Nigerian Afrobeats star Damini ‘Burna Boy’ Ogulu will headline the halftime show at the 2026 NFL Paris Game when the league stages its first regular-season game in France next month.
The Grammy Award-winning singer will perform at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sunday, October 25, during the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints.
The game, presented by American Express, will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CEST (9:30 a.m. ET) and will mark the NFL’s first regular-season fixture in France.
The performance will also see Burna Boy return to the Stade de France, where he made history in April 2025 as the first African artist to headline a solo concert at the stadium.
The concert on April 18, 2025, sold out all 80,000 tickets, according to the Stade de France, marking a major milestone in the Nigerian singer’s career.
Reacting to the NFL announcement, Burna Boy said returning to the stadium for the occasion was significant to him.
“Paris gave me one of the biggest nights of my career, and to walk back into Stade de France for a moment like this means everything.
“The NFL is bringing something to France that has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it representing African music and I intend to give the people a show they will not forget,” he told Billboard.
Tim Tubito, the NFL’s senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, said Burna Boy was chosen to headline the show because of the significance of the league’s first game in France.
“The first NFL game in France deserves a halftime moment that matches the occasion, and there is no artist better suited to it than Burna Boy,” Tubito said.
He added that African music “sits right at the heart of what the city listens to”, noting Burna Boy’s previous history at the stadium.
The Paris performance is part of a record seven halftime shows planned for the NFL’s 2026 International Games across seven countries and four continents.
Other announced performers include the Jonas Brothers for the Melbourne Game, Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin for Rio de Janeiro, Ayra Starr for London, Cage The Elephant for Munich and The Warning for Mexico City.
Burna Boy has become a prominent figure in the global expansion of Afrobeats, with his music taking him to major international stages. He won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album for Twice As Tall in 2021.
The 2026 NFL Paris Game is being staged in partnership with GL events, with support from the French Ministry of Sports.
Burna Boy’s full halftime performance will be broadcast live in France on free-to-air broadcaster France Télévisions and beIN Sports, while L’Équipe will air the game later that evening.
No details have yet been announced about the setlist or any additional performers for the Paris halftime show.
Nigeria’s Run
Burna Boy’s appearance at the NFL Paris Game adds to the growing presence of Nigerian and Afrobeats artistes on major international sports stages.
The singer has previously performed at the UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show in Istanbul in 2023 and at the NBA All-Star Game the same year. He is also scheduled to perform alongside Shakira at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a performance of their collaboration, “Dai Dai.”
Another Nigerian artiste making history with the NFL is Ayra Starr, who is scheduled to headline the halftime show at the NFL London Game on October 11, 2026. The performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will feature the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Davido has also performed at major football events, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony in Qatar, where he performed “Hayya Hayya (Better Together).” He has also featured in AFCON-related performances and FIFA Countdown Concert events.
Tems performed at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, while Rema performed at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.
Other Nigerian artistes have also taken their music to major international sporting platforms. Yemi Alade performed at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, while Femi Kuti featured at the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in South Africa. D’banj also performed at the 2013 AFCON closing ceremony.
Kizz Daniel and Patoranking both performed at the FIFA World Cup 2022 Fan Festival in Qatar, where they entertained football fans during the tournament. Kizz Daniel performed his global hit “Buga”, while Patoranking brought his reggae-dancehall sound to the international audience.
Wizkid has also featured at major sports and entertainment events, including the inaugural World Tennis League in 2022 and Gamers8, a major gaming and esports festival in Saudi Arabia.
Fireboy DML, meanwhile, performed his hit song “Peru” at the BET Awards, while his song “Scatter” was selected for the official soundtrack of EA Sports FIFA 21, extending his presence into global sports gaming.
Together, these appearances show the increasing visibility of Nigerian music across major international sporting and entertainment platforms, from the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League and Club World Cup to the Ballon d’Or, NBA All-Star Game, AFCON and NFL International Games.
Burna Boy’s upcoming performance in Paris adds another major international sports platform to that growing list, while his return to the Stade de France gives the appearance an additional connection to his history in France.
