Jay-Z is the Halftime Show 2026 Deserves
Photo Credit: Roc Nation
The rumours are true: Jay-Z has chosen himself to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show next February. Ever since he was announced as a business partner for the NFL in 2019, this moment has felt distant, yet inevitable. And now we arrive in 2026, where Jay-Z has just concluded a highly successful anniversary tour, proving that his fandom (and nostalgia) is alive and well. Why wouldn’t one of the most successful rappers of the century want to cap off a highly successful tour with the biggest stage in sports?
It was going to happen eventually, yet many (on the internet) seem frustrated with this choice. Some argue there are bad optics in Jay-Z picking himself considering his enormous wealth. Some question the location decision: Jay-Z has chosen to perform at a Super Bowl in Los Angeles, when he could’ve picked a musician able to celebrate personal connections to the city, such as Dr. Dre who honoured his hometown at 2021’s show. And the discourse that is gaining the most traction… “who even listens to Jay-Z these days?”
I am not going to pretend as though I am personally elated by Jay-Z’s upcoming Halftime performance. I agree that he hasn’t had a mainstream hit this decade. But I find the underlying argument that the media we consume should constantly cater to our whims to be frustrating. Jay-Z’s entrepreneurial reputation precedes him, but he has a catalogue of music that has sold millions and captured fans from all over the world. I am surprised to see little curiosity from non-fans about his performance.
And this is not to diminish Jay-Z’s legendary status in music. But looking around… the A-list options were limited. Taylor Swift has said no for years, Drake’s public stock is sinking, and artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish have not built the catalogue quite yet. Billboard has reported that Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber were serious contenders, but I can’t help but question why people were so excited about the prospect of either. Miley’s recent Hollywood Bowl shows have been met with mixed reactions as she’s repeatedly expressed frustration with having to perform. Justin’s Coachella performance went viral, but for being the opposite of the high-effort, high-energy show the Halftime Show demands. As nostalgic as their catalogues may be, I can’t fault the organisers for wanting a more reliable performer in Jay-Z. And if you were to go solely off the Billboard charts, Ella Langley would be singing “Choosin’ Texas” on loop for 15 minutes. Of the well-established, popular artists with enough cultural capital to resist the death of monoculture, Jay-Z was one of the few willing to perform at the Halftime Show.
We’ve been spoiled with the last two halftime shows capturing the zeitgeist, whether it’s Kendrick Lamar calling out Drake on stage or Bad Bunny bringing Puerto Rico’s vibrancy to California. But there is no big, all-encompassing cultural moment to point to this year.
Jay-Z is a generational artist with a comprehensive catalogue of hits. He is also someone who has attempted to unite the politics of music with the corporate structure of the NFL. He has a unique opportunity, as the only musician truly entangled with the NFL, to finally address criticism about his business deals, and take advantage of his insider knowledge and complete control of the show to create something worth watching all over the world. Whether you like his music or not, this Halftime Show will be a historic moment for truly understanding the limitations of the relationship between musicians and the NFL. To what extent can artists showcase their artistry? To what extent can artists protest? Jay-Z, as an NFL partner, will answer these questions on sports’ biggest stage.
Not to mention, the Super Bowl will not be held in his hometown, New York, for at least the next 5 years. If not now, then when?