Afrobeats superstar Ayra Starr will headline the halftime show at the 2026 National Football League (NFL) London Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, October 11.
The performance will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 2:30 p.m. BST (9:30 a.m. ET) and will form part of a record seven halftime shows presented by American Express across the NFL’s 2026 International Games.
The performances will span seven countries and four continents as the NFL stages its largest-ever international schedule in a single season.
Ayra Starr, one of the leading voices of a new generation of global pop artists emerging from Africa, has amassed more than seven billion global streams and one billion YouTube views since making her debut in 2021.
The Beninese-Nigerian singer and songwriter is a two-time GRAMMY nominee for Best African Music Performance, a BET Award winner for Best International Act and a Pyramid Stage performer at Glastonbury Festival.
She released her third studio album, Starrgirl, on August 14 to widespread acclaim. The album features collaborations with international artists including ZAYN, Leon Thomas and Wizkid and is released through Mavin Records and Republic Records.
“I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London,” said Ayra Starr. “London is one of my favorite places in the world and to bring Starrgirl to the NFL global stage is a dream come true for me. I can’t wait to see you guys there!”
“The NFL London games are the foundation of everything we have built internationally, and the halftime show has become one of the biggest moments which makes these events so special,” said Tim Tubito, senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment at the NFL.
“London is one of the most influential music cities in the world, and African music has been at the center of that conversation for years now. Ayra Starr is a generational talent with a real connection to fans in this market, and building on the halftime shows we have staged in London in recent seasons, she is the right artist to carry that momentum forward. We look forward to collaborating with her on a performance that captures the energy that matches the moment.”
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host two regular-season NFL games on consecutive Sundays in October.
The first game will take place on Sunday, October 4, when the Indianapolis Colts face the Washington Commanders. Alternative entertainment will feature during halftime, with further details to be announced.
Ayra Starr’s full halftime performance will be broadcast live and free-to-air in the UK on Channel 5, as well as on Sky Sports.
The NFL said it remains committed to growing the game at every level across the country while engaging fans throughout the year through partners, programmes and initiatives. Further information about entertainment and fan events surrounding the 2026 NFL London Games will be announced in due course.
The announcement follows previously confirmed performances by the Jonas Brothers at the 2026 NFL Melbourne Game on Thursday, September 10 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, as well as Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio at the 2026 NFL Rio Game on Sunday, September 27 at Maracanã Stadium.
The 2026 NFL International Games will take place across seven international markets, including three new markets and cities.
The international schedule includes two games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one at Wembley Stadium in London; the Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain; Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia; Estadio Banorte in Mexico City, Mexico; FC Bayern Munich Arena in Munich, Germany; Stade de France Stadium in Paris, France; and Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Sixty-two regular-season NFL games have previously been played outside the United States, with London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto among the cities to have hosted games.
The two-time GRAMMY-nominated global Afrobeats superstar, Ayra Starr has rapidly established herself as one of the generation’s most prominent new voices in music.
Known for her anthemic Afrobeats songs and distinctive style, the Beninese-Nigerian artist has earned critical acclaim, built a substantial international following and accumulated more than seven billion global streams and one billion YouTube views.
Following the release of her breakthrough debut album, 19 & Dangerous, Ayra Starr's rise has led to collaborations with some of the biggest names in music, including Wizkid, Stormzy, Rema and Coldplay, alongside public support from global stars such as Rihanna.
She gained significant international attention with her 2022 hit “Rush”, which has generated nearly one billion global streams and featured R&B star Kelly Rowland on a remix.
The song further propelled Ayra Starr onto the global stage, earning her nominations at the Billboard Music Awards, BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and Soul Train Awards.
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