds.

Is Puerto Rico part of the United States?

Puerto Rico is part of the United States in the sense that it is a US territory, but it is not a US state. That “territory” status is why Puerto Rico has its own local government and identity, while also being under US sovereignty.

The status also shapes civic life in ways people often forget:

• Residents of Puerto Rico generally do not vote for US president while living on the island.

• Puerto Rico has representation in Congress through a delegate role, but it is not the same as a voting member.

Is Bad Bunny a US citizen?

Bad Bunny was born and raised in Puerto Rico. People born in Puerto Rico are US citizens at birth under federal law, so the straightforward answer is: yes, Bad Bunny is a US citizen.

The reason this question keeps popping up right now is less about the law and more about the moment:

• A halftime headliner becomes a symbol, whether they want that job or not.

• Viewers who don’t follow Puerto Rico’s political status hear “Puerto Rican” and incorrectly treat it as “foreign national.”

• The internet rewards hot takes, and citizenship questions are an easy spark for arguments that travel faster than facts.

What we still don’t know, and what to watch for tonight

Even with a tight range, there are real unknowns:

• Exact halftime start: it’s locked to the game flow, not a fixed clock time.

• Whether there are surprise guests: not confirmed until it happens live.

• How long the full halftime segment runs: it can vary slightly year to year depending on production and game operations.

Next steps: 5 realistic scenarios with triggers

1. Early halftime (closer to 8:00 p.m. ET): a faster first half with fewer stoppages.

2. Mid-window halftime (around 8:10–8:20 p.m. ET): typical Super Bowl pacing.

3. Late halftime (near 8:30 p.m. ET): extended reviews, timeouts, or a scoring-heavy half.

4. Shorter feel to the show: fewer set pieces, tighter transitions, brisk pacing.

5. Longer-feeling halftime: elaborate staging and extended changeovers, even if the performance time stays similar.

For anyone building a schedule: assume Bad Bunny starts around 8:10 p.m. ET, but protect yourself with a window from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. ET. That’s the simplest way to avoid missing the moment everyone will be talking about when the third quarter kicks off.