Burna Boy to Headline Halftime Show at NFL’s First Paris Game

Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy is set to headline the halftime show when the National Football League (NFL) stages its first-ever regular-season game in Paris.

The Grammy-winning musician will perform at the Stade de France on Sunday, October 25, 2026, when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New Orleans Saints.

The game is part of the NFL’s expanding international programme, which will see regular-season games played across several countries and continents during the 2026 season.

Burna Boy returns to Stade de France

The performance will be another major moment in Burna Boy’s relationship with the iconic Paris venue.

In 2025, the Nigerian singer made history by becoming the first African artist to headline a solo concert at Stade de France, performing before a sold-out crowd of more than 80,000 people.

His return, this time for one of the biggest sporting events in the world, gives him another opportunity to bring African music to a massive international audience.

Burna Boy said Paris has already given him one of the biggest nights of his career and that returning to the stadium for the NFL event is a special opportunity.

He added that the event would allow him to represent African music on a different global platform and promised fans a performance they would remember.

NFL brings American football to Paris

The Steelers-Saints matchup will mark the NFL’s first regular-season game in France.

The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time, which will be 1:30 p.m. Ghana time.

The Paris fixture is part of what the NFL describes as its largest international season yet, with games taking place across four continents and seven countries.

The league is also staging a record seven international halftime shows, using major music performances to add to the entertainment surrounding its overseas games.

Burna Boy joins international halftime lineup

Burna Boy is one of several major artists selected to perform at NFL international games this season.

The lineup includes Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio for the Rio de Janeiro game, Ayra Starr for the London fixture, Cage The Elephant in Munich and The Warning in Mexico City.

The Jonas Brothers also performed earlier in the season during the NFL’s game in Melbourne.

NFL Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music and Entertainment Tim Tubito said Burna Boy was a natural choice for the Paris event because of his previous history at Stade de France and the strong connection between African music and the city's music culture.

Another milestone for African music

Burna Boy’s appearance at the NFL game adds to a growing list of international milestones for the Nigerian artist.

His music, which blends Afrobeats with elements of hip-hop, reggae, R&B and other influences, has helped him build a worldwide audience.

He won a Grammy for his 2020 album Twice as Tall and has since continued to perform at major venues around the world.

His growing presence on international stages also reflects the increasing global reach of African music, with African artists now regularly featuring at major festivals, arenas and sporting events outside the continent.

What to expect on October 25

When the Steelers and Saints meet at Stade de France, Burna Boy will take centre stage during the halftime break, bringing an African music touch to a landmark NFL event.

For the NFL, the performance forms part of its wider effort to connect American football with audiences in new international markets.

For Burna Boy, it represents another return to a stadium where he has already made history.

The 2026 Paris NFL game is therefore set to combine American football and African music in one of the world's most recognised sporting and entertainment venues.