Nigerian Afrobeats star Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has been announced as the headline performer for the halftime show of the 2026 National Football League (NFL) Paris Game. The game will take place on Sunday, October 25, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris, between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints. The announcement was made by the NFL as part of its 2026 International Games programme.
The NFL Paris Game will mark the league's first regular-season fixture in France, scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time. Burna Boy previously made history at the Stade de France in April 2025 as the first African artiste to headline a solo concert at the stadium, which reportedly sold out all 80,000 tickets. This performance will be a return to the venue for the Grammy Award-winning singer.
Reacting to the NFL announcement, Burna Boy described his return to the Paris stadium as significant, noting that the NFL's arrival in France would provide an opportunity for him to represent African music on another major international platform. The singer said, "The NFL is bringing something to France that has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it representing African music."
According to the NFL's senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, Tim Tubito, Burna Boy's previous history at the stadium and the popularity of African music in Paris contributed to the decision to have him headline the performance. Burna Boy has established himself as one of the Nigerian artistes with a strong international presence, blending Afrobeats with elements of hip-hop, reggae, dancehall, and R&B.
Burna Boy won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album for Twice As Tall in 2021 and has performed at several major international events, including the UEFA Champions League final kick-off show and the NBA All-Star Game. His upcoming NFL appearance will add to the growing presence of Nigerian artistes at major international sporting events.
Other artistes have been announced for the NFL's 2026 international games, including Ayra Starr, Ricky Martin, Pedro Sampaio, Cage The Elephant, and The Warning. Ayra Starr is scheduled to headline the halftime show at the NFL London Game on October 11, where the Philadelphia Eagles will face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The NFL Paris Game will combine American football with an international music performance, with Burna Boy set to provide the entertainment during halftime. Details of his setlist or possible guest appearances have not yet been announced. The event will feature a record seven halftime shows across seven countries and four continents as part of the NFL's 2026 International Games programme.
Key points
- Burna Boy will headline the halftime show of the 2026 NFL Paris Game.
- The game will take place on October 25 at the Stade de France in Paris.
- This will be Burna Boy's second major performance at the Stade de France, following his historic solo concert in April 2025.
