Afrobeats star Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, will make history as the first African artist to headline an NFL international halftime show at the 20th game in London.
She is the first major African and Afrobeats artist to headline an NFL international halftime show between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars on October 11.
The performance is part of a series of seven halftime shows presented by American Express during the 2026 International Games.
The National Football League announced the development on Thursday, with the singer also confirming the performance in a post shared on her official Instagram account.
“I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London.
“London is one of my favourite places in the world, and to bring Starrgirl to the NFL global stage is a dream come true for me. I can’t wait to see you guys there!” Ayra Starr said.
The league’s Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music, and Entertainment, Tim Tubito, described Ayra Starr as a major talent with a strong connection to the London audience.
“London is one of the most influential music cities in the world, and African music has been at the centre of that conversation for years now,” Tubito said.
He added that the singer was “the right artist to carry that momentum forward” and said the NFL looked forward to working with her on a performance that would match the energy of the occasion.
