Afrobeats star Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, is set to make history as the first major African artist to headline an NFL halftime show.
The Nigerian singer will perform during the 2026 NFL London Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars on October 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The National Football League announced the performance on Thursday, with Ayra Starr also confirming the news through a post on her official Instagram account.
Expressing her excitement, the singer said performing in London had been a long-held dream and that she was looking forward to bringing her Starrgirl brand to the global NFL stage.
“London is one of my favourite places in the world and to bring Starrgirl to the NFL global stage is a dream come true for me,” she said.
The game, scheduled for Sunday, October 11, is part of the NFL’s 2026 International Games programme.
According to the NFL, the London halftime performance will be one of seven shows presented by American Express during the 2026 International Games, with performances taking place across seven countries and four continents.
The NFL’s Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music and Entertainment, Tim Tubito, described Ayra Starr as a major talent with a strong connection to London’s music audience.
He noted that African music had become an important part of the global music conversation and said Ayra Starr was well positioned to continue that momentum.
“London is one of the most influential music cities in the world, and African music has been at the centre of that conversation for years now,” Tubito said.
He added that the league looked forward to working with the singer to deliver a performance that would match the energy of the occasion.
Ayra Starr’s appearance will mark a significant milestone for African music on the international sports stage. Previous performers at NFL London games have largely been artists from the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars are scheduled to kick off the 2026 NFL London Game at 2:30 p.m. British Summer Time on October 11.
