Bad Bunny's

Super Bowl LX halftime show on February 8, 2026, was a deeply symbolic tribute to Puerto Rican history and a reclamation of the "American" identity. Performing primarily in Spanish, he used various depictions of place, color, and numbers to critique colonialism and celebrate Caribbean resilience.

Depictions of Place and History

  • Sugar Cane Fields: The show opened with a field of sugar cane, a reference to Puerto Rico's colonial economic engine. Dancers dressed as jíbaros (countrymen) in traditional pava hats and white clothing highlighted the island's history of agricultural labor and the legacy of slavery.
  • El Morro: A set replica of , the 16th-century Spanish fort in San Juan, served as a stage for his performance with Lady Gaga. It included garitas (sentry boxes), which are iconic symbols of Puerto Rican national identity.
  • La Casita: Bad Bunny performed from the roof of a traditional pink cement house, or "casita," representing mid-century Puerto Rican homes built to withstand hurricanes. This set piece, featuring guests like Cardi B and Karol G, served as a meditation on community and the threat of gentrification.
  • Electrical Poles: During the song "El Apagón" (The Blackout), performers scaled sparking power poles. This referenced the island's chronic power outages and the year-long blackout following Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Symbolism of Colors and Numbers

  • Azul Clarito (Light Blue): Bad Bunny carried a Puerto Rican flag with a light blue triangle, rather than the official dark navy. This "original" sky blue is a symbol of the independence movement; the blue was darkened in 1952 to match the U.S. flag.
  • The Number "64": Bad Bunny wore a custom jersey with his surname "Ocasio" and the number 64. While he officially clarified it was a tribute to his uncle Cutito, born in 1964, many viewers noted it echoed the Puerto Rican government's controversial initial death toll of 64 for Hurricane Maria.
  • Red Flor de Maga: Lady Gaga's dress was adorned with the flor de maga, the national flower of Puerto Rico, reinforcing the theme of cultural pride.

The Re-definition of "America"

The performance concluded with a message of Pan-American unity. Bad Bunny listed over 20 countries from Chile to Canada, proclaiming "God bless America" to include the entire continent, not just the U.S.. He ended the show by spiking a football inscribed with the message: "Together We Are America".

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