On Sunday, October 11, 2026, Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Starr became the first African artist to headline an NFL halftime show.

The 24-year-old, who records for Mavin Records, performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London during the NFL International Games fixture between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars, in front of more than 60,000 people in the stadium and a global television audience.

The halftime show, and who presented it

American Express presented the performance, part of the NFL's push to build an audience outside the United States. Starr was backed by a full ensemble of dancers in black streetwear and royal-purple sashes, and wore a corseted lace bodice with knee-high leather boots. The set leaned on choreography throughout.

Broadcast footage of the halftime performance, presented by American Express

Rush, Hot Body and the rest of the set

The setlist drew on her biggest records: "Rush", the diamond-certified single, along with "Hot Body" and "Heaven Baby", and tracks from Starrgirl, her most recent release.

Ayra Starr during the set at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The pitch-side photo before kickoff

Before the pyrotechnics opened her set, Starr posed on the stadium turf for a pre-game portrait. She wore a black-and-white horizontally striped mini dress and pointed kitten heels, with an official Wilson NFL football at her feet.

Ayra Starr on the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of kickoff (Photo: @ayrastarr)

African artists have taken some of sport's largest stages in recent years: Burna Boy, Rema and Tems at NBA All-Star Weekend, and Burna Boy again at the UEFA Champions League final. The NFL halftime show is one of the largest commercial platforms in American sport.