Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio rock the halftime show of the first NFL game in Rio on September 27 By Thiago Lemos
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Renowned artists Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio are confirmed to present the halftime show of the NFL Rio Game 2026, an event that will pit the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys teams face to face. The match will take place at the Maracanã stadium on September 27th, starting at 5:25 pm (Brasília time). This clash marks the debut of the biggest American football league in the world in Rio de Janeiro and will be valid for the third week of the 2026-27 regular season. The live broadcast will be carried out by sportv and ge.globo, reaching millions of fans in Brazil.
DJ Pedro Sampaio, who is from Rio, will make his first performance at Maracanã, sharing the stage with idol Ricky Martin. Both will make their debut as attractions at a North American league event. In March, Pedro Sampaio had already paid tribute to Martin’s Latin classic “María”, recreating Bad Bunny’s performance at the Super Bowl LX halftime show during the ‘Battle of Lip Sync’, on the program Domingão com Huck. Ricky Martin, in turn, returns to the NFL stage after a special appearance in the last league final, where he sang as a guest of compatriot Bad Bunny in a game won by the Seahawks against the Patriots.
For Pedro Sampaio, the emotion of participating in this event is immense. “I grew up in Rio de Janeiro, looking at Maracanã as a stage for great moments. I never imagined that my debut on that field would be alongside Ricky Martin, who has always been a great inspiration for me. It’s difficult to put into words. Maracanã is part of the trajectory of sport and music, and being able to be part of that chapter, precisely in the first NFL game in my city, is something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life”, said the artist.
Ricky Martin also expressed his joy with returning to Brazil for this historic moment. “Being part of another historic NFL event, alongside Pedro Sampaio, is very exciting, especially because it brings me back to one of my favorite places in the world, Rio de Janeiro. There’s nothing like the energy of Brazilians, and I can’t wait to meet our fans again and perform live at Maracanã. Get ready to move! See you in September,” said the Puerto Rican singer.
The duo’s union for the halftime show symbolizes a strategic mix: a rising national artist alongside a global icon of Latin American music. This will be the second year in a row that the event will feature a foreign singer, but what’s new is the presence of a Brazilian talent to accompany it. In 2025, the musical attraction was Colombian Karol G, while the debut edition on national territory, in 2024, had Anitta commanding the show. In the two previous games held in São Paulo, Luisa Sonsa and Ana Castela were responsible for singing the national anthem.
Luis Martinez, general manager of the NFL in Brazil, celebrated the selection of artists. “We are very happy to welcome Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio for the halftime show in what will be the first NFL regular season game in Rio de Janeiro. Ricky has been a global phenomenon for many years, and Pedro has reached new heights both in Brazil and around the world. It will be an unforgettable celebration with Brazilian fans at Maracanã,” commented Martinez.
The halftime show is a signature Super Bowl tradition and has become an integral part of the NFL’s grand media spectacle. This format is also replicated in other special games. This year, for example, the first league game in Australia, which kicks off the international calendar, will feature a musical performance by the famous band Jonas Brothers.
The North American league has expanded its presence in Brazil, a country that already has more than 36 million American football fans. Currently, five NFL teams — the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles — are exploring the national market. In addition to holding a game in the country for the third consecutive year, the NFL also promotes several public engagement initiatives and encourages the sport through NFL Flag, its official flag football program, which is now a new Olympic sport.
The 2026 game marks the first in a series of at least three NFL clashes that Rio de Janeiro will host over the next five years, according to an agreement signed by the organization. The two previous games in Brazil took place in São Paulo, both at the Corinthians stadium: in the inaugural edition, the Eagles won 34 to 29, starting a campaign that culminated in the Super Bowl LIX title; and last year, the Chargers outscored the Chiefs 27-21 in a divisional classic.
