Bad Bunny kicked off Super Bowl week with vocal rest after confirming he could not perform at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, attended the ceremony with six nominations but told host Trevor Noah that a Super Bowl halftime contract prevented him from taking the stage.
Bad Bunny appeared at the Grammys at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 1, just one week before headlining the Super Bowl halftime show.
Bad Bunny’s Grammys Performance Blocked by Super Bowl Contract
During their on-air exchange, Noah explained the situation directly.
“Whoever’s doing the Super Bowl is contractually obligated to only do the Super Bowl,” Noah told Bad Bunny. “So, you can’t perform at the Grammys. Is this true?”
“I wish,” Bad Bunny replied. “But I can’t.”
When Noah added that he expected to see him perform, the singer answered, “Me too!”
Bad Bunny also shared that he originally believed he would be part of the show.
“I came here [and] I thought I was performing, but now I can’t,” he said.
Bad Bunny’s Historic Grammy Win
Bad Bunny also made history at the ceremony, becoming the first Latin artist to win album of the year in the 68-year history of the Grammy Awards. He earned the top honor for Debí Tirar Mas Fotos, beating Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar.
Harry Styles announced his name, and Bad Bunny appeared emotional as he walked to the stage, taking a moment to collect himself before delivering his acceptance speech.
Earlier in the evening, after winning best música urbana album, he addressed immigration enforcement during his remarks.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” he said. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans.”
The Album of the Year Was Inspired by His Roots and Busy Schedule
While he skipped the Grammys stage, Bad Bunny has continued speaking openly about the creative process behind his latest album, Debí Tirar Mas Fotos.
In a September interview with i-D, he explained why he decided to pursue a salsa-influenced project sooner rather than later.
“I had the desire for a long time to try to make a salsa album,” he said.
“But I always thought about it for the future—like, ‘maybe when I’m 40.’
He added that his packed schedule pushed him to complete the album while juggling touring, filming, and extended time away from Puerto Rico.
“During that time, I was touring Nadie Sabe lo Que Va Pasar Mañana, [on] the Most Wanted Tour,” Bad Bunny said. “I spent some time living in L.A., it was the time of Coachella. I was [filming] Been Caught Stealing, I was doing Happy Gilmore [2], and I had never been so far from Puerto Rico for so long.”
That experience led him to reconnect with his background.
“It drove me to [research] my roots, to connect with everything I am as a Puerto Rican,” he added.
Fans can catch Bad Bunny in the Super Bowl 60 halftime show on Sunday, February 3, on NBC.
