Jay-Z to Headline the 2027 Super Bowl Halftime Show

For years, he has shaped who steps onto the biggest stage in American sports without ever stepping onto it himself. That is about to change, as the hip-hop icon will perform at the NFL's championship game for the first time.

Every February, the Super Bowl turns a football game into a global event. Tens of millions of people in the U.S. watch the game, while the halftime show draws attention around the world.

The 2027 edition now has its headliner as Apple Music, the NFL, and Roc Nation announced that Jay-Z will perform at the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show on Sunday, February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in California.

The rapper's company, Roc Nation, has produced the halftime show since 2019, and he plays a key role in choosing each year's performer. Until now, he had never taken the stage at the NFL's championship game himself.

Joining a Powerful Lineup

Jay-Z follows recent halftime headliners including Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna, and The Weeknd. That puts him alongside some of the biggest names in modern music on one of its most-watched platforms.

The bar is high, too. Lamar's 2025 set became the most-watched halftime show in history and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction.

A Résumé to Match

The credentials behind this pick run long. Jay-Z was the first hip-hop artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he has won four Emmys and 25 Grammys.

He entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 and has built multiple businesses and earned recognition in film and philanthropy.

This year added another chapter. The rapper marked the 30th anniversary of his debut album, "Reasonable Doubt," with a yearlong celebration called JAŸ-Z 30, which included immersive experiences and limited-edition products.

The project broke attendance records with three sold-out concerts at Yankee Stadium, and Jay-Z also sold out shows in London, Paris, and Los Angeles. "From 'Reasonable Doubt' to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey," he said.

The League's View

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league has worked closely with Jay-Z and Roc Nation for several years and has seen how much he has influenced the show. When the league first agreed to let Roc Nation produce the broadcast, Goodell said, he had a single request.

He asked that the rapper take the stage himself one day, whenever the timing felt right to the artist. Goodell added that he was excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity, and cultural impact Jay-Z will bring to the stage.

Behind the Scenes

Roc Nation will serve as executive producer of the telecast and strategic entertainment advisor for the live performance. British director Hamish Hamilton will direct.

With a landmark year behind him and years of halftime shows built under his guidance, Jay-Z steps into the spotlight in February. For a figure who has long worked behind the curtain, this time the stage is his.