According to reports, Bad Bunny intends to wear a dress to the Super Bowl 2026 Halftime Show. 🏈
Bad Bunny’s upcoming Super Bowl 2026 Halftime Show has ignited intense discussion across social media, music circles, and mainstream outlets, fueled by reports that the Puerto Rican superstar intends to wear a dress as part of his performance. Set to take place on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, this will mark the first time a Latino and Spanish-language artist headlines the iconic halftime slot as a solo act.
The rumored sartorial choice transcends mere fashion—it’s framed as a deliberate tribute to Puerto Rican queer icons, drag culture, resistance, and long-standing traditions of cultural rebellion within Latinx and Caribbean communities.
Sources close to the production, including an anonymous stylist quoted by RadarOnline, emphasize that the decision stems from artistic and political intent rather than a quest for cheap shock value. “He loves controversy. He lives to push boundaries. This is a political thunderbolt disguised as couture,” the stylist reportedly said. The outfit would reportedly speak as loudly as the music itself, amplifying Bad Bunny’s consistent advocacy for LGBTQ+ visibility, gender fluidity, and challenging machismo norms in reggaeton and broader Latin music.
Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has built a career on defying expectations. From his breakout hits like “Dákiti” and “Yo Perreo Sola” to albums such as Un Verano Sin Ti and Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, he has consistently incorporated themes of vulnerability, queerness, and social critique. In 2020, he appeared on the cover of Vogue México wearing a skirt, sparking global conversations about gender norms in Latin America.
His music videos and live performances often feature drag elements, makeup, and androgynous styling, drawing inspiration from Puerto Rican figures who paved the way for such expressions.
The island’s queer history is rich and resilient. Icons like Jorge Luis “Papo” Flores, a foundational drag performer in San Juan’s underground scene during the 1970s and 1980s, faced severe repression under conservative societal pressures and legal restrictions on cross-dressing. Performers such as La Prohibida (though Spanish, influential in Latin circuits) and more contemporary artists like drag queens in Puerto Rico’s vibrant ballroom and cabaret traditions embody resistance against homophobia, colonialism’s lingering effects, and rigid gender roles inherited from Spanish and U.S. influences.
Bad Bunny’s gesture would honor this lineage—transforming one of the world’s most-watched stages (often exceeding 100 million viewers) into a platform for visibility and pride.
This move arrives amid heightened cultural and political tensions in the United States. Conservative commentators and some NFL fans have already voiced outrage on social media, labeling the rumored look as divisive or inappropriate for a family-oriented event. Outlets aligned with traditional values have framed it as an attempt to “push queer icons” in a way that alienates mainstream audiences. Yet Bad Bunny has never shied away from backlash. His past statements and actions—such as calling out Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló in 2019 or donating proceeds from concerts to hurricane relief—demonstrate a willingness to use his platform for activism.
The Super Bowl halftime show has evolved into a cultural battleground. Past performances by Beyoncé (2013, 2016), Madonna (2012), and Lady Gaga (2017) incorporated political messaging, from Black Lives Matter symbolism to immigrant pride. Kendrick Lamar’s 2022 set addressed systemic issues through layered symbolism. Bad Bunny’s potential inclusion of drag-inspired couture would continue this tradition, but with a distinctly Latinx and queer lens—potentially the most explicit celebration of gender nonconformity in the show’s history.
Despite the buzz, conflicting reports have emerged. Production insiders told TMZ and other outlets that Bad Bunny will not wear a dress, with one source clarifying no dress fitting occurred and that rumors were overblown. The NFL and Apple Music (the halftime show’s sponsor) have remained tight-lipped on costume specifics, focusing instead on the performer’s massive catalog and cultural significance. Bad Bunny’s trailer and promotional materials highlight high-energy reggaeton, trap, and Latin fusions, with predictions of setlists featuring crowd-pleasers like “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Moscow Mule,” and collaborations.
Whether the dress materializes or not, the conversation underscores Bad Bunny’s power to provoke. At 32, he remains reggaeton’s global ambassador, breaking streaming records and influencing fashion, language, and identity politics. A dress—or any bold gender-bending element—would symbolize more than aesthetics; it would assert that Puerto Rican queer history belongs on the world’s biggest stage, resisting erasure and celebrating survival.
For millions tuning in, the halftime show offers escapism through spectacle. For others, particularly queer youth in Latin America and the diaspora, it could represent affirmation—that rebellion through beauty and performance remains a potent form of resistance. As Bad Bunny prepares to command Levi’s Stadium, the debate itself proves his enduring impact: he doesn’t just perform; he reframes the conversation.
