Ayra Starr is set to bring the music to London when the Eagles face the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, becoming the latest halftime act on the NFL’s 2026 international slate.
The 24-year-old Beninese-Nigerian singer and songwriter has quickly grown into one of Africa’s biggest pop stars. Since debuting in 2021, Starr has piled up more than seven billion global streams and one billion YouTube views, and she has already earned two Grammy nominations for Best African Music Performance.
She also comes into the NFL spotlight with a new album in hand. In August, Starr released her third studio album, "Starrgirl." She is a former BET Award winner for Best International Act as well.
“I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London,” Starr said in a statement about her London performance. “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 says Starr fits the moment in London, where the league has continued to build its international presence through halftime performances. NFL senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment Tim Tubito said in a release: “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, NFL senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment Tim Tubito said in a release.
“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.”
Starr’s biggest streaming number belongs to "Santa," which has been played more than 945 million times on Spotify. Another of her standout songs is "Rush," the 2022 release that brought her a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance.
And for fans wanting a preview of the kind of song she brings to the stage, "Rush" leans into the same confident, catchy energy that has helped make her a global name.
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