Fans hoping to see Taylor Swift light up the Super Bowl Halftime stage will have to wait a little longer.
Reports reveal that discussions between the pop superstar and the NFL about headlining the upcoming Halftime show broke down after the league allegedly rejected one of Swift’s “major requests.”
Had negotiations gone differently, Swifties around the world would likely be celebrating her appearance at the February 2026 event. Instead, the opportunity slipped away, leaving fans disappointed.
On September 28, the NFL officially announced that Bad Bunny would take the spotlight instead — marking a historic moment as he becomes the first Puerto Rican-born artist to headline the Halftime show.
The rapper, whose full name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, expressed deep pride and gratitude following the news.
He said:
“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown.”
He continued:
“This is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL. (Go and tell grandma that we will be the HALFTIME SHOW of the Super Bowl).”
Before the official announcement, several big names were rumored for the coveted performance slot — with Taylor Swift at the top of the list. Speculation intensified when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell publicly extended an invitation for her to perform.
During an appearance on the Today Show, Goodell said:
“We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent and obviously, she would be welcome at any time.”
When pressed on whether Swift was actually being considered, he played coy, responding:
“I can’t tell you anything about that. It’s a maybe.”
However, entertainment journalist Rob Shuter later claimed that negotiations fell apart after the two sides failed to agree on one key issue — control over performance footage.
According to WCNC, Swift allegedly wanted to retain ownership of her performance and secure slots promoting her own projects, but the NFL was unwilling to accept those terms.
TalkSport quoted an industry insider saying:
“She knows the kind of ratings she brings, the global attention she commands. She wasn’t about to hand that over for free.”
Another source added:
“The NFL flatly refused. Taylor Swift doesn’t need exposure. She wanted a deal that reflected her value.”
Meanwhile, before being officially announced as the Halftime performer, Bad Bunny explained why he decided not to include U.S. venues in his upcoming Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour. He revealed that concerns over potential ICE raids at U.S. stadiums influenced his decision to avoid American tour stops entirely.
With Bad Bunny set to make history on the world’s biggest stage, Swift’s absence is sure to be felt — but true to form, her next move will undoubtedly be on her own terms.
