Some watch the Super Bowl for football, others for the halftime show. This year, the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13, claiming their second Super Bowl title in franchise history.
For halftime fans, Bad Bunny’s long-awaited Super Bowl LX halftime performance was more than music; it was a global cultural moment. Pulling in an estimated 135.4 million viewers (compared to Kid Rock’s 6.1M), the Puerto Rican superstar used the world’s biggest stage to honor his roots, promote love over hate, and deliver a powerful message of self-belief and culture.
From the very first note of “Titi Me Preguntó” to the unexpected live marriage (confirmed by Telemundo as real, with Bad Bunny as the godfather and signing the certificate), the performance was packed with symbolism, dance, and unforgettable visuals. Flags from all across Latin America, Canada and the U.S., alongside Puerto Rico, stage design, and cultural nods highlighted his Puerto Rican pride while celebrating community across borders.
From what he wore to what he said, every moment was packed with symbolism and cultural references. Here’s a breakdown of seven key moments and what they meant in Bad Bunny’s historic, record-breaking halftime show.
1. Sporting the number 64: Why Bad Bunny wore No. 64 during Super Bowl halftime show?
Proud of his roots, Bad Bunny wore the number 64 on his white sweatshirt and his last name, “Ocasio,” on the back of his sweatshirt, a tribute to his mother. The number references the year she was born, honoring one of the most influential people in his life.
In an emotional interview ahead of the 2026 Super Bowl LX halftime show, Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) opened up about his mother, Lysaurie Ocasio, crediting her unwavering support for his journey to fame. Reflecting on the people who believed in him before the world knew his name, he said:
“She believed in me before everything. I’m not talking about my music career, I’m talking about everything. She believed in me as a person, as a human; she believed in my decisions, my opinions, my taste, and she believed I could be a good person — a smart guy, talented. And I think that’s what got me here, you know.”
2. What is the ‘Casita’? Who was inside Bad Bunny’s casita during the Super Bowl halftime show?
The word “casita” translates to “little house” in Spanish.
One of the most recognizable elements of Bad Bunny’s halftime set was the miniature ‘casita’ onstage, a direct recreation of the iconic structure from his “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí” residency at San Juan’s José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum. During that residency, the casita functioned as an exclusive VIP space where celebrity guests would appear during the show.
That same concept carried over to the Super Bowl stage. Inside the casita were a mix of artists, actors, and cultural figures, including Cardi B, Karol G, Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, Alix Earle, David Grutman, and Young Miko, the Puerto Rican artist who previously performed from the casita during Bad Bunny’s residency. Also spotted was Ronald Acuña Jr., the Venezuelan MLB superstar.
More than a celebrity cameo moment, the casita symbolized home, community, and cultural pride, bringing a deeply Puerto Rican tradition into one of the biggest global stages in entertainment.
3. What did Bad Bunny say to the camera during the Super Bowl halftime show?
During the song “Monaco,” dozens of violinists emerged from the sugarcane fields, creating one of the most cinematic moments of the halftime show. As the strings swelled, Bad Bunny turned directly to the camera and delivered a powerful message in Spanish:
“Mi nombre es Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, y si hoy estoy aquí en el Super Bowl 60, es porque nunca, nunca dejé de creer en mí. Tú también deberías de creer en ti. Vales más de lo que piensas. Confía en mí.”
Translation:”My name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, and if I’m here today at Super Bowl 60, it’s because I never, ever stopped believing in myself. You should also believe in yourself. You’re worth more than you think. Trust me.”
4. What did Bad Bunny’s gifting of the Grammy to a little boy really mean? Was it Liam Conejo?
One of the most talked-about moments of the halftime show came when Bad Bunny appeared to hand his Grammy to a young boy onstage. A moment that instantly sparked speculation online. Some viewers incorrectly claimed the child was Liam Conejo Ramos, a minor reportedly detained by ICE on January 20 of this year. That theory quickly spread, but it wasn’t true.
The child onstage was actually Lincoln Fox, a young actor representing Bad Bunny as a child. The moment was symbolic, not literal. As Bad Bunny handed him the Grammy, he said, “Cree siempre en ti,” which translates to “Always believe in yourself.” The gesture referenced Bad Bunny’s own journey and was widely interpreted as a message of self-belief directed at the next generation, especially Latino kids watching from home.
Bad Bunny did not give away his actual Grammy. The moment was staged as part of the performance, which makes sense given that Grammy rules have long prohibited winners from giving away their trophies since 1958.
5. What do Bad Bunny’s power lines, “El Apagón” on stage, mean for Puerto Ricans in real life?
One of the most striking moments of the performance came during “El Apagón,” when towering power line poles dominated the stage. As Bad Bunny climbed the structures mid-song, the imagery served as an unmistakable reference to Puerto Rico’s ongoing electrical crisis, an issue that has plagued the island since Hurricane Maria.
Jíbaros wearing traditional pavas also ascended the poles before they violently exploded, a visual metaphor for the constant blackouts and the collapse of the island’s power grid. Nothing about the symbolism was subtle, and it wasn’t meant to be.
“El Apagón” is a protest anthem that confronts infrastructure failures, government corruption, and the gentrification pushing Puerto Ricans out of their own communities. Paired with the exploding power lines and the presence of the Puerto Rican independence flag, the message was clear: this wasn’t just entertainment. It was a political statement broadcast on one of the biggest stages in the world.
6. Why is having Ricky Martin perform at the Super Bowl with Bad Bunny a powerful moment for the music industry and Latino music?
Ricky Martin’s presence on the Super Bowl stage alongside Bad Bunny was more than a surprise cameo; it was a full-circle cultural moment for Latin music. As the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” hitmaker, Martin helped break down barriers for Latin artists at a time when crossing over into the mainstream often meant sacrificing language and identity.
When Martin first rose to global fame decades ago, he was repeatedly told that singing in English was the only way to be accepted by mainstream audiences. He did it, but he also opened the door for a future where Latin artists wouldn’t have to.
This moment signifies generational evolution for Latinos in the music industry. After Bad Bunny’s historic Grammy win, Martin wrote an open letter praising him for staying true to his roots: “You won without changing the color of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico.”
Now, 17 years after “Livin’ La Vida Loca” first dominated the charts, Martin returned to the biggest stage in the world for his first-ever Super Bowl halftime performance, this time singing fully in Spanish. Standing beside Bad Bunny, he symbolized the bridge between generations: the pioneer who fought for space, and the artist who now thrives without compromise.
7. What did the football that Bad Bunny was holding say during the finale? ‘Together We Are America.’
Themes of unity and community ran throughout Bad Bunny’s entire halftime performance, from moments of collective movement to the trust fall imagery symbolizing shared strength and interdependence.
He closed the show with “Café Con Ron,” marking the first — and only — time he spoke English during the performance, saying, “God bless America.”
He then proceeded to name every Latin American country by name — Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and other countries, before ending with “USA,” “Canada,” and finally declaring “And my motherland, mi patria, Puerto Rico.”
Then the football from the opening of the performance reappeared. Bad Bunny lifted it toward the camera, revealing the message written across it: “Together We Are America.” He spiked the ball, bringing the show to a close.
Bonus takeaway: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love”
As Bad Bunny closed out his Super Bowl LX halftime performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the message was impossible to miss. While the Puerto Rican superstar walked off the stage, the big screen lit up with a final statement: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love”.
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 7 Bad Bunny references during Super Bowl halftime, explained
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
