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Ayra Starr is set to make history as the first Afrobeats artist to headline an NFL international halftime show.
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The singer will perform at the 2026 NFL London Game on October 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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The performance comes shortly after the release of her third studio album, “Starrgirl”.
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Ayra’s NFL appearance adds another major milestone to her growing global career and Afrobeats’ international reach.
August 27, (THEWILL) — Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has been announced as the halftime performer for the 2026 National Football League (NFL) London Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The NFL announced the news on Thursday, with Starr set to perform at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, October 11.
The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. BST (9:30 a.m. ET), with the performance forming part of a record seven halftime shows planned for the NFL’s 2026 international games.
The halftime show will be presented by American Express, while Starr’s full performance will be broadcast live and free-to-air in the UK on Channel 5 and Sky Sports.
Starr welcomed the announcement, describing the opportunity to perform in London as a dream come true.
“I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London,” she said.
“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.”
The performance adds another major milestone to Starr’s growing international career.
She has become one of the leading voices of a new generation of African pop music since making her debut in 2021.
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The singer is a two-time Grammy nominee for Best African Music Performance and a BET Award winner for Best International Act. She has also performed at the Glastonbury Festival.
Starr recently released her third studio album, “Starrgirl”, on August 14.
The project features collaborations with international artists including Wizkid, ZAYN and Leon Thomas.
The NFL’s senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, Tim Tubito, praised Starr’s connection with audiences in London and the growing influence of African music.
He described her as a “generational talent” and said she was the right artist to build on the momentum of the league’s recent London halftime performances.
Starr’s upcoming performance is expected to further spotlight Afrobeats on the global stage as she becomes the first Afrobeats artist to headline an NFL international halftime show.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
