Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr is set to headline the halftime show at the 2026 NFL London Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars on October 11.
The National Football League announced the singer as the headline performer on Thursday. The game will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. British Summer Time.
Ayra Starr, whose real name is Sarah Aderibigbe, also confirmed the announcement on Instagram, describing the opportunity to perform in London as a “dream come true.”
The performance will be part of a record seven halftime shows presented by American Express across the NFL’s 2026 International Games, spanning seven countries and four continents.
NFL Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music and Entertainment, Tim Tubito, said Ayra Starr was chosen because of her strong connection with London and the growing influence of African music in the city.
The performance is expected to mark a significant milestone for African music, with the NFL describing Ayra Starr as the first major African artist to headline one of its halftime shows.
The 24-year-old singer, a two-time Grammy nominee and BET Award winner, recently released her third studio album, Starrgirl. She has also performed at major international events, including Glastonbury Festival.
The Eagles-Jaguars game will be one of two NFL regular-season games played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October, following the Indianapolis Colts’ clash with the Washington Commanders on October 4.
Leave feedback about this