Nigerian Afrofusion star Burna Boy is set to take another major international stage in Paris, where he will headline the halftime show for the National Football League’s first regular-season game in France.
The game is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time (9:30 a.m. Eastern Time). The NFL has confirmed Burna Boy as the headline entertainment for the landmark fixture, which is part of the league’s expanding international programme.
Burna Boy returns to the Stade de France
The Paris performance gives Burna Boy another significant connection with the Stade de France.
In April 2025, the Nigerian singer became the first African artist to headline a solo concert at the stadium. The Stade de France records that his April 18, 2025 concert sold all 80,000 tickets within days, underlining the size of his audience in France.
Burna Boy described the return as particularly meaningful, saying Paris had given him one of the biggest nights of his career and that he would be representing African music during an event that has never previously taken place in France.
NFL takes regular-season football to France for the first time
The October 25 matchup represents a new chapter in the NFL’s international expansion.
The Steelers and Saints will play at the Stade de France as part of the 2026 international schedule. The NFL’s official schedule identifies Paris as a new international market for the league this season.
The matchup is also part of a record international programme for 2026, with regular-season games scheduled across several countries. The NFL has listed nine international games for the season, including fixtures in Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany and Mexico.
For the Paris event, the NFL is working with GL events and has the support of France’s Ministry of Sports. American Express is presenting the game.
Why Burna Boy’s selection matters
The halftime announcement brings together two parts of the NFL’s international strategy: taking American football into new markets and using globally recognised entertainment to connect with local and international audiences.
The NFL has announced seven halftime performances across its 2026 International Games. Burna Boy’s Paris appearance sits alongside performances by artists including the Jonas Brothers in Melbourne, Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin in Rio de Janeiro, Ayra Starr in London, Cage The Elephant in Munich and The Warning in Mexico City.
The league has also highlighted Burna Boy’s international profile and his connection to African music as factors behind his selection for the Paris event. NFL senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment Tim Tubito said the organisation viewed African music as an important part of Paris’ cultural landscape.
A new stage for Afrobeats and African music
Burna Boy’s appearance comes after a series of milestones that have placed Nigerian music increasingly on major international stages.
The singer was the first African artist to perform on the main Grammy Awards telecast, according to the NFL, and has received 13 Grammy nominations. His 2025 Stade de France concert further established his connection with the French market.
His NFL performance will now place Afrofusion and Nigerian music within one of the world’s most prominent American sporting properties as the league introduces regular-season football to France.
What to know about the NFL Paris Game
The 2026 NFL Paris Game will take place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Stade de France.
The matchup is:
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs New Orleans Saints
- Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris region
- Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CEST
- U.S. Eastern Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
- Halftime performer: Burna Boy
- Event: First NFL regular-season game in France
The NFL has already put Paris Game tickets on sale, with the league’s international-games programme providing official ticketing information for the fixture.
In France, the NFL has said Burna Boy’s full halftime performance will be broadcast live free-to-air on France Télévisions and on beIN Sports, while L’Équipe will broadcast the game later that evening.
What happens next
Attention will now turn to the production details of Burna Boy’s halftime performance and the wider entertainment programme surrounding the first NFL game in France.
For Burna Boy, the October appearance will represent a return to a stadium where he already made African music history. For the NFL, the event is another step in its effort to establish a stronger international presence and introduce its regular-season product to new audiences.
The combination of the Steelers-Saints matchup and Burna Boy’s halftime performance is expected to make the October 25 event one of the most prominent intersections of American sports and African music on the 2026 international calendar.
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