Taylor Swift will not be performing at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show after talks with the NFL fell through. Reports say the NFL denied Swift’s major request to retain ownership of her performance footage and secure promotional time for her own projects. This disagreement ended what many thought would be a perfect partnership for the big event.
Bad Bunny was announced as the headliner on September 28, becoming the first Puerto Rican artist to take the Super Bowl stage. Although NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had expressed openness and admiration for Swift, negotiations never led to an agreement. Swift, now engaged to NFL star Travis Kelce, reportedly wanted a deal reflecting her global value, which the league refused.
Industry insiders say Swift knows the huge attention she brings and wasn’t willing to give up control of her performance for free. The NFL apparently wanted to own the footage and control promotions, causing the split in talks.
