The Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows Ever
The game stops, one act gets the whole stadium, and the argument over who used it best has never settled: rank the halftime shows that earned the slot. Three rules have to be cleared before a show is considered. The show comes from January 1993 or later, a named music act headlined it and played its own songs, and the show has its own Wikipedia article. Clearing all three does not book the slot. Tier one is every show here that at least two of four rankings, read in September 2026, placed in a top ten: Sports Illustrated's ten, Time Out's nineteen, Us Weekly's ten and Highsnobiety's twenty-one, which covers 2000 through 2020. A show outside that window had three rankings available. Tier two is every other show here. A show added later sits in tier two until those four are read again. Inside a tier, the vote does the ordering.
Michael Jackson — Super Bowl XXVII (1993) is #1 on “The Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows Ever”.
- 1
Michael Jackson — Super Bowl XXVII (1993)
Pasadena, January 31, 1993. He appeared at the top of both jumbotrons using body doubles, then held the stage without moving or singing for close to two minutes before Jennifer Batten's guitar started the set. 'Jam,' 'Billie Jean' and 'Black or White' followed, then a children's choir on 'We Are the World' and 'Heal the World' to close. Time Out fourth, Us Weekly third: two of the three rankings open to a 1993 show.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXVII_halftime_show - 2
Beyoncé — Super Bowl XLVII (2013)
New Orleans, February 2013, on a set built around two enormous portraits facing each other, with a blaze of flames on the stage. Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams came up through the floor for a Destiny's Child reunion on 'Bootylicious' and 'Independent Women Part I.' Rob Sheffield's verdict was "This woman single-handedly blew out the power in the Superdome." Sports Illustrated third, Us Weekly second, best of Highsnobiety's twenty-one. That is three.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLVII_halftime_show - 3
Prince — Super Bowl XLI (2007)
Rain was already falling on Miami Gardens and it turned into a downpour during 'Purple Rain,' the first rain any halftime show had ever had to play through. For the guitar solo a screen rose out of the stage and he played behind it, in silhouette. First at Sports Illustrated, first at Us Weekly, second at Time Out, second-best at Highsnobiety. All four.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLI_halftime_show - 4
U2 — Super Bowl XXXVI (2002)
Five months after the September 11 attacks, three songs and a scrim. The names of the victims were projected onto a Kabuki scrim measuring 120 feet high by 60 feet wide, climbing all the way through 'Where the Streets Have No Name.' Corporate sponsorship put E-Trade's name on the billing. Second for Sports Illustrated, third for Time Out. Two.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXVI_halftime_show - 5
Shakira and Jennifer Lopez — Super Bowl LIV (2020)
Thirteen minutes and two headline sets that ran together without an obvious seam. The show had a pole routine during 'Waiting for Tonight,' a feather cape showing the Puerto Rican and American flags, and children on the field inside cage-like structures, which was read as a statement about the border. Time Out number one, Sports Illustrated fourth, Highsnobiety seventh-best. Three.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_LIV_halftime_show - 6
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar — Super Bowl LVI (2022)
Inglewood, 2022, and the medley went 'The Next Episode,' 'California Love,' 'In da Club,' 'Family Affair,' 'M.A.A.D City,' 'Lose Yourself' and 'Still D.R.E.' It was the first halftime show to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), and it took production design and music direction. Fifth at Sports Illustrated, ninth at Time Out, fourth at Us Weekly. Three from three, with Highsnobiety out of range.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_LVI_halftime_show - 7
Lady Gaga — Super Bowl LI (2017)
Three hundred LED quadcopters from Intel hung over NRG Stadium and formed an American flag behind her. 'Poker Face' went into 'Born This Way' and out through 'Bad Romance.' Six nominations came at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys, the most any halftime production had drawn to that point. Sixth at Sports Illustrated, sixth again at Us Weekly, fourth-best at Highsnobiety. Three.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_LI_halftime_show - 8
Madonna — Super Bowl XLVI (2012)
A gold cape, an ancient-Egyptian helmet and a large throne carried onto the field, then straight into 'Vogue.' M.I.A. raised a middle finger at the camera during her verse on 'Give Me All Your Luvin',' and the set still closed on 'Like a Prayer.' Eighth in Time Out, fifth in Us Weekly, Highsnobiety third-best. Three of the four.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLVI_halftime_show - 9
Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake — Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004)
Houston, 2004. The ten-song run took in P. Diddy's 'Bad Boy for Life,' Nelly's 'Hot in Herre' and 'Rhythm Nation,' and then came the ending. Both performers said it was not intentional, and Timberlake's own phrase for it, 'wardrobe malfunction,' outlived every song in the set. Sports Illustrated ninth, Highsnobiety ninth-best of twenty-one. Two.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXVIII_halftime_show - 10
Aerosmith and NSYNC — Super Bowl XXXV (2001)
Billed as 'The Kings of Rock and Pop,' with Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears and Nelly turning up as guests. 'Bye Bye Bye' and 'Jaded' sat in separate corners of the show until everyone piled onto 'Walk This Way' to finish, which is either the best or the worst idea anyone had that year. Time Out fifth, Highsnobiety fifth-best. Two of them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXV_halftime_show - 11
Rihanna — Super Bowl LVII (2023)
Glendale, 2023, in red, working through an eleven-song set that ran 'Umbrella,' 'Diamonds,' 'We Found Love' and 'Work' before she was lowered to the ground. The pregnancy was confirmed afterwards. Two wins from five nominations followed at the 75th Creative Arts Emmys, for directing and for production design. Tenth at Time Out, ninth at Us Weekly. Two of a possible three.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_LVII_halftime_show - 12
Katy Perry — Super Bowl XLIX (2015)
A giant golden mechanical lion carried her into the stadium for 'Roar,' Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott came on as guests, and then a costumed dancer took over. Left Shark danced offbeat and out of sync with Right Shark, and that is what everyone went home talking about. Us Weekly tenth, and eighth-best on Highsnobiety's twenty-one. Two.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLIX_halftime_show - 13
Kendrick Lamar — Super Bowl LIX (2025)
Samuel L. Jackson turned up as Uncle Sam and kept interrupting between songs. The stage was built to look like part of a PlayStation controller, Serena Williams crip walked through 'Not Like Us,' and it finished on 'TV Off.' Only Time Out carries it, at seventh. One of three, because Highsnobiety's window closes in 2020.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_LIX_halftime_show - 14
Bad Bunny — Super Bowl LX (2026)
He performed almost all of it in Spanish, a first for the slot, as was a Latino solo artist headlining. Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin and Los Pleneros de la Cresta appeared, and a casita stood on the field at Levi's Stadium. Emmys arrived in September 2026 for choreography, lighting design, music direction, sound mixing, and technical direction and camerawork. Sports Illustrated seventh. That is one placement from a field of three.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_LX_halftime_show - 15
Usher — Super Bowl LVIII (2024)
Roller skates, a shirt off early, and Sonic Boom of the South marching in behind him. Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris and H.E.R. each got a section, which is a lot of guests for one short set. Allegiant Stadium, February 2024. Time Out sixth, and no other ranking carries it. One of three.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_LVIII_halftime_show - 16
Bruno Mars — Super Bowl XLVIII (2014)
A drum solo started it, played on a kit designed to honor his late mother, Bernadette Hernandez. Then 'Locked Out of Heaven,' 'Treasure' and 'Runaway Baby,' with the Red Hot Chili Peppers invited on for 'Give It Away' before 'Just the Way You Are' closed a freezing night in New Jersey. Eighth at Sports Illustrated. One of four.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLVIII_halftime_show - 17
Coldplay — Super Bowl 50 (2016)
Cards held up across Levi's Stadium in orange, yellow and blue made a sunburst before a note was played. The band called in Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Gustavo Dudamel and two student ensembles, and the run went 'Viva la Vida,' 'Paradise,' 'Uptown Funk,' 'Formation' and 'Fix You.' Highsnobiety ranked it tenth-best out of twenty-one, and it reaches no other top ten among the four.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_50_halftime_show - 18
The Weeknd — Super Bowl LV (2021)
Seven million dollars of his own money went into the production. Dancers in red blazers and black neckties had their faces wrapped in bandages, a labyrinth was built behind the stage, and 'Blinding Lights' closed it. Of the three lists that reach 2021, not one puts it inside a top ten.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_LV_halftime_show - 19
Diana Ross — Super Bowl XXX (1996)
Tempe, 1996. Ten songs, among them 'Stop! In the Name of Love,' 'Baby Love,' 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' and 'I Will Survive,' before 'Take Me Higher' closed the set. Then she said, "Oh my, here comes my ride," and a helicopter came in for her. Sales of the album Take Me Higher rose 74% that week, when it sold 3,000 copies. Highsnobiety starts at 2000, so three rankings could have carried this, and none did.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXX_halftime_show
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