Ayra Starr Makes History as First African Artist to Headline an NFL International Games Halftime Show
Nigerian artist Ayra Starr made history as the first African performer to headline an NFL International Games halftime show in London. The performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium highlights the NFL's strategy to expand its global cultural footprint.
Why it matters
This event marks a significant intersection of global music culture and American sports expansion into international markets.
Ayra Starr didn’t ease into her NFL moment. She opened with “Heaven Baby,” the fan-favourite track featuring Zayn Malik, and turned a halftime break in north London into something that felt a lot closer to a headline show.
On Sunday, October 11, 2026, the Nigerian star became the first African artist to headline an NFL International Games Halftime Show. She did it at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in front of a crowd of 61,322 people, according to reports from the event.
The setlist moved quickly from the emotional opener to a soulful take on “Rush,” the song that earned her a Grammy nomination. She closed with tracks from her latest album, “Starrgirl,” running through “Dangerous,” “Hot Body,” and “Ms Paper.”
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