For entertainment junkies, the halftime show has become a spectacle showcasing the biggest artists on the planet and has given us moments that have gone down in pop-culture history – like Justin Timberlake Janet Jackson’s nipplegate of ′04.
For lovers of comedy and commercialisation, the ad breaks alone lure in names bolder and brighter than most Emmy nomination lists.
Then there’s the snacks, tailgating, merch, celebrity sightings and did I mention there was (American) football on too?
Here’s why you should give Super Bowl LX a go, how to watch Taika Waititi’s Pepsi ad and how to understand the rules of the game with ease.
Where to watch
We can watch live from New Zealand, with the kickoff usually around 12.30pm and a preamble for an hour prior.
Free-to-air options include TVNZ1 and TVNZ+. Paid options include Sky Sport (ESPN), Sky Sport Now, DAZN (NFL Game Pass), and Disney+.
The halftime show will make history
Bad Bunny is set to perform at the halftime show on Monday (NZT), which is being framed as a historic cultural moment.
The 31-year-old will be the first solo male Latin artist to have the honour and is also expected to be the first to perform entirely in Spanish.
MAGA supporters have called the performance “woke propaganda” and claimed it’s part of a broader effort to “troll Donald Trump” during a time of political turmoil and cultural divide in the US.
So much so, they are putting on their own MAGA halftime show and encouraging far-right supporters to turn off Bad Bunny and watch the Turning Point (the organisation founded by the late Charlie Kirk) halftime show, headlined by Kid Rock.
During Bad Bunny’s acceptance speech at the Grammys this week, where he won Album of the Year, the singer addressed ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and subsequent clashes.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE out,” the Puerto Rican singer said. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans,” he added.
Previous Superbowl halftime performers have included Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Rihanna, Madonna, Kendrick Lamar and even Prince.
The ads are half the fun
Super Bowl commercials have become ingrained in American football culture, often sparking conversations and debates and even becoming more memorable than the game itself.
The ads not only feature A-list celebrities advertising the biggest companies in the world, but they also feature award-winning Hollywood directors and command the highest premium of any television ad spot. A 30-second ad during the broadcast will cost a company between US$8-10 million ($13-16m).
New Zealand viewers can see the US commercials with an NFL Game Pass on DAZN. If you are watching on free-to-air services, you’ll have New Zealand-based ads.
This year, Pepsi has Kiwi Taika Waititi directing and appearing in its 2026 Super Bowl commercial, which features a polar bear doing a blind taste test of Pepsi versus Coke.
The Oscar-winning director told People that he “jumped at the chance” after he directed last year’s “pretty epic” Mountain Dew ad, where Seal transformed into an actual seal.
Other infamous Super Bowl ads include Pepsi’s The Joy of Pepsi (2001), featuring Britney Spears, Snickers’ You’re Not You When You’re Hungry series and McDonald’s The Showdown (1993) featuring Michael Jordan.
It’s more than just a game; it’s an event
Yes, the game is very long – from start to finish, you are looking at a three-and-a-half to four-hour commitment. But it’s not all football, it’s an event.
It’s celebrity spotting in the crowd, it’s getting dressed up in the merch of your favourite team, gathering your pals, picking out the most American-looking beverage from the local Four-Sqaure and screaming with joy as your favourite player performs a Hail Mary pass and wins the game. Football is life.
Snacks, snacks and more snacks
One of my Super Bowl traditions comes in the form of hot dogs, buffalo wings, corn chips with bean dip and a freakishly large Dr Pepper.
I recommend checking out the following three recipes.
Buffalo chicken nibbles with blue cheese aioli
It’s a grudge match
The Seahawks and Patriots are set to give us an important rematch we’ve not seen in more than a decade. The two last faced off at the Super Bowl in 2015, and the Patriots won.
The Patriots have since often found themselves in the Super Bowl – they’ve made four in the last 10 years – but for the Seahawks, they’ve not made it back since that 2015 game. They’ve spent the last 10 years rebuilding and losing the likes of quarterback Russell Wilson in the process, while the Patriots have learned to live without their veteran quarterback Tom Brady.
If it is anything like the match between these two teams just over a decade ago, there will be absolute theatre.
Want to follow along with the football? Here are the 5 things you need to understand
- The goal of the game: The main priority of the players is to get the football from their end of the field to the opponent’s “End Zone” and score a touchdown. A touchdown is worth six points and then teams can kick for an extra point, which is like a conversion in rugby.
- Moving the ball: Players move the ball down the field by running it, passing it, or kicking it. Unlike rugby, you are allowed one forward pass per play.
- Downs: You’ll hear the word “down” a lot in football. It stands for attempt, so a team essentially gets four attempts to move the ball 10 yards (about 9m). If they are successful, they keep the ball and get another fresh set of four attempts to advance up the field. This series can keep going all the way up the field until the team gets into the end zone, a player breaks away for a touchdown, or a turnover occurs.
- Turnovers: If the team with the ball aren’t successful and their opposition stops them moving the 10 yards by the end of the four downs, or gets control during that time, the ball is handed over; this is called a turnover.
- Field goals: Teams can choose to kick the ball through the goal posts for a field goal and get three points instead of trying for a touchdown. This often happens when there isn’t much time left on the clock, or teams think they might not make it to the fourth down, and they don’t want to risk having to handover the ball.
