Super Bowl 2025 halftime show: who will perform, time and more

The 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans will undoubtedly be an epic game full of twists and turns, but the part of the day that could grab the most attention around the world could be the halftime show.

Here’s everything you need to know about the show taking place during the mid-game break, including a look back at the history of past performers.

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Who will perform at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show?

In September it was revealed that Kendrick Lamar will be the featured halftime performer at the February 9 event on FOX.

The NFL released a video of Lamar to make the revelation.

She will join a historic list of Super Bowl performers that includes everyone from Alicia Keys and Jennifer Lopez to the Rolling Stones and Prince.

[Related: Full coverage of the Super Bowl]

And New Orleans itself has a great history of incredible halftime acts. The city will host the Super Bowl for the 11th time in February. Previous halftime acts included Beyonce, U2, The Blue Brothers and James Brown, and Ella Fitzgerald.

What time does the Super Bowl halftime show start?

Since kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, and the game typically takes 3 to 4 hours to complete, the halftime show will likely begin between 8 and 8:30 p.m. ET. This all depends, of course, on how the game develops on the field.

Who else acts? Other possible artists, national anthem, etc.

Lamar won’t be the only star performing at the Super Bowl. Here are some others:

Grammy-winning singer Jon Batiste to perform national anthem
Christian Artist Lauren Daigle and Jazz Musician Trombone Shorty to Perform “America the Beautiful”
R&B Vocalist Ledisi to Perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

There are also usually some surprise appearances during the halftime show. Last year, for example, Usher was the headliner, but he was eventually joined by Alicia Keys, HER, will.i.am, Ludacris, Lil Jon and others.

However, one person who apparently won’t be appearing is New Orleans-born rapper Lil Wayne, who has publicly expressed his disappointment at not being chosen as the headliner.

Super Bowl Halftime Show: Complete list of performers, by year

Here’s a look back at the Super Bowl halftime acts. Games that took place in New Orleans are marked with an asterisk.

2024: Usher with special guests Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, HER, will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris
2023: Rihanna
2022: Eminem, Dr. Dre. Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige

You may have noticed Kendrick Lamar in the list above. Yes, that’s right, this will not be his first appearance in a Super Bowl, as he participated in the 2022 game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

2021: the weekend
2020: Shakira, Jennifer López, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Emme Muñiz
2019: Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi
2018: Justin Timberlake, The Tennessee Boys
2017: Lady Gaga
2016: Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars
2015: Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott
2014: Bruno Mars, red hot peppers
*2013: Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child

Beyonce headlined this one at the Superdome, along with special guests Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child. At the time it was the second most watched program in Super Bowl history, with 110.8 million viewers.

There were reports that her husband, Jay-Z, was going to appear on the show, but he didn’t. A US Weekly report later said that Jay-Z decided not to do it at the last minute to make it Beyonce’s moment.

2012: Virgin
2011: The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash
2010: The WHO
2009: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
2008: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2007: Prince and the Florida A&M Marching Band
2006: The Rolling Stones
2005: Paul McCartney
2004: Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Nelly and Justin Timberlake
2003: Shania Twain, Without a doubt and Sting
*2002: Tribute to those killed in the September 11 attacks, with U2

The 2002 exhibition was particularly poignant, coming a few months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Janet Jackson was originally scheduled to perform, but the NFL decided to go with a different tone, and the Irish rock band U2 was chosen after some league executives attended one of their concerts in New York in October 2001.

U2 played their 2000 single “Beautiful Day,” the 1984 song “MLK,” and their 1987 single “Where the Streets Have No Name.” As the final two songs played, the names of 9/11 victims were projected behind the stage and inside the Superdome.

2001: “The Kings of Rock and Pop” featuring Aerosmith, ‘N’Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly
2000: “A Tapestry of Nations” with Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton and an 80-person choir
1999: “Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing” with Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and tap dancer Savion Glover
1998: “A Tribute to Motown’s 40th Anniversary” Featuring Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Martha Reeves and The Temptations
*1997: “Blues Brothers Bash” with Dan Akroyd, John Goodman and James Belushi (also with “The Godfather of Soul” James Brown and ZZ Top)

The 1997 show at the Superdome had a distinct blues feel, with James Brown accompanied by The Blue Brothers, as well as blues-rock band ZZ Top. Brown played his hits “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine.” All the artists joined together at the end for a moving performance of “Gimme Some Lovin’.”

1996: Diana Ross celebrates 30 years of the Super Bowl with special effects, pyrotechnics and card tricks in the stadium. The finale featured Diana Ross being taken out of the stadium in a helicopter.
1995: “Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye” with Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval, Miami Sound Machine and stunts including fire and skydivers. The finale included audience participation with light sticks.
1994: “Rockin’ Country Sunday” featuring Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna and Naomi Judd. The finale included a flashlight trick.
1993: “Heal the World” with Michael Jackson and 3,500 local children. The finale included a trick with the audience card.
1992: “Winter Magic,” featuring a salute to the winter season and the Winter Olympics with Gloria Estefan, Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill.
1991: “A small global salute to the 25th anniversary of the Super Bowl” with New Kids on the Block
*1990: “Salute to New Orleans” and the 40th anniversary of the Peanuts characters, with trumpeter Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw, Irma Thomas and others.

The 1990 halftime show at the Superdome was an interesting mix. It was in part a tribute to New Orleans, with performances by three Louisiana natives: clarinetist Pete Fountain, violinist Doug Kershaw and singer Irma Thomas. It will also feature performances by three bands from local universities Southern University, ULL and Nicholls State.

The finale featured a float shaped like a giant riverboat. Oh, and it was also an homage to the Peanuts comic strip.

1989: “Be Bop Bamboozled” with 3D effects
1988: “Something Grand” featuring 88 grand pianos, the Rockettes and Chubby Checker
1987: “Salute to the centenary of Hollywood”
*1986: “Beat of the future” with Up With People

Up With People headlined four Super Bowls and this was his last performance. The theme of the program was “Beat of the Future” and the program itself was given the title “Space for Everyone.”

The performance was dedicated to the memory of Martin Luther King Jr.

1985: “A world of childhood dreams”
1984: “Super Bowl XVIII’s salute to the superstars of the big screen”
1983: “KaleidoSUPERscope” (a kaleidoscope of color and sound)
1982: “A salute to the 60s and Motown”
* 1981: “A Mardi Gras Festival” with the Southern University Marching Band, Helen O’Connell

Like the 1986 show, the 1981 performance featured Up With People, plus singers and dancers, and had a “Mardi Gras Festival” feel.

1980: “A salute to the Big Band era” with Up with People
1979: “Super Bowl XIII Carnival” Greeting to the Caribbean with Ken Hamilton and various Caribbean bands
*1978: “From Paris to the Paris of America” with Tyler Apache Belles, Pete Fountain and Al Hirt

The 1978 show at the Superdome featured performances by Tyler Junior College’s Apache Band and Apache Belles Drill team, clarinetist Pete Fountain and trumpeter Al Hirt.

1977: “It’s a Small World” features audience participation for the first time, with spectators waving colorful banners on cue.
1976: Tribute “200 years and only one baby” to the bicentennial of the United States
*1975: “Tribute to Duke Ellington” with Mercer Ellington and Grambling State Marching Band

The 1975 game at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans was a tribute to jazz legend Duke Ellington, who had died the previous May. Ellington’s son Mercer performed, as did the Grambling State Marching Band.

1974: “A Musical America” with University of Texas Band
1973: “Happiness is.” with the University of Michigan Marching Band and Woody Herman
*1972: “Salute to Louis Armstrong” with Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing, Al Hirt and others

The 1972 show at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans featured legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, actress and singer Carol Channing, trumpeter Al Hirt and the U.S. Marine Corps drill team.

1971: Florida A&M Band
*1970: Carol Channing, Marguerite Piazza, Doc Severinsen, Lairen & Tara, Al Hirt, Lionel Hampton, Southern University Marching Band

Super Bowl IV was the first to take place in New Orleans and was held at Tulane Stadium. The halftime show featured, among others, jazz trumpeter Doc Severinsen, who was also the band leader for “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.