Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio Set to Headline 2026 NFL Rio Halftime Show

The gridiron is heading deep into South America, and Latin music royalty is taking over the stage. Pop superstar Ricky Martin and Brazilian hitmaker Pedro Sampaio have officially been announced as the co-headliners for the halftime show at the 2026 NFL Rio Game. The stadium concert will take place on September 27, 2026, delivering major pop-culture excitement to Brazil for a massive milestone in live entertainment. The high-stakes matchup will feature the Baltimore Ravens battling the Dallas Cowboys at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. This event marks the first regular-season contest that the league has ever hosted in the famous coastal city. Football fans and pop music enthusiasts can tune in to watch the action unfold starting at 4:25 p.m. Eastern Time.

The musical pairing unites global Puerto Rican icon Ricky Martin with local favorite Pedro Sampaio, who has made a huge name for himself as a DJ, singer, and producer. For Sampaio, stepping onto the legendary turf alongside an international superstar carries deep emotional significance. The native artist publicly shared that he grew up in Rio de Janeiro admiring Maracanã Stadium as a temple where history occurred, admitting he never dreamed his maiden performance on that pitch would be side-by-side with an artist who inspired his career. This South American concert forms a key installment in the league's most ambitious international lineup to date. Presented by American Express, the Rio extravaganza represents the second of seven distinct halftime concerts set to air throughout the 2026 international schedule. The ambitious stadium circuit stretches across four continents and seven individual nations, turning international regular-season broadcasts into global pop concerts.

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The Rio event is part of an expansive lineup of globe-trotting shows, which also features pop powerhouse group Jonas Brothers headlining a game in Melbourne, Australia, where the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Los Angeles Rams. With Martin bringing decades of global stage experience and Sampaio bringing signature Brazilian rhythms, the September 27 broadcast is shaping up to be a standout pop moment. When the Ravens and Cowboys head to the locker rooms at halftime, Maracanã Stadium will belong entirely to music royalty.