Matt O’Connor Image Credit: Cosmopolitan
Slated for February 9th, 2026, preparations for this season’s Super Bowl championship are already well underway. The main event will take place in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. While it’s too early to predict what two teams will make it to the big game, speculation is running rampant about who will be headlining this year’s Halftime Show. The headliner is chosen by the NFL in collaboration with Jay Z’s “Roc Nation”, and numerous different candidates have been thrown around as major possibilities for this year’s show, and I’ve decided to throw my hat into the ring to give my two cents on the topic. I’ll be ranking six of the most popular artists that have been frequently brought up as Halftime contenders and judging them on three categories. Do they have enough star power, do they have a large enough catalogue to bring to the show, and do they have the ability to bring the energy to such a large crowd? Here are my rankings ordered from least likely to most likely.
Taylor Swift: Not Gonna Happen
I know this is a controversial placement, but I think the chances of Taylor headline this year’s show let alone any Super Bowl Halftime Show are slim to none. I’d love to be proven wrong on this one, though. Could she pull it off? Absolutely! She’s got the star power in the bag, she has enough music to make for a strong showing, and the energy of that crowd would be unmatched. But here’s the thing, she literally just finished “The Eras Tour” not that long ago, and she probably has other priorities at the moment like releasing a new album and tying the knot with Travis Kelce. Speaking of Kelce, there’s been some accusations that the NFL plays favorites with the Chiefs because of Taylor. But if she somehow does end up performing and the Chiefs make it to the Super Bowl for a fourth consecutive year in a row, it might come off as a little bit suspicious on their end. But on the other hand, Taylor would bring in viewership the likes of which the NFL has never seen before. But on the OTHER other hand, the production funds for a show like that would come at quite the expense. There’s no doubt that Taylor would deliver an unforgettable performance if she was the headliner, but I really can’t see that happening right now.
Dua Lipa: Possible, But Unlikely
While there are some rumors that Dua Lipa was given an offer to perform at this year’s Halftime Show, nothing has been officially confirmed yet. In terms of my three categories, she checks off all of the boxes. She’s got the stardom, she’s got the songs, and she’s got the energy to keep the stadium lively. She seems like a perfect fit, except for one major obligation. Dua Lipa’s kind of in the same boat as Taylor where she’s a bit preoccupied at the moment. She kicked off her “Radical Optimism Tour” last November and it’s scheduled to run until December 5th, 2025. While she would definitely deliver a strong performance, she might run the risk of putting on a show that’s a little too similar to the ones done during the Radical Optimism Tour. Once again, I’d love to be proven wrong on this one. But as of right now, I think Dua Lipa might wanna pass on this one.
Post Malone: Could Go Either Way
This is a weird one. While Post Malone does check off the first two boxes, the third one has a bit of an asterisk. I don’t know how his Halftime Show performance would work considering his genre switch to country. Most Super Bowl shows will often alternate between pop and hip-hop each year, but could country and/or folk music fit into that mix? If Post Malone performed some of his older songs, I would definitely say that he’s a strong contender. But I really can’t see a country singer bringing that insane breakneck energy that a Super Bowl Halftime Show needs. Although if he did end up getting selected, he could bring out someone like Morgan Wallen for “I Had Some Help”. But then again, country as a genre does have a sizable following that could definitely warrant a performance of the Super Bowl variety, but I don’t think it’s as big as the genres that have defined the event for the past two decades. Post Malone is definitely a possible choice that stands at a 50/50 for me right now.
Miley Cyrus: A Prime Candidate
Kicking off the top three is Miley Cyrus, who’s chances are higher than ever thanks to her Grammy win in 2024 for “Flowers”. Miley has been making music for a while, but she’s really been picking up steam ever since 2023. Interestingly, there were some presumably fake rumors from “insiders” that claimed Miley was given an offer early on for the Halftime Show. While these rumors don’t have much credibility, I still think she’s got a pretty good shot at landing the role. Miley has been a prime time celebrity for over two decades ever since her “Hannah Montana” days, and she’s got a strong selection of songs that she could bring to the table. But above all, her immaculate enthusiasm would make for an electric performance. I think she’s a top contender at the moment.
Adele: What The Rumors Have Been Saying
Just recently, news outlet “Page Six” put out a report that according to an inside source, Adele was approached to perform for the Halftime Show, and reception to this news has been relatively mixed. While Adele definitely has the legacy and the star power to carry the show, I don’t think her catalog would really fit the energetic and blaring presence that a Super Bowl headliner needs. Many of her songs like “Hello” and “Set Fire To The Rain” tend to be on the somber and/or melancholy side. While I do think she’s an excellent singer during her own separate outings, I don’t know if her music really fits what people want out of a Super Bowl performance. But considering that these rumors have yet to be properly debunked, I think there’s a very strong chance that Adele will land the role. Then again, someone else could come along and surprise us all, and I think there’s one person who I’m quite confident will be at Super Bowl 59’s Halftime Show as 2026’s headliner.
My Final Guess: Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina fits the same mold as Kendrick did last year. An artist with a large following that skyrocketed in popularity because of their output in 2024 specifically, and with multiple new albums to pull from and her “Short N’ Sweet” tour currently happening, I think Sabrina Carpenter is the perfect fit for the Super Bowl Halftime Show. For my three categories, she knocks all of them out of the park. Sabrina already has a massive audience, and she’s grown ever further in popularity because of her large presence in general pop culture. She was on SNL, and she’ll be the first guest on the newly revived Muppet Show! I always say that if you get to collaborate with Kermit the Frog, you’ve made it in life. Plus, her songs would fit the electric vibe that a Halftime Show performance really needs. “Espresso” alone would make people go crazy! While there is a chance for any of the artists listed here on an artist that I didn’t mention to be selected for the Halftime Show, I think Sabrina would be the perfect choice.
