As the world tuned in to watch Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show on the 2026 TV schedule, it was met with both backlash and praise. While it was met with criticism from the moment it was announced, it was very beloved by others. Now, the musician and his concert have gotten the last laugh thanks to the Emmy Awards.
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny got a total of nine 2026 Emmy nominations. According to Billboard, that’s more than any other halftime show has received. Here’s a list of all its noms:
- Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
- Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special
- Outstanding Choreography For Variety Or Reality Programming
- Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special
- Outstanding Hairstyling For A Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Program
- Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Special
- Outstanding Music Direction
- Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special
- Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork For A Special
Previously, Lady Gaga’s halftime show held the record for most nominations, as it got seven back in 2017. Notably, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show did feature the “Bad Romance” singer.
Overall, these nominations are a major win for Bad Bunny and his show, especially when you consider the amount of backlash he faced when he was announced as this year’s halftime headliner.
The singer has been a critic of the Trump administration and its policies, which caused backlash. President Donald Trump said it was “crazy” to have Bad Bunny perform at the game, and said he had “never heard of” the musician. Meanwhile, a petition to replace Bad Bunny with a country singer gained more than 50 thousand signatures, and an "All-American Halftime Show" was put on by the conservative organization Turning Point USA at the same time as Bad Bunny's.
Players were even polled about the performance, with 58.6% approving of it and 41.4% disapproving.
Eventually, the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke out, defending the choice to hire Bad Bunny. He noted that he’s “one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world” and they had “carefully thought through” the choice to have him perform. Tons of fans, viewers and even celebrities, like Jennifer Lopez and Adam Sandler, supported Bad Bunny’s show too.
After all that, the halftime show happened, and it was praised by many, now including the Television Academy.
Now, looking at the competition in the Outstanding Variety Special category, the halftime show is going up against the 83rd Annual Golden Globes, the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, The Oscars and the 78th Annual Tony Awards. If Bad Bunny’s performance wins, he will be an Emmy Winner, seeing as he’s listed as both the performer and a producer (under his real name Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio) on the project.
While the last six Super Bowl halftime shows have been nominated for this Emmy, only one has won it: The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar & 50 Cent back in 2021. So, this would be a big win for both the Super Bowl Halftime Show and Bad Bunny.
With all that said, the wait is now on to see if the musician takes home any awards for his concert that caused quite the debate online. To see if he wins, make sure to tune into the 2026 Emmy Awards on September 14 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC or with a Peacock subscription.
