Photo Credit: Ayra Starr for the NFL
The NFL announces Ayra Starr as the headliner for the 2026 London game, part of a record seven halftime shows in the NFL’s biggest international season to date.
The National Football League (NFL) has announced that global Afrobeats superstar Ayra Starr will headline the halftime show during the 2026 NFL London Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The game kicks off on Sunday, October 11, at 2:30 PM BST (9:30 AM EST) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The London performance is 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 games ever in a single season.
One of the defining voices of a new generation of global pop music emerging from Africa, Ayra Starr has amassed well over seven billion global streams and one billion YouTube views since her debut in 2021. The Beninese-Nigerian singer and songwriter is a two-time Grammy nominee for Best African Music Performance, a BET Award winner for Best International Act, and a Pyramid Stage performer at Glastonbury Festival. Most recently, Ayra released her third studio album, Starrgirl, on August 14, featuring collaborations with ZAYN, Leon Thomas, and Wizkid.
“I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London,” said Ayra Starr. “London is one of my favorite 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!”
“The NFL London games are the foundation of everything we have built internationally, and the halftime show has become one of the biggest moments which makes these events so special,” said Tim Tubito, Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music, and Entertainment at the NFL. “London is one of the most influential music cities in the world, and African music has been at the center 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,” Tubito continued. “We look forward to collaborating with her on a performance that captures the energy that matches the moment.”
Ayra Starr’s full halftime performance will be broadcast live in the UK free to air on Channel 5 and on Sky Sports.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host two regular-season games on consecutive Sundays in October. Alternative entertainment will feature at halftime for the first game of the series on Sunday, October 4, when the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders go head to head, with further details to be announced.
The league is committed to growing the game at every level across the country, engaging with fans year-round through partners, programs, and initiatives. The NFL will soon provide further information about the entertainment and fan events surrounding the 2026 NFL games.
The announcement arrives on the heels of the previously confirmed performances of the Jonas Brothers at the 2026 NFL Melbourne Game on Thursday, September 10, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio at the 2026 NFL Rio Game on Sunday, September 27, at Maracanã Stadium.
In total, 62 regular-season NFL games have been played outside the United States, with London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, São Paulo, Mexico City, and Toronto having hosted games to date. The 2026 NFL International Games include two games in London and one each in Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Munich, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro.