Ricky Martin makes surprise Super Bowl LX halftime appearance with Bad Bunny

Ricky Martin returned to one of pop’s biggest stages on Sunday, February 8, 2026, joining the Super Bowl LX halftime show as a surprise guest during a Spanish-language set led by Bad Bunny. The cameo put the Puerto Rican star back in the center of a major mainstream moment—and underscored how Latin music’s biggest names are increasingly sharing the same global spotlight.

Martin’s appearance came late in the performance, framed as a celebratory nod to Puerto Rico and the wider Latin diaspora watching a traditionally pop- and rock-dominated showcase.

What happened during the halftime show

Martin emerged as one of the headline guests during a halftime production built around Bad Bunny’s catalog and cultural references. In the segment featuring Martin, the staging leaned into Puerto Rico imagery and a big-band, dance-forward feel, pairing a stadium-scale production with a classic Latin-pop presence.

The set was also notable for its language choice: the performance was delivered entirely (or almost entirely) in Spanish, a decision that amplified the show’s cultural intention and made Martin’s guest spot feel less like a throwback and more like an extension of the night’s theme.

Ricky Martin’s song moment and staging

Martin performed “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii,” a track associated with Bad Bunny’s recent work, and the moment was staged as a distinct scene within the broader medley. Rather than a brief walk-on, it was presented as a featured passage—complete with visual cues that echoed the aesthetics tied to the song’s release and promotion.

That choice mattered: it positioned Martin as a bridge between generations of Puerto Rican pop and the current wave of global Latin stardom, while keeping the spotlight firmly on the headliner’s narrative.

A Puerto Rico-to-the-world message

The halftime show leaned heavily into Puerto Rico’s cultural signatures—music, dance, and iconography—without translating them for a non-Spanish-speaking audience. Martin’s role fit that approach: he didn’t reintroduce himself with an English-language hit, but instead stepped into the evening’s Spanish-first frame.

In the days leading up to the game, Martin also publicly praised Bad Bunny in an open letter published in a Puerto Rico newspaper, calling the recent awards-season success a broader win for Puerto Rican identity and authenticity. The letter helped set a tone: this halftime show wasn’t simply a booking, but part of a larger cultural storyline playing out in real time.

Why this matters for Martin’s career arc

For Martin, the appearance adds a new chapter to a career that has already included global crossover peaks, major tours, and landmark visibility for Latin pop in U.S. mainstream media. But the context is different in 2026 than it was during earlier eras of crossover: Latin music is no longer treated as a niche lane, and the halftime stage is now a place where Spanish-language performance can be the core, not the exception.

A high-profile cameo like this can also refresh attention around an artist’s catalog and live show—especially when the moment is designed as a cultural co-sign rather than a nostalgia play.

Key takeaways from the performance

• The cameo reinforced a Spanish-first halftime show as a mainstream, stadium-scale production choice.

• Martin’s song selection tied him to the headliner’s current era, not just his own legacy hits.

• The wider framing centered Puerto Rico’s identity as the show’s throughline, not a side reference.

What comes next to watch

In the near term, the biggest indicator will be whether the halftime appearance translates into measurable momentum—such as increased attention to Martin’s music, renewed demand for festival bookings, or additional high-profile collaborations. Those signals typically show up quickly through industry scheduling, public announcements, and performance plans that follow major televised events.

For now, the takeaway is straightforward: Ricky Martin didn’t just make a cameo—he stepped into a defining pop-culture moment designed around Puerto Rican pride, and his presence helped make the point land.

Sources consulted: People, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, El Nuevo Día