Ayra Starr Opens the NFL London Halftime Show With "Heaven Baby" and Four More Songs

On Sunday 11th October, Ayra Starr stepped out at halftime of the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. A published setlist lists five songs, and the first was "Heaven Baby", the track whose video PINCHED covered six days earlier.

The Setlist

The five songs, in order, were "Heaven Baby", "Santa", "Hot Body", "Rush" and "Dangerous". The set drew on Starrgirl, her third studio album, which came out on 14th August with collaborations featuring ZAYN, Leon Thomas and Wizkid.

Opening with "Heaven Baby" is a notable choice. The song's video arrived on 5th October, seven weeks after the song itself, so the halftime slot gave the record a second moment on one of the largest stages in sport.

Why the Booking Mattered

The NFL's London game is one of seven halftime shows across the 2026 International Games, spanning seven countries and four continents. When the booking was announced, Ayra Starr was billed as the first African artiste to headline an NFL international halftime show, a claim that is specific to the NFL's international games.

She has said the performance was something she wanted to do for her people, especially Nigerian and African girls, who she named as a major inspiration for Starrgirl. Her plan for the show was to keep it simple: "just expect Ayra Starr."

Where This Sits in Her Year

The halftime show lands a few weeks after Ayra Starr became the fourth female artist to top the Afrobeats Power Ranking, and it sits next to a catalogue that already carries scale. She has more than 7 billion streams and 1 billion YouTube views since her 2021 debut, two GRAMMY nominations for Best African Music Performance, a BET Award for Best International Act and a Pyramid Stage appearance at Glastonbury.

For African music, the significance is the setting rather than the numbers. A Beninese-Nigerian artist opening a halftime show for the NFL's London crowd is a measure of how far Afrobeats has travelled.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Did Ayra Starr Perform at the NFL London Game?

Ayra Starr performed at halftime of the Eagles and Jaguars game on Sunday 11th October 2026 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Kick-off was at 2:30pm British Summer Time.

What Songs Did Ayra Starr Perform?

A published setlist lists "Heaven Baby", "Santa", "Hot Body", "Rush" and "Dangerous", in that order.

Is Ayra Starr the First African Artist to Headline an NFL Halftime Show?

When the booking was announced, she was billed as the first African artiste to headline an NFL international halftime show. The claim applies to the NFL's international games.

What Is Starrgirl?

Starrgirl is Ayra Starr's third studio album, released on 14th August 2026, with collaborations featuring ZAYN, Leon Thomas and Wizkid.