Nigerian Afrobeats star Sarah Aderibigbe, professionally known as Ayra Starr, and the National Football League (NFL) confirmed that Ayra Starr will headline the halftime show of the Philadelphia Eagles versus Jacksonville Jaguars game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11.
The announcement marks a significant moment for African music, placing one of Afrobeats’ leading contemporary voices at the centre of the NFL’s expanding international entertainment programme.
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The game will kick off at 2:30pm British Summer Time, or 9:30am Eastern Time, as part of Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season.
For Ayra Starr, the appearance represents another striking step in an increasingly global career.
The singer has amassed more than seven billion global streams and one billion YouTube views since her debut in 2021, according to the NFL.
She is also a two-time Grammy nominee and BET Award winner.
“I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London,” Ayra Starr said.
“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!”
The performance comes shortly after the release of her third studio album, Starrgirl, which arrived on August 14.
The project features collaborations with artists including Wizkid, ZAYN and Leon Thomas.
The NFL described Ayra Starr as a major talent with a strong connection to London’s music audience.
Tim Tubito, the NFL’s Senior Director of Global Game Presentation, Music and Entertainment, said African music had become central to London’s international music conversation.
“Ayra Starr is a generational talent with a real connection to fans in this market,” Tubito said, adding that she was “the right artist to carry that momentum forward”.
The London performance will be one of a record seven halftime shows presented by American Express during the NFL’s 2026 International Games.
The performances will span seven countries across four continents, underlining the league’s growing effort to connect American football with audiences beyond the United States.
The choice of Ayra Starr also reflects the growing influence of Afrobeats within Britain’s wider music culture.
Rather than being presented simply as an international guest, her appearance gives the genre a prominent place within one of the world’s biggest professional sports entertainment platforms.
The October fixture itself carries some history.
The Eagles and Jaguars previously met in London in 2018, when Philadelphia recorded a 24-18 victory at Wembley Stadium.
The 2026 meeting will therefore be their second international regular-season encounter.
The Jaguars are also scheduled to remain in London for another game the following week, facing the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium on October 18.
The 2026 schedule gives Jacksonville consecutive London fixtures as part of the NFL’s international expansion.
Ayra Starr’s NFL appearance adds another powerful chapter to that expansion.
It also offers a fresh meeting point between African popular culture and American sport, with the singer preparing to take Afrobeats to an audience extending well beyond the traditional music scene.
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The full halftime performance will be broadcast live in the UK free-to-air on Channel 5 and on Sky Sports, giving the historic performance an audience beyond those inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
