Nigerian Afrobeats star, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has been selected to headline the halftime show at the 2026 NFL Paris Game, adding another major international sporting platform to his growing list of global performances.
The Grammy Award-winning singer will take the stage at the Stade de France on Sunday, October 25, when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints in what will be the first regular-season National Football League game ever played in France.
The NFL announced Burna Boy as the headline performer on Thursday, September 17, confirming that the Nigerian musician will provide the entertainment during the halftime break of the historic encounter.
The game is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time, which is 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris. The fixture is being presented by American Express and staged in partnership with GL events, with support from France’s Ministry of Sports.
Burna Boy’s appearance will form part of the NFL’s biggest international programme to date, with the league staging a record seven halftime shows across its 2026 International Games. The performances will span seven countries and four continents as the NFL expands its regular-season presence beyond the United States.
According to the league, the Paris event represents a new market for the NFL, while Burna Boy’s selection gives the occasion an additional connection to African music and the city’s international entertainment scene.
Burna Boy Returns To Stade De France
The October performance will mark Burna Boy’s return to the Stade de France, a venue where he previously achieved a significant milestone in his career.
In April 2025, the Nigerian singer became the first African artiste to headline a solo concert at the stadium. His April 18, 2025 concert sold out all 80,000 tickets, according to the Stade de France, further establishing his status as one of Africa’s leading international music acts.
Reflecting on his return to the venue, Burna Boy said Paris had given him one of the biggest nights of his career and described the opportunity to perform there again as meaningful.
He said the NFL was bringing something new to France and that he would be representing African music on the occasion.
Burna Boy added that he intended to deliver a performance that audiences would remember.
His upcoming appearance therefore combines two significant moments: the NFL’s first regular-season game in France and the singer’s return to a stadium where he previously made African music history.
NFL Explains Burna Boy Selection
Tim Tubito, the NFL’s senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, said Burna Boy was an appropriate choice for the league’s first game in France.
According to Tubito, the significance of the occasion required a halftime performance capable of matching the scale of the event.
He also pointed to Burna Boy’s previous history at the Stade de France and the singer’s connection with African music as factors that made his participation particularly significant.
The NFL said African music has a strong presence in Paris, while Burna Boy’s international profile gives the halftime show a performer with an established connection to audiences across different markets.
The league has increasingly used its international games to combine American football with major music and entertainment performances.
For the 2026 season, the international halftime lineup includes several globally recognised acts. The Jonas Brothers were announced for the Melbourne Game, while Brazilian DJ, Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin are scheduled for the Rio de Janeiro Game.
Nigerian singer, Ayra Starr, is also set to headline the halftime show at the NFL London Game on October 11, while Cage The Elephant will perform at the Munich Game and The Warning will headline the Mexico City Game.
Burna Boy’s Growing Global Sporting Profile
The NFL Paris announcement adds to Burna Boy’s growing record of appearances at major international sporting events.
The Nigerian singer has previously performed at high-profile platforms connected to football and basketball, including the UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show in Istanbul in 2023 and the NBA All-Star Game in the same year.
His international profile has also continued to expand through his involvement in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he performed alongside Colombian superstar, Shakira.
Burna Boy’s presence at major global sporting events reflects the increasing use of African music stars to connect international sporting competitions with audiences beyond traditional football and sports markets.
His NFL appearance also comes as Nigerian music continues to gain visibility at major global sporting events. Ayra Starr’s scheduled London performance provides another Nigerian connection to the NFL’s 2026 International Games programme.
Broadcast Details
The NFL said Burna Boy’s full halftime performance will be broadcast live in France through France Télévisions and beIN Sports.
L’Équipe will also broadcast the game later the same evening.
The league has not announced a setlist for Burna Boy’s halftime performance or confirmed whether the singer will be joined by additional guest performers.
The Steelers-Saints matchup will be watched closely beyond the United States as the NFL seeks to establish a stronger presence in France.
The 2026 Paris Game is one of several international fixtures scheduled by the league this season, with games also taking place in London, Madrid, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Munich and Mexico City.
For Burna Boy, the October 25 performance represents another opportunity to place Afrobeats and Nigerian music before a large international audience.
For the NFL, meanwhile, the event marks its formal entry into France with a regular-season fixture and a halftime show designed around one of Africa’s most internationally recognised contemporary music stars.
Burna Boy’s return to the Stade de France will consequently bring together his previous history at the venue and the NFL’s latest international expansion, with the Nigerian singer set to provide the musical centrepiece when the Steelers and Saints meet in Paris.