Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr is set to make history as the first major African artist to headline an NFL London Game halftime show when the Philadelphia Eagles face the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 11, 2026, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The National Football League announced the performance on August 27, confirming that the Grammy nominated singer will headline the entertainment programme during one of the league’s international regular season fixtures. According to the NFL’s official announcement and Daily Post, the show forms part of a record seven halftime performances planned across its 2026 International Games, spanning seven countries and four continents. Ayra Starr, whose real name is Sarah Aderibigbe, said bringing her music and fan community, known as Starrgirl, to the NFL’s global stage was a dream come true.
The performance marks another milestone in Ayra Starr’s international career and reflects the growing presence of Afrobeats within global entertainment and sports. The NFL describes the Nigerian and Beninese singer as one of the defining voices of a new generation of African pop, noting that she has accumulated more than seven billion global streams and over one billion YouTube views since her debut in 2021. Her international profile has been strengthened by the success of songs including “Rush”, Grammy nominations for Best African Music Performance and collaborations with established global artists. NFL senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment Tim Tubito said London was one of the world’s most influential music cities and that African music had been central to its cultural conversation for years. He described Ayra Starr as an artist with a strong connection to London audiences.
Beyond the performance itself, the invitation highlights the commercial value of African music to international sports organisations seeking to deepen audience engagement across markets. The NFL is using its 2026 international schedule to connect live sport with globally recognised performers, with the league also announcing Nigerian Grammy winner Burna Boy for its first regular season game in Paris on October 25. Other international performances include the Jonas Brothers in Melbourne and Ricky Martin alongside Brazilian DJ Pedro Sampaio in Rio de Janeiro. For Ayra Starr, the London appearance offers access to the NFL’s international audience while expanding the global visibility of Nigerian music and Afrobeats. The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. British Summer Time, with the performance scheduled as part of the matchday entertainment programme. The NFL has confirmed that the halftime show will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Channel 5 and Sky Sports.
