Since Michael Jackson’s iconic performance in 1993, the Super Bowl halftime show has become a significant platform for artists, leading to substantial increases in their sales and streams. Bad Bunny is set to continue this legacy as he headlines Super Bowl LX next year.
Over the past three decades, most Super Bowl halftime headliners have experienced notable commercial success. For instance, U2’s album sales more than doubled after their 2002 performance, while Janet Jackson saw a similar surge following her controversial appearance in 2004. Other artists like Paul McCartney, Prince, and Lady Gaga also enjoyed significant sales increases after their performances.
In 2025, Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show attracted an average of 133.5 million viewers across TV and streaming platforms in the U.S., marking it as the most-watched halftime show ever.
The Super Bowl halftime shows over the last 30 years have led to impressive boosts in both sales and streaming numbers, as well as chart success on Billboard. With Bad Bunny headlining the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, it’s worth revisiting some of the biggest halftime show success stories since 1993, based on U.S. sales and streaming data from Luminate.
