Metallica, Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, Bad Bunny, and more

The 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show is one of the most anticipated events in entertainment. Depending on who the performer is, it can bring fans together or turn into a giant argument about who it should have been instead. Kendrick Lamar took the stage in 2025, and now it’s all eyes on who could be taking the field in 2026. 

Super Bowl LX is taking place on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, home of the San Francisco 49ers. Lamar was announced as the performer in September, so we should be finding out who the performer is soon. 

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Until then, there are plenty of rumors going around. The top one seems to be Metallica, which would make it the first time a metal band performed. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich made it clear they would be down while talking on The Howard Stern show. 

“F**k yeah, of course we would,” he said. “To do it in San Francisco would be a dream come true… it would be the right fit.” Of course, he quickly reminded listeners, “Ultimately it’s not our decision.”

As for other artists that could take the stage, Kalshi, the financial-exchange-turned-odds-setter, currently gives Jay-Z a 32% chance of headlining. 

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Jay-Z has a big connection with the NFL. Back in August 2019, his entertainment company Roc Nation entered into a long-term partnership with the NFL to advise on live music and entertainment, including booking artists for the Super Bowl Halftime Show. 

Since then, Roc Nation has been behind some of the most high-profile artists in recent history, like Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in 2020, The Weeknd in 2021, Dr. Dre’s West Coast hip-hop blowout with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar in 2022, Rihanna’s pregnancy reveal in 2023, and Usher in 2024. 

Each lineup has had Roc Nation’s fingerprints all over it, and when Lil Wayne was “snubbed” in 2025, people pointed the blame at Jay-Z, saying it was because of their past beef. 

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Behind Jay-Z on Kalshi are Post Malone (25%), Miley Cyrus (23%), Bad Bunny (14%), with Metallica and Morgan Wallen tied (13%). Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Drake, Sabrina Carpenter, Oasis, Billie Eilish, and Foo Fighters, Sexyy Red, and Lil Baby are also on the list with less than 10% odds. 

We will have to wait and see which artist or artists are chosen by the NFL to take the field.