Overview
- Reports on Monday, September 28, 2026, noted that the NFL has not made its customary late-September halftime-show announcement and described the continued silence as unusual.
- Production partner Roc Nation and sponsor Apple Music have been negotiating with record labels and artist management for weeks, according to multiple outlets reporting on the talks.
- Several publications identify Miley Cyrus as the leading candidate for the Super Bowl LXI halftime show, but those reports are unconfirmed and should be read as speculation.
- An announcement is widely expected imminently and many outlets say the reveal could be staged during ESPN’s Monday Night Football to leverage the network that will broadcast the Super Bowl on February 14, 2027.
- Industry sources say the delay likely reflects unresolved commercial and creative details such as licensing, guest appearances and brand alignment, matters that will affect the show’s scale, collaborators and marketing reach.