Burna Boy Set to Make History Again as He Headlines NFL’s First-Ever Paris Game

• Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy will return to Paris’ Stade de France in October to headline the halftime show for the NFL’s historic first regular-season game in France.

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy is set to take another major step on the global stage after being announced as the headline performer for the halftime show of the NFL’s first regular-season game in France.

Burna Boy will perform when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints at Stade de France in Paris on October 25, 2026.

The historic fixture marks the first time the National Football League will stage a regular-season game in France, as the league continues its expansion into international markets.

The announcement also gives Burna Boy another opportunity to perform at one of France’s most iconic sporting venues, less than two years after he made history there.

In April 2025, the Grammy Award-winning Nigerian became the first African artist to headline a solo concert at Stade de France, performing before a sold-out audience.

Reflecting on his return to the venue, Burna Boy said the upcoming performance would be particularly meaningful because of the significance of the NFL’s arrival in France.

“Paris gave me one of the biggest nights of my career, and to walk back into Stade de France for a moment like this means everything,” the singer said.

“The NFL is bringing something to France that has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it representing African music, and I intend to give the people a show they will not forget.”

The NFL’s senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, Tim Tubito, said Burna Boy was selected because of the importance of the occasion and his existing connection with Paris.

“The first NFL game in France deserves a halftime moment that matches the occasion,” Tubito said, adding that Burna Boy’s previous history at the stadium made him a natural choice for the performance.

The Steelers-Saints clash will be part of the NFL’s 2026 international schedule, which features nine regular-season games outside the United States across several international markets. The Paris fixture is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, with kickoff at 2:30 p.m. Paris time.

For the NFL, the Paris game represents another step in its international expansion, with France joining Australia and Brazil as new markets on the 2026 schedule.

Burna Boy’s appearance further connects the sporting event with Africa’s growing influence on the global music scene.

The singer, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album for Twice as Tall in 2021 and has continued to perform at major international events.

His NFL performance in Paris will also add another major international appearance to a career that has seen him perform at some of the world’s biggest venues.

The Steelers and Saints will make history as the first NFL teams to play a regular-season game in France, while Burna Boy’s halftime performance will bring Nigerian Afrobeats to the centre of the league’s Paris debut.