The Nigerian Afrobeats star will headline the American Express show when the Philadelphia Eagles face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London

Nigerian Afrobeats star Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has been announced as the headliner of the American Express halftime show at the 2026 NFL London Game on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Also read: Ayra Starr makes history with NFL London show

The singer will perform when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, bringing Afrobeats to one of the National Football League’s most prominent international stages.

The NFL announced the performance on Thursday, describing Ayra Starr as a “generational talent” and highlighting her strong connection with audiences in London and around the world. (NFL)

The performance will form part of a record seven American Express-sponsored halftime shows scheduled across the NFL’s 2026 International Games, which span seven countries and four continents. (NFL)

For Ayra Starr, the invitation represents another significant step in a rapidly expanding international career.

The Beninese-Nigerian singer has amassed more than seven billion global streams and more than one billion YouTube views since making her debut in 2021, according to the NFL.

She is also a two-time Grammy nominee for Best African Music Performance, a BET Award winner for Best International Act and a performer at Glastonbury Festival. (NFL)

The London appearance comes shortly after the release of her third studio album, Starrgirl, on August 14. The project features collaborations with artists including ZAYN, Leon Thomas and Wizkid. (NFL)

Ayra Starr confirmed the NFL appearance in a post shared on Instagram, describing the opportunity as a personal milestone.

“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,” she wrote.

“I can’t wait to see you guys there!”

Her choice is also significant for the NFL as the league continues to expand its international footprint and use music to strengthen its connection with audiences outside the United States.

Tim Tubito, the NFL’s senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, said London’s importance as a global music centre made Ayra Starr a natural choice for the occasion.

“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. (NFL)

He described Ayra Starr as an artist with a genuine connection to fans in the market and said the NFL looked forward to creating a performance capable of matching the occasion.

The Eagles-Jaguars fixture will be the second of two NFL games scheduled at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on consecutive Sundays in October.

The Indianapolis Colts will face the Washington Commanders at the stadium on October 4, before Philadelphia and Jacksonville meet a week later. (NFL)

The Jaguars have a particularly strong connection with London, with the team having played numerous regular-season games in the UK as part of the NFL’s international expansion strategy.

The October 11 fixture will be the Jaguars’ fourth game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Ayra Starr’s performance is expected to give the London fixture an additional cultural dimension, particularly as Afrobeats continues to expand its presence in international mainstream entertainment.

Her rise has already taken her from Nigeria’s contemporary pop scene to major stages around the world, and the NFL appearance places her music before another vast international audience.

The full halftime performance will also be broadcast live in the UK on Channel 5 and Sky Sports, giving fans beyond Tottenham Hotspur Stadium an opportunity to watch the show. (NFL)

The NFL’s decision comes at a time when the league is staging its biggest international programme yet, with games scheduled across London, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Munich, Paris and Rio de Janeiro during the 2026 season. (NFL)

For Ayra Starr, however, the October appearance is more than another international booking.

It is a striking meeting of Nigerian music and American sport on a global stage, with the singer set to bring the energy of Afrobeats to thousands of fans inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a much wider audience watching around the world.

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As the NFL continues to build its international audience, Ayra Starr’s appearance offers a powerful reminder of how far African music has travelled, and how increasingly central its leading artists have become to global entertainment.