Ayra Starr to Headline NFL London Game Halftime Show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

On August 27, 2026, Nigerian superstar Ayra Starr was announced as the headlining act for the halftime show at the 2026 NFL London Game, scheduled for Sunday, October 11, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The NFL announced on its official X account that Ayra Starr is the first Nigerian artist to headline an NFL halftime show.

“Global Afrobeats superstar Ayra Starr will headline the halftime show during the 2026 NFL London Game on Sunday, Oct. 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.” The announcement was made jointly with NFL UK and Ireland, signalling the league’s continued effort to expand its global footprint through music and entertainment that resonates with international audiences.

Ayra Starr, whose real name is Sarah Aderibigbe, is a Beninese-Nigerian singer, songwriter, and global Afrobeats artist who debuted in 2021. Since then, she has amassed more than seven billion global streams and over one billion YouTube views. She is known for singles including “Away,” “Rush,” and “Treat U Right” with Fola, and released her third album, Starrgirl, earlier this month.

Ayra Starr’s halftime performance will be presented by American Express as part of a record seven halftime shows staged across the 2026 NFL International Games, a lineup of live musical performances spanning seven countries and four continents, as the league plays its most international season ever. The game kicks off at 2:30 PM BST, and her performance will be broadcast live in the UK, free-to-air on Channel 5 and on Sky Sports. 

Reacting to the announcement, Ayra Starr stated: “I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London. London is one of my favourite places in the world, and to bring Starrgirl to the NFL global stage is a dream come true for me. I can’t wait to see you guys there!” 

NFL Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music and Entertainment, Tim Tubito, stated, “London is one of the most influential music cities in the world, and African music has been at the centre of that conversation for years now. Ayra Starr is a generational talent with a real connection to fans in this market, and building on the halftime shows we have staged in London in recent seasons, she is the right artist to carry that momentum forward.”