Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy will headline the halftime show when the New Orleans Saints face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL’s first regular-season game in France.
The historic fixture will take place at Stade de France in Paris on October 25, 2026, as part of the NFL’s expanding international schedule.
Paris is one of three cities set to host its first regular-season NFL game this season, alongside Melbourne in Australia and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, will return to Stade de France less than 18 months after becoming the first African artist to headline a solo concert at the stadium.
He performed before a sold-out crowd of more than 80,000 people at the venue in April 2025.
Reflecting on his return, Burna Boy said the occasion would be particularly special because of the NFL’s historic debut in France.
“Paris gave me one of the biggest nights of my career, and to walk back into Stade de France for a moment like this means everything,” he said.
He added that he was proud to represent African music at an event marking a new chapter for the NFL in France.
The Saints-Steelers clash is one of nine international games scheduled by the NFL for the 2026 season as the league continues its efforts to expand its global reach.
NFL Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music and Entertainment, Tim Tubito, said Burna Boy was selected because of the significance of the occasion and his connection with Paris.
“The first NFL game in France deserves a halftime moment that matches the occasion,” Tubito said.
Burna Boy is also a Grammy Award winner, having won Best Global Music Album for Twice As Tall in 2021.
The Saints and Steelers will become the first NFL teams to play a regular-season game in France, while Burna Boy’s performance will add an African music presence to the league’s Paris debut.
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