The 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans will undoubtedly be an epic game full of twists and turns, but the part of the day that could capture the most attention worldwide may be the halftime show.

Here’s everything you need to know about the extravaganza that will take place during the game’s break, including a look back at past performers.

Who will perform at the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show?

In September, it was announced that Kendrick Lamar would be the featured performer at halftime of the event on February 9th on FOX.

The NFL posted a video of Lamar to mark the unveiling.

He joins a storied list of Super Bowl artists that ranges from Alicia Keys and Jennifer Lopez to the Rolling Stones and Prince.

(Related: Complete Super Bowl coverage)

And New Orleans itself has a great history of incredible halftime performances. The city will host the Super Bowl for the 11th time in February. Previous halftime performances there have included Beyoncé, U2, The Blue Brothers and James Brown, as well as Ella Fitzgerald.

When does the Super Bowl halftime show start?

Since kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET and the game typically lasts between 3 and 4 hours, the halftime show will likely begin between 8 and 8:30 p.m. ET. Of course, all of this depends on how the game develops on the field.

Who else is performing? Other potential performers, national anthem, etc.

Lamar won’t be the only star to appear at the Super Bowl. Here are some others:

• Grammy-winning singer Jon Batiste will sing the national anthem
• Christian recording artist Lauren Daigle and jazz musician Trombone Shorty will perform “America the Beautiful.”
• R&B singer Ledisi will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

There are also usually some surprise appearances during the halftime show. For example, last year Usher was the headliner, but he was ultimately joined by Alicia Keys, HER, will.i.am, Ludacris, Lil Jon and others.

One person who apparently won’t be making an appearance, however, is New Orleans-born rapper Lil Wayne, who has publicly expressed his disappointment at not being chosen to headline.

Super Bowl Halftime Show: Full List of Artists, Ranked by Year

Here’s a look back at the Super Bowl halftime performances. Games that took place in New Orleans are marked with an asterisk.

• 2024: Usher with special guests Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, HER, will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris
• 2023: Rihanna
• 2022: Eminem, Dr. Dr. Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige

You may have noticed Kendrick Lamar listed above. Yes, that’s right, it won’t be his first Super Bowl appearance as he attended the game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in 2022.

• 2021: The Weeknd
• 2020: Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Emme Muniz
• 2019: Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi
• 2018: Justin Timberlake, The Tennessee Kids
• 2017: Lady Gaga
• 2016: Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars
• 2015: Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott
• 2014: Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers
• *2013: Beyonce and Destiny’s Child

Beyonce headlined here at the Superdome, along with special guests Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child. At the time, it was the second most-watched show in Super Bowl history with 110.8 million viewers.

There were reports that her husband Jay-Z would appear on the show, but he did not. A report from US Weekly later said that Jay-Z opted out at the last minute so it could be Beyoncé’s moment.

• 2012: Madonna
• 2011: The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash
• 2010: The WHO
• 2009: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
• 2008: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• 2007: Prince and the Florida A&M marching band
• 2006: The Rolling Stones
• 2005: Paul McCartney
• 2004: Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Nelly and Justin Timberlake
• 2003: Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting
• *2002: Tribute to the victims of the September 11th attacks with U2

Particularly moving was the 2002 show, which took place a few months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Janet Jackson was originally slated to perform, but the NFL decided on a different tone and Irish rock band U2 was chosen after some league executives attended one of their concerts in New York in October 2001.

U2 performed their 2000 hit single “Beautiful Day”, the 1984 song “MLK” and their 1987 hit single “Where the Streets Have No Name”. While the latter two songs were played, the names of the Victims of September 11th projected backstage and into the interior of the Superdome.

• 2001: “The Kings of Rock and Pop” with Aerosmith, ‘N’Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly
• 2000: “A Tapestry of Nations” with Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton and an 80-member choir
• 1999: “Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing” with Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and tap dancer Savion Glover
• 1998: “A Tribute to Motown’s 40th Anniversary” featuring Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Martha Reeves and The Temptations
• *1997: “Blues Brothers Bash” with Dan Akroyd, John Goodman and James Belushi (also with “The Godfather of Soul” James Brown and ZZ Top)

The 1997 show at the Superdome had a distinct blues feel, with James Brown being accompanied by The Blue Brothers and blues-rock band ZZ Top. Brown performed his hits “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine.” At the end, all the artists came together for a rousing performance of “Gimme Some Lovin’.”

• 1996: Diana Ross celebrates 30 years of the Super Bowl with special effects, pyrotechnics and stadium ticket stunt. In the final, Diana Ross was taken out of the stadium by helicopter
• 1995: Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye with Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval, the Miami Sound Machine and stunts like fire and skydivers. The finale included audience participation with glow sticks
• 1994: “Rockin’ Country Sunday” with Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna and Naomi Judd. The finale included a flashlight stunt
• 1993: “Heal the World” with Michael Jackson and 3,500 local children. The finale included an audience ticket stunt
• 1992: “Winter Magic” saluting the winter season and the Winter Olympics with Gloria Estefan, Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill
• 1991: “A little global salute to 25 years of the Super Bowl” with New Kids on the Block
• *1990: “Salute to New Orleans” and characters for the 40th anniversary of the Peanuts, with trumpeter Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw & Irma Thomas and others

The 1990 halftime show at the Superdome was an interesting mix. It was partly a tribute to New Orleans, with performances by three Louisiana natives – clarinet player Pete Fountain, fiddle player Doug Kershaw and singer Irma Thomas. Three bands from local colleges Southern University, ULL and Nicholls State will also perform.

The finale was a float in the shape of a huge riverboat. Oh, and it was also an homage to the comic strip “Peanuts.”

• 1989: “Be Bop Bamboozled” with 3D effects
• 1988: “Something Grand” with 88 wings, the Rockettes and Chubby Checker
• 1987: “Salute to Hollywood’s 100th Anniversary”
• *1986: “Beat of the Future” with Up With People

Up With People headlined four Super Bowls and this was their final performance. The theme of the show was “Beat of the Future” and the show itself was titled “Room for Everyone”.

The performance was dedicated to the memory of Martin Luther King Jr.

• 1985: “A world full of children’s dreams”
• 1984: “Super Bowl XVIII’s salute to the superstars of the screen”
• 1983: “KaleidoSUPERscope” (a kaleidoscope of color and sound)
• 1982: “A salute to the 60s and Motown”
• *1981: “A Mardi Gras Festival” with the Southern University Marching Band, Helen O’Connell

Like the 1986 show, the 1981 performance featured “Up With People” as well as singers and dancers and had a “Mardi Gras Festival” feel.

• 1980: “A Salute to the Big Band Era” with Up with People
• 1979: “Super Bowl XIII Carnival” salute to the Caribbean with Ken Hamilton and various Caribbean bands
• *1978: “From Paris to the Paris of America” with Tyler Apache Belles, Pete Fountain and Al Hirt

The 1978 show at the Superdome featured the Apache Band and Apache Belles drill team from Tyler Junior College, clarinetist Pete Fountain and trumpeter Al Hirt.

• 1977: “It’s a Small World” includes audience participation for the first time, with audience members waving colorful placards on cue
• 1976: “200 Years and Just a Baby” tribute to the American Bicentennial
• *1975: “Tribute to Duke Ellington” with Mercer Ellington and the Grambling State Marching Band

The 1975 game at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans was a tribute to jazz legend Duke Ellington, who died last May. Ellington’s son Mercer performed, as did the Grambling State Marching Band.

• 1974: “A Musical America” with the University of Texas Band
• 1973: “Happiness is.” with the University of Michigan Marching Band and Woody Herman
• *1972: “Salute to Louis Armstrong” with Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing, Al Hirt and others

The 1972 show at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans featured legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, actress and singer Carol Channing, trumpeter Al Hirt and the US Marine Corps Drill Team.

• 1971: Florida A&M Band
• *1970: Carol Channing, Marguerite Piazza, Doc Severinsen, Lairen & Tara, Al Hirt, Lionel Hampton, Southern University Marching Band

Super Bowl IV was the first to take place in New Orleans and was played at Tulane Stadium. The halftime show featured, among others, jazz trumpeter Doc Severinsen, who was also a bandleader on “The Tonight Show” along with Johnny Carson.

• 1969: “America Thank” with the Florida A&M University Band
• 1968: Grambling State Band
• 1967: University of Arizona and Grambling State marching bands

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