Super Bowl 2026: Bad Bunny Brings Out Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin as Surprise Guests at Halftime
Lady Gaga has nothing but gratitude for Bad Bunny.
Hours after the “Abracadabra” singer made a surprise appearance in his 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 8, she expressed her appreciation for the Puerto Rican rapper (born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) for allowing her to play a role in his historic performance.
“Thank you Benito for including me in this powerful, important, and meaningful performance,” she wrote in an Instagram post on Feb. 9. “I am so humbled to be a part of this moment. It’s all the more special because it was with you and your beautiful heart and music.”
The Star Is Born actress—who sang a Latin-fusion version of her and Bruno Mars‘ song “Die With a Smile”—also highlighted other performers in the show, including Ricky Martin, as well as her style team.
“All my love to Benito, Ricky and the whole cast,” she wrote. “Thank you to @chloeandchenelle and @luar for my beautiful styling and fashion. All of your talent and love made that beautiful dress come to life.”
Indeed, Lady Gaga, 39, was dressed perfectly for the occasion, rocking a layered, baby blue, ankle-length dress with red heels and a pair of red flor de maga—the national flower of Puerto Rico—on her chest. She and Bad Bunny, 31, joined forces on stage mid-way through the show as they danced the salsa together.
The segment was just one of many details to pay tribute to Bad Bunny’s home island. The Grammy winner also incorporated other ways to honor Puerto Rican culture, from opening the show in a field of sugar canes and having older men play dominoes, to children sleeping on chairs at parties and people enjoying piragua treats.
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Additionally, the “DtMF” singer performed atop of an electrical pole—which was a nod to the unreliable power grids in Puerto Rico—and closed out his performance by saying “God Bless America” and shouting out every country in North, South, Central and Latin America, while displaying all of their flags.
Aside from Lady Gaga and Ricky, his set featured cameos from Cardi B, Alix Earle, Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal and Karol G.
Lady Gaga wasn’t the only star to speak out following the performance. Ricky—who performed an acoustic version of Bad Bunny’s “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii” (“What Happened to Hawaii”), a song about protecting Puerto Rican culture—also expressed his pride about being involved.
Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In an Instagram post on Feb. 8, the 54-year-old singer wrote, “I need several hours to process the tsunami of emotions I’m feeling.”
Since the showstopping performance, Bad Bunny has wiped his Instagram feed clean of every post, including his profile picture and every profile he used to interact with. The only trace that he left behind was a link to his 2025 album Debí Tirar Más Fotos in his bio.
For more details on Bad Bunny’s halftime performance, keep reading…
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La Gasolina
The Grammy winner kicked off the halftime show in an all-white ensemble.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Ricky Martin’s Moment
The “Livin’ La Vida Loca” singer made a cameo during the halftime show.
CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock
Lady Gaga’s cameo
Bad Bunny included one of his favorite singers in his performance.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Die With a Smile
Gaga performed a rendition of her and Bruno Mars‘ hit “Die With a Smile.”
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
A Star-Studded Ensemble
Karol G , Cardi B and more appeared on Bad Bunny’s stage
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Pedro Pascal’s Performance
The Last of Us actor was among the star-studded cameos.
CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock
Like It Like That
Dancers surrounded a truck as Bad Bunny performed on its hood.
Ishika Samant/Getty Images
A Moment for the Dancers
On top of a terrific vocal performance by the “Monaco” singer, his dancers equally stole the show.
Ishika Samant/Getty Images
A Tribute to Puerto Rico
Many references to Bad Bunny’s home were added into the performance.
JOSH EDELSON / AFP via Getty Images
A Moment of Matrimony
Performers appeared to tie the knot during Bad Bunny’s performance.
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