Bad Bunny’s exuberant and high-energy halftime performance propelled Super Bowl LX to unprecedented heights, contributing to the highest peak viewership in American television history. While the Puerto Rican superstar narrowly trailed Kendrick Lamar for the all-time record, official data released by Nielsen on Tuesday indicates that a staggering 128.2 million viewers tuned in for his historic showcase—the first Super Bowl halftime show to be delivered almost exclusively in Spanish.
This massive audience cements the performance as the fourth most-watched halftime show in history. It ranks just behind Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 set (133.5 million), Michael Jackson’s iconic 1993 appearance (133.4 million), and Usher’s 2024 headlining slot (129.3 million).
The game itself was a ratings juggernaut for NBC. The network reported that viewership reached an all-time media peak of 137.8 million during the second half, as the Seahawks transformed a narrow halftime lead into a definitive 29-13 victory. Overall, Nielsen confirmed that Sunday’s matchup was the second most-watched Super Bowl ever, trailing only last year’s record-setting 127.7 million average, while simultaneously becoming the most-watched broadcast in the history of NBCUniversal.
Beyond the statistics, the performance—which featured high-profile cameos from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin—resonated as a significant cultural milestone. Although the set drew criticism from some political circles, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio used the global stage to pay homage to his Caribbean heritage. In a calculated gesture of unity during a polarized era, he concluded the show by running through a list of nations across the Americas and holding a football emblazoned with the message: “Together we are America.”
The “Bad Bunny effect” was also felt in Spanish-language media. Telemundo’s broadcast averaged 3.3 million viewers, marking the highest Super Bowl viewership in U.S. Spanish-language history. The network’s audience peaked during the halftime festivities with 4.8 million viewers, setting another record for the most-watched Spanish-language halftime broadcast.
On digital platforms, the singer’s global dominance was equally evident. Total social media consumption—encompassing fan interactions, official platforms, and influencers—hit a record-breaking four billion views within the first 24 hours, representing a 137% surge compared to the previous year. Notably, over half of these social views (55%) originated from international markets.
In contrast, the alternative “All-American Halftime Show” featuring Kid Rock—streamed as a counter-program by Turning Point USA—accumulated 19 million YouTube views in its first day. While significant, it was eclipsed by Bad Bunny’s 24 million YouTube replays in the same timeframe, which came on top of his historic linear TV ratings. According to The New York Times, the alternative stream maintained approximately 6.1 million concurrent live viewers, a fraction of the 128 million who watched the “Benito Bowl” live on television.
