Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy is set to take the global stage once again after being announced as the headline performer for the halftime show at the 2026 NFL Paris Game.
The Grammy Award-winning singer will perform at the Stade de France on Sunday, October 25, when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints in the NFL’s first regular-season game in France.
The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time (9:30 a.m. ET), with Burna Boy taking centre stage during halftime.
The announcement was made by the National Football League on Thursday, adding another major international achievement to the Nigerian singer’s career.
Burna Boy Returns to Stade de France
The Paris performance will be a return to familiar territory for Burna Boy.
In April 2025, he became the first African artist to headline a solo concert at Stade de France, selling out the 80,000-capacity venue.
Reacting to his return, Burna Boy said Paris had given him one of the biggest nights of his career and described the opportunity to perform at the stadium again as significant.
He said he would be representing African music and promised a performance that would leave a lasting impression on the audience.
NFL’s First Game in France
Burna Boy’s performance will accompany a landmark moment for American football in France.
The Steelers-Saints matchup will be the first NFL regular-season game ever played in France, with the event taking place at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
The Paris game is part of the NFL’s biggest international programme to date, with games scheduled across multiple countries and four continents during the 2026 season.
The league is also staging a record seven international halftime shows, pairing its overseas games with major music acts.
Another Global Platform for Afrobeats
The NFL said Burna Boy’s international profile and previous history at the Stade de France made him a natural fit for the occasion.
NFL senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, Tim Tubito, said the first NFL game in France deserved a major halftime moment and pointed to the strong connection between African music and Paris.
Burna Boy has become one of the leading Nigerian artists on the international music scene, helping push Afrobeats and Afro-fusion to audiences around the world.
His selection also follows the NFL’s growing use of African and international music stars for its overseas games.
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr is scheduled to headline the halftime show at the NFL London Game on October 11, while other international performers include Ricky Martin, Pedro Sampaio, Cage the Elephant and The Warning.
Burna Boy’s Big Paris Moment
For Burna Boy, the NFL appearance represents another major chapter in his relationship with Paris and another opportunity to place Nigerian music before a massive international sports audience.
As the Steelers and Saints battle on the field, the Nigerian superstar will have his own assignment at halftime — bringing Afrobeats to one of the world’s biggest sporting platforms.
Paris is getting its first NFL game. Africa is getting another global music stage. And Burna Boy is bringing the sound of Nigeria with him.
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