Rumors about Taylor Swift performing at the Super Bowl were quashed after her purported discussions with the NFL reportedly ended due to a disagreement over a ‘major request’ from the singer.
Fans of the pop star might have been thrilled at the prospect of her headlining the February 2026 Super Bowl Halftime show, but that was not to be.
On September 28, the NFL announced that Bad Bunny will grace the Halftime stage, marking him as the first Puerto Rican-born artist to headline the event.
The artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, expressed his excitement about this achievement in a statement after the announcement.
He stated: “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.
“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).”
Despite being a potential contender, with speculation that the 35-year-old singer could take the spot, Swift missed out on this opportunity.
Moreover, NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, had openly invited Swift, saying on the Today Show: “We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent and obviously, she would be welcome at any time.”
He refrained from giving a definite answer on whether a Swift performance was ‘in the works’, saying: “I can’t tell you anything about that. It’s a maybe.”
Journalist Rob Shuter suggested that the collaboration didn’t materialize because the NFL and Swift, now engaged to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, couldn’t reach an agreement on rights to performance footage.
WCNC reported that Swift allegedly wanted to ‘retain ownership of her performance and secure slots promoting her own projects’, but the NFL ‘flatly refused’.
An industry source, as reported by TalkSport, claimed: “She knows the kind of ratings she brings, the global attention she commands. She wasn’t about to hand that over for free.
“The NFL flatly refused. Taylor Swift doesn’t need exposure. She wanted a deal that reflected her value.”
Prior to the Halftime show announcement, Bad Bunny explained his decision to avoid US venues for his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour due to concerns about potential ICE raids at US stadiums.
UNILAD has reached out to Swift’s representatives and the NFL for additional comments.