Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has become the first African artist to headline an NFL International Games halftime show, performing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
The 24-year-old took centre stage during halftime of the NFL London Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars, delivering performances of her hit songs including “Rush,” “Heaven Baby,” and “Hot Body.”
Ahead of the performance, Starr told BBC Newsbeat that her history-making appearance “itself is a message.”
“At the end of the day, as artists, we speak for the culture and we speak for the people that listen to us,” she said. “And we have to represent any way that seems fit, that they need.”
She confirmed the set would feature tracks from her new album, Starrgirl, which was released in August. “Sunday is gonna be amazing,” she said. “I’m still in rehearsals. It’s a lot of work we’re putting in so I’m really excited.”
The performance took place on a makeshift stage at midfield, bringing Nigerian music to one of American football’s biggest international platforms. The NFL is staging a record seven halftime shows across its 2026 international games, spanning multiple countries and continents.
Starr opened her set with “Heaven Baby,” her collaboration with former One Direction singer Zayn Malik, before moving into “Rush,” one of her biggest international hits. She also performed a medley of “Hot Body” and “Ms Paper,” followed by “Santa” and “Dangerous” in another medley.
The halftime show added to Starr’s growing list of records. She became the first African woman to win Best International Act at the Mobo Awards and the first Nigerian woman to surpass one billion video views on YouTube.
The NFL London Game itself delivered a dramatic finish, with the Jacksonville Jaguars defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 19-17 after kicker Cam Little converted a 57-yard field goal with one second remaining.
