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The 10 Best Super Bowl Halftime Show Performances

Will Brown by Will Brown, March 18, 2025

The Best Super Bowl Halftime Show

The Super Bowl halftime show has become one of the most highly-anticipated television events of the year, with the program often reporting a higher viewership than the game itself. With some of the biggest names in entertainment delivering elaborate routines, the best Super Bowl halftime show performances have gone down in history for its impact on fans. In this guide, we’ve covered the 10 best halftime show performances that demand to be watched.

What is the Most Popular Halftime Show?

Before we’ve provided our to Super Bowl halftime show list, we’ve looked at how the programs evolved to become what they are. This is because, for decades, the shows were low-key, subdued affairs that audiences often turned away from.

To launch this guide, we’ve looked at the show that changed everything, before providing an un-ranked list of the most memorable performances. These include some of the world’s most celebrated musicians, including Prince, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, and more.

The History of the Best Super Bowl Performances

Long before the Super Bowl halftime show became the pinnacle of American musical entertainment and Super Bowl betting tips became part of broadcasting, these final games were relatively simple shows. Between 1967 and through the 1970s, these shows featured performances from university marching bands, with songs reflecting traditional Americana and patriotic themes. This tradition arose from the first Super Bowl, which featured the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band.

In the 1970s, the organization Up with People became a staple of the event, performing choreographed songs and dance routines that promoted harmony. Although the performances were wholesome, they were criticized for being lackluster and “squeaky clean” and failed to inspire much passion in the crowds.

Throughout the 1980s, the show was produced by a string of different organizations, including Disney and Radio City Music Hall. These showcases were inconsistent and included marching bands, drill bands, Disney character performances, and other family-friendly outings. It wasn’t until 1992 when Gloria Estefan performed that the Super Bowl began to create a more modern spectacular.

However, due to other networks’ attempts to counter-program the show, many visitors changed channels. This inspired the NFL to radically rethink its approach, beginning with Michael Jackson’s performance in 1993. The budget was also greatly increased from $100,000 to the $1 million Jackson commanded.

Michael Jackson, 1993

While Michael Jackson’s performance at the Rose Bowl for Super Bowl XXVII may not be considered among the best Super Bowl halftime shows by today’s standards, it is undoubtedly the most influential. The highly choreographed showcase began with Jackson emerging from below the stage, only to stand still for two minutes.

His set included renditions of “Jam”, “Billie Jean”, and “Black or White”, with his song “Heal the World” backed by 3,500 children. Jackson also performed the moonwalk, and the show was the first to use crowd cards that created images visible from above. The show drew higher ratings than the game itself, inspiring the NFL to continue with the same approach.

Prince, 2007

Prince’s appearance at the Super Bowl XLI in Miami is widely considered to be one of if not the best Super Bowl performances of all time. His setlist included covers of “We Will Rock You,” “All Along the Watchtower,” and “Proud Mary”, with backing from a fluorescent-lit marching band.

Due to the heavy rain warnings, production staff attempted to cancel the show but Prince insisted they continue. As the rain poured over Dolphin Stadium, Prince turned the moment into pure magic, playing an iconic rendition of “Purple Rain” complete with a silhouetted solo on his custom purple guitar. This is the most frequent answer to the question, “What was the best Super Bowl halftime show?”

Beyoncé, 2013

At the Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, Beyoncé delivered an energetic and intense choreographed performance that included a medley of some of her biggest hits. It commenced when she emerged from a smoke-filled stage to perform “Love on Top” and “Crazy in Love”, replete with a pyrotechnic guitar solo.

The most memorable moment came, though, when former Destiny’s Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams emerged to perform “Bootylicious” and “Independent Women” alongside her. The show included 120 separate costume pieces and over 500 hours of rehearsal and set a new standard for future artists to follow.

U2, 2002

U2’s performance at Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans is considered to be among the best Super Bowl performances due to its emotionally charged content. Coming several months after 9/11, the show is notable for a scrolling projection of the attack’s victims’ names across a large screen backdrop.

Other songs included “Beautiful Day,” “MLK,” and “Where the Streets Have No Name”. After offering words of consolation to the audience, the show built to a stunning finale, with Bono opening his jacket to reveal an American flag lining. The show ultimately transcended the moment to become symbolic of sport and music’s power to unite.

Dr Dre and Company, 2022

The Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles is considered to be among the best Super Bowl halftime shows for bringing together West Coast hip-hop royalty led by Dr. Dre. Alongside Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and special guest 50 Cent, the performers delivered a high-octane production that was reported to cost over $7 million to produce.

One of the first years where widespread Super Bowl betting sites were live, the performance took place on an elaborate all-white set that recreated famous landmarks from Compton. The field was stacked with hip-hop choreography in front of lowrider cars, with a setlist that included “California Love”, “In Da Club”, and “Still D.R.E.”.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, 2009

Bruce Springsteen’s performance at the Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa saw the rock legend deliver a trademark high-energy set complete with a set list of his most famous tracks. The show opened with Springsteen famously telling viewers to “step away from the guacamole dip” and turn their TV sets loud.

He then tore through rollicking tracks such as “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”, “Born to Run”, “Working on a Dream”, and “Glory Days”. Backed by his famous E Street Band and at one point, a gospel choir, Springsteen’s performance included regular interactions with his audience, slick dance moves, and an unplanned power slide into a camera.

Madonna, 2012

Madonna’s debut performance at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis is considered among the most popular halftime show productions, in part due to its over-the-top Roman theme. Dressed as Cleopatra, the pop icon emerged seated on a throne, and later launched into some of her biggest hits such as “Vogue”, “Music”, and “Like a Prayer”.

The performance was well-timed with the release of her new album, performing her new single “Give Me All Your Luvin'” with guests LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and Cee Lo Green. The production included over 400 dancers and projection-mapping technology that transformed the stage repeatedly throughout the show.

Paul McCartney, 2005

In the wake of Janet Jackson’s controversial appearance with Justin Timberlake in the previous year, the NFL pivoted to recruit legacy rock acts to headline. Who better to mark this new era, then, than Paul McCartney? At the Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, McCartney delivered a pyrotechnics-laden set including his biggest hits.

This included The Beatles classics “Drive My Car”, “Get Back”, and a crowd-pleasing “Hey Jude”, as well as songs from his solo catalog such as “Live and Let Die”. The show is also notable for being the first to use high-definition screens at a halftime show.

The Rolling Stones, 2006

After Paul McCartney’s well-received performance, organizers recruited The Rolling Stones to perform at Super Bowl XL in Detroit. Playing on a stage shaped like their iconic lips logo, they performed hits such as “Start Me Up”, “Rough Justice”, and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”. Jagger’s impressive energy at 62 immediately impressed as one of the best Super Bowl performances.

Kendrick Lamar, 2025

Despite only happening this year, Kendrick Lamar’s turn at the Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans is already considered to be among the best shows. It also ranks as the most popular halftime show, with viewership figures exceeding 133 million people.

Hot off the heels of his Grammy win for “Song of the Year”, Lamar performed “Not Like Us” on a street-scape set after a rousing introduction from Samuel L. Jackson. The high-energy performance also included renditions of “HUMBLE” and “DNA”, as well as a preview of an unreleased track.

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