Afrobeats star, Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has become the first African artist to headline a halftime show at a National Football League (NFL) International Game, following her performance in London, United Kingdom, on Sunday.

The Nigerian singer performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 11, delivering a medley of songs to an international audience.

Her set included ‘Heaven Baby’, ‘Santa’, ‘Rush’, ‘Hot Body’ and ‘Dangerous’, alongside tracks from her third studio album, Starrgirl, released in August 2026. The performance combined her signature Afrobeats sound with pop influences, bringing Nigerian music to the league’s international audience.

Ahead of the performance, Starr expressed excitement about the opportunity to perform at the event, describing London as one of her favourite places in the world.
“I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London,” she said in a statement published by the league.
“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!”

Speaking about the significance of performing on an international platform, the singer also emphasised the responsibility artistes have to represent their culture and audiences.
“At the end of the day, as artists, we speak for the culture and we speak for the people that listen to us,” she said. “And we have to represent any way that seems fit, that they need.”

The performance formed part of the NFL’s 2026 International Games entertainment programme, which features a record seven halftime shows across seven countries and four continents as the league expands its international reach.

According to the NFL, Starr has amassed more than seven billion global streams and one billion YouTube views since her debut in 2021. The Beninese-Nigerian singer is also a two-time Grammy nominee in the Best African Music Performance category and a recipient of the BET Award for Best International Act.

Starr rose to prominence in 2021 with songs including ‘Away’ and ‘Bloody Samaritan’ from her self-titled debut extended play. She subsequently released her debut album, 19 & Dangerous, in 2021, followed by The Year I Turned 21 in 2024.

Her international recognition has grown through collaborations, award nominations and performances at major music festivals, including Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom.

Her appearance at the NFL London Game adds to the growing visibility of Nigerian artistes at international sporting and entertainment events, as Afrobeats continues to reach audiences beyond Africa.

The NFL’s 2026 international entertainment lineup also includes Nigerian singer Burna Boy, who is scheduled to headline the halftime show at the league’s Paris game on October 25.