Is the NFL bringing Super Bowl-style halftime shows worldwide? What we know

The NFL has spent years bringing football international and with it, the culture that surrounds it. According to emerging reports and growing speculation, the league is exploring ways to bring Super Bowl-style entertainment to its international games in 2026, a season that is already set to feature a record number of matchups overseas.

The big question is, could halftime shows be coming next?

NFL’s global plan

The league is expected to host nine regular-season games outside the United States in 2026, the largest number in its history. Those games are set to span multiple countries, further cementing the NFL’s push to become a truly global sport.

But expanding the schedule is only part of the plan. The league has increasingly treated these games as full-scale events, not just regular-season contests played abroad. From sold-out stadiums to festival-style fan experiences, the goal is to replicate the energy of the Super Bowl on an international level.

That’s where the latest buzz begins. While there has been no official confirmation from the NFL, reports suggest the league is considering adding enhanced entertainment elements, including the possibility of halftime performances, to elevate these games even further.

The Super Bowl halftime show has become one of the biggest entertainment spectacles in the world, often drawing millions of viewers who tune in specifically for the performance. Bringing even a scaled-down version of that experience to international games would be a significant shift.

What’s actually been confirmed so far

At this stage, there are still more questions than answers. There have been no announced halftime performers, and the NFL has not detailed any official plans for concerts during the break in play.

However, there are signs that the league is already experimenting. Some international games are expected to feature pregame entertainment, with reports linking major artists to appearances tied to specific matchups. These performances would not mirror the Super Bowl exactly, but they signal a move toward blending sports and entertainment on a larger scale.

Even if halftime shows are introduced, they would almost certainly look different from the Super Bowl version. A typical NFL halftime lasts around 12 minutes, far shorter than the extended production seen during the championship game. That means any performances would likely be shorter in duration, less elaborate in production, and more localized to the host country. So, think of it as a “mini” version of the Super Bowl experience, rather than a full-scale replica.

The NFL is competing not just with other American sports, but with global giants like soccer, which dominate the international landscape. To stand out, the league is leaning into what it does best - turning games into events.

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