Part of a Record Seven Halftime Shows Presented by American Express Across the NFL’s Biggest International Season to Date
RIO DE JANEIRO — August 17, 2026 — The National Football League announced today that Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin will take the stage for the halftime performance during the 2026 NFL Rio Game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 5:25 p.m. BRT (4:25 p.m. ET) at the iconic Maracanã Stadium.
The Rio performance will be the second of a record seven halftime shows presented by American Express and staged across the 2026 NFL International Games – a lineup of live musical performances spanning seven countries and four continents – as the league plays its most international games ever in a single season.
Pedro Sampaio has amassed more than 14 billion audio and video streams and over 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify, cementing himself as one of Brazil’s most prominent music stars. The most-streamed male pop artist in Brazil over the past five years, Sampaio was nominated for a Latin Grammy® in 2024 and is known as one of the genre’s most dynamic live performers, blending the energy of Brazilian funk with pop and electronic music.
“I grew up in Rio de Janeiro, seeing Maracanã Stadium as a place where history was made. I never imagined that my first time performing on that field would be alongside Ricky Martin, who has always been a huge inspiration to me. It’s hard to put into words,” said Pedro Sampaio. “Maracanã is part of the history of both sports and music, and being part of this moment—especially at the first NFL game in my hometown—is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I’m incredibly happy and grateful to be part of a night that will go down in history.”
Recognized as one of the most successful and influential Latin artists of all time, Ricky Martin is a global superstar with more than 95 million albums sold worldwide and a career spanning over three decades. His hits played a pivotal role in the global expansion of Latin Pop. The many highlights of his career include multiple GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® Awards, among other numerous accolades, and a special guest appearance during the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.
“2026 has been a year filled with wonderful opportunities, and this is certainly one of them. Being part of another historic NFL event alongside Pedro Sampaio is incredibly exciting, especially because it brings me back to one of my favorite places in the world: Rio,” said Ricky Martin. “There’s nothing quite like the energy of the Brazilian people, and I can’t wait to reunite with our fans and perform live at the iconic Maracanã. Get ready to move! See you all in September!”
“The NFL Rio Game is an opportunity to celebrate the energy, creativity and passion that make this city unlike anywhere else in the world,” said Tim Tubito, senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment at the NFL. “Over the past year, the NFL has embraced the global power and cultural influence of Latin music, and Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin each have a unique connection with fans across Brazil, Latin America and beyond. We look forward to a performance that captures the spirit of the city and gives fans an unforgettable celebration on game day.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin for the halftime show, in what will be the first NFL regular season game in Rio de Janeiro,” said Luis Martinez, general manager of NFL Brazil. “Pedro has soared to new heights both in Brazil and around the world, and Ricky has been a global sensation for many years. It will be an unforgettable celebration with Brazilian fans at the Maracanã.”
Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin’s full halftime performance will be broadcast live in Brazil on Globo’s channels GETV and sportv.
Limited-edition merchandise celebrating Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin’s performances at the 2026 NFL Rio Game will be available at NFL Shops in Rio.
The league is committed to growing the game at every level across the country, engaging with fans year-round through partners, programs and initiatives. Further information around the entertainment and fan events surrounding the 2026 NFL Rio Game will follow soon.
The announcement follows the previously confirmed performance of the Jonas Brothers at the 2026 NFL Melbourne Game on Thursday, Sept. 10 (Friday, Sept. 11 in Australia) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Tickets for the 2026 NFL Rio Game are on sale now at nfl.com/Rio.
To stay up to date on all things Rio and for more on the 2026 NFL Rio Game, follow @nflbrasil on Instagram, X and TikTok.
Sixty-two regular-season NFL games have been played outside the United States with London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto having hosted games to date.
2026 NFL International Games (* designates a new market/city for 2026):
- London, U.K. (Two games in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, one in Wembley Stadium)
- Madrid, Spain (Bernabéu Stadium)
- Melbourne, Australia* (Melbourne Cricket Ground)
- Mexico City, Mexico (Estadio Banorte)
- Munich, Germany (FC Bayern Munich Arena)
- Paris, France* (Stade de France Stadium)
- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil* (Maracanã Stadium)
ABOUT PEDRO SAMPAIO
Pedro Sampaio is one of Brazil’s top contemporary artists and a leading force in Brazilian Funk. Known for his versatility as a singer, DJ, and performer, Pedro is translating Brazilian’s street sound into a worldwide main-stage movement as he seamlessly bridges the funk with Latin pop and electronic dance culture, shaping how Gen-Z parties worldwide.
Pedro Sampaio has over 16 million followers online, 14 billion combined streams worldwide, collaborations with major international artists such as Anitta, Pabllo Vittar, J Balvin, and Nicky Jam, and has reached #1 on Spotify Brazil and Portugal three times, with three songs on Spotify’s Global Top 50. Latin Grammy nominee for Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance with ‘Joga Pra Lua.
Has performed at some of the world’s most influential festivals and venues, including Lollapalooza, Rock in Rio Lisboa and Brazil, Coca-Cola Flow Fest (Mexico), and LIV Nightclub in Miami. He also joined Madonna’s “The Celebration Tour” in Brazil, performing in front of over 1.6 million people and hosting the official afterparty at Copacabana Beach.
Pedro Sampaio is poised to continue shaping the future of Brazilian Funk on a global scale and further solidifying his place as one of the defining artists of his generation.
ABOUT RICKY MARTIN
Ricky Martin is one of the most influential and enduring figures in global music and entertainment. A groundbreaking artist whose career has transcended language, culture, and genre, Martin has sold over 95 million albums worldwide, earned 95 platinum and 40 gold records, and received countless accolades, including two GRAMMY Awards, four Latin GRAMMY Awards (including Latin GRAMMY Person of the Year), fourteen Premio Lo Nuestro Awards, twelve Latin Billboard Awards, nine World Music Awards, and two American Music Awards. In 2025, MTV recognized Ricky Martin as its first-ever Latin Icon, honoring his historic impact on music, culture, and representation worldwide.
In 2026, Martin reaffirmed his place on one of the world’s biggest stages as a special guest during the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, headlined by Bad Bunny at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. During the performance, he joined Bad Bunny for “Lo Que Pasó en Hawaii” before a U.S. television audience of approximately 125 million viewers, further underscoring his enduring global appeal.
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Martin rose to prominence as a member of Menudo before launching his solo career in 1991. He quickly became a superstar in the Spanish-speaking world, with landmark hits such as “María” and the global phenomenon “La Copa de la Vida,” whose success culminated in a defining performance at the 41st Annual GRAMMY Awards, a moment widely regarded as pivotal in the global rise of Latin pop music.
Throughout his career, Martin has continually reinvented himself, releasing critically and commercially successful albums including Música + Alma + Sexo, A Quien Quiera Escuchar, which won the GRAMMY Award for Best Latin Pop Album in 2016, and the acclaimed EP Pausa, which earned a Latin GRAMMY Award in 2020. His tours and live performances consistently sell out arenas and stadiums around the world.
Beyond music, Martin has built an equally notable career as an actor and producer. He has starred on Broadway in Les Misérables and Evita, appeared in acclaimed television series such as Glee, and earned an Emmy Award nomination for his portrayal of Antonio D’Amico in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. Most recently, he stars in two seasons of Apple TV+’s Palm Royale, alongside Laura Dern, Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, and Carol Burnett, receiving widespread critical praise.
In recent years, Martin has continued to expand his artistic reach with projects such as Ricky Martin Sinfónico, performed alongside prestigious orchestras around the world, including two sold-out performances at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles under the direction of renowned conductor and Music and Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel.
He has also joined Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull for The Trilogy Tour, one of the most successful tours across the United States and Canada. For the past two years, he has performed around the world with his sold-out Ricky Martin Live tour.
An artist, performer, author, and humanitarian, Ricky Martin remains a defining voice of his generation, continually shaping the global cultural landscape through his music, performances, and unwavering commitment to artistic excellence.