Nigerian Afrobeats singer Ayra Starr has become the first African artiste to headline a National Football League (NFL) halftime show after performing at the league’s international game in London on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Grammy-nominated singer took centre stage at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the halftime break of the match between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars, marking a milestone for African music on the international sporting stage.
Ayra Starr delivered a performance featuring some of her popular songs, including ‘Heaven Baby’, ‘Santa’, ‘Rush’, ‘Hot Body’ and ‘Dangerous’, alongside tracks from her latest album, ‘Starrgirl’.
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The performance formed part of the NFL’s 2026 International Games programme, which features musical acts at games hosted across different countries.
Speaking ahead of the show, Starr told BBC Newsbeat that the opportunity carried a wider significance beyond entertainment.
“It’s a message,” she said, emphasising the importance of artistes using major international platforms to represent their culture and audiences.
“At the end of the day, as artists, we speak for the culture and we speak for the people that listen to us,” she added. “And we have to represent any way that seems fit, that they need.”
Starr had also expressed excitement about performing at the event, describing the opportunity to bring her music to the NFL’s global stage as a dream come true.
The singer, whose real name is Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, rose to prominence in 2021 with her hit single ‘Bloody Samaritan’. She has since established an international audience through releases including her debut album, ‘19 & Dangerous’, and ‘The Year I Turned 21’.
Her NFL appearance adds to the growing international visibility of Afrobeats, with African artistes increasingly performing at major festivals and entertainment events around the world.
The London game was one of seven NFL International Games halftime shows scheduled for the 2026 season, reflecting the league’s continued expansion of its international entertainment programme.
