Super Bowl halftime show planners are reportedly considering Justin Bieber and Harry Styles as their leading candidates for the blockbuster event set to take place in Los Angeles in February 2027.
However, despite their apparent status at the top of the list, both global pop stars are believed to be hesitant about accepting the high-profile invitation should it arrive.
As reported by TMZ, Roc Nation has Bieber and Styles among its preferred choices for the Super Bowl 2027 halftime show at SoFi Stadium on February 14. Neither artist has reportedly received an official approach yet, with the NFL traditionally revealing its performer near the end of September.
Jay-Z has the final say on the halftime entertainment through Roc Nation, which serves as the NFL’s live music and entertainment strategist.
Still, reports suggest that Bieber and Styles may turn down the opportunity, despite the scale of the platform. Super Bowl halftime performers are not paid for their appearances.
While the Super Bowl stage has featured many of music’s most famous names, artists have long performed without a fee, often viewing its vast audience and publicity value as the reward.
Justin Bieber is reportedly among organizers’ two leading choices for the Super Bowl halftime show
Harry Styles is also reportedly in contention, though he may decline if Jay-Z makes an offer
Last year’s Bad Bunny halftime performance — the first delivered without English-language songs — sparked widespread discussion and controversy, prompting Jay-Z to explain how the selection process works.
“I think everyone should experience music in its totality,” he told GQ. “For many years, only one side of music was being represented. We have an opportunity to offer a more balanced picture of what popular music looks like today.”
‘I’m not going out on a limb, this is the most famous people in the world. I didn’t pick, like, the indie artist that I really like from Portland – It’s the number one most streamed artist in the world. Him!’
The Bad Bunny show set global viewership and social media records, but fell short of the most viewed show of all-time on US television ratings.
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The show averaged 128.2 million viewers from 8:15 to 8:30 p.m. ET, making it the fourth-most-watched halftime behind Kendrick Lamar (133.5 million, 2025), Michael Jackson (133.4 million, 1993) and Usher (129.3 million, 2024).
The previous year, Kendrick Lamar was also considered a controversial choice, but Jay-Z pushed back on the idea that he was a ‘hard one to get across the board’ in the same interview.
After explaining that decision, Hov was asked about his choice for the year prior, Kendrick Lamar, and if that was ‘a hard one to get across the board.’
‘Not without conversations that was dated, you know what I mean?’ Jay-Z replied. ‘The stats show.
Bad Bunny performed the Super Bowl halftime show last year in Santa Clara, California
Jay-Z and his company, Roc Nation, is responsible for producing the Super Bowl halftime show
‘Kendrick broke the audience record, it’s not rocket science, this is the music of our time and it should be represented on the biggest stage because – I’m not saying they’re the only artists, right, obviously, other artists would be offended – But, I think that was the right choice.
‘I chose the guy that was having a monster year. I think it was the right choice. What do I care about them two guys battling? What’s that got to do with me? Have at it.
‘They drag everybody in it, like everyone’s part of this conspiracy to undermine Drake, I guess. But, it’s like, what the f***? I’m f***ing Jay-Z! All due respect to him. I’m f***ing Hov.
‘Respectfully. It doesn’t make any sense. It couldn’t be that these guys just don’t like each other. I think this has been brewing, just like me and Nas was brewing.
‘It didn’t happen at the Summer Jam – that happened with ‘Lex with TV sets, the minimum.’ It was a whole bunch of stuff leading up to that point. I actually regret that because I really like Nas. He’s a really nice guy.’