Ayra Starr Performs ‘Rush’ and ‘Heaven Baby’ at NFL Halftime Show in London | Watch Video

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr brought Afrobeats to the NFL’s international stage on Sunday, October 11, 2026, performing ‘Rush’ and ‘Heaven Baby’ during halftime of the Philadelphia Eagles’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The performance took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the singer became the first African artist to headline a halftime show at an NFL International Game.

Ayra Starr opened her set with ‘Heaven Baby’ before performing some of her other songs, including ‘Santa’, ‘Hot Body’, ‘Rush’ and ‘Dangerous’. She performed on a temporary stage at the centre of the stadium, bringing her music to spectators attending the American football fixture. The set featured songs from different points in her catalogue, giving the London audience an opportunity to experience her music beyond the streaming platforms.

Photo: Instagram/@hernetworkonline

Her appearance was part of the NFL’s expanded entertainment programme for its 2026 International Games. The league announced her as the headline performer in August, confirming that she would perform during the Eagles-Jaguars matchup. The 2026 programme includes seven halftime shows across seven countries and four continents as the NFL continues to stage regular-season games outside the United States.

‘Heaven Baby’ featured on Ayra Starr’s third studio album, Starrgirl, released on August 14, 2026. The album includes collaborations with British singer ZAYN, American singer Leon Thomas and Nigerian musician Wizkid. Her London performance came less than a week after the official music video for ‘Heaven Baby’ was released on October 5, giving the song another prominent platform during the album’s promotional period.

Photo: Instagram/@hernetworkonline

Meanwhile, ‘Rush’, released in 2022, remains one of the defining releases of Starr’s career. The song earned her a nomination in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2024 Grammy Awards, introducing her to a wider international audience. She received a second nomination in the same category in 2026 for ‘Gimme Dat’, her collaboration with Wizkid.

Ahead of the London appearance, Starr said she was excited to perform at the NFL halftime show and described bringing Starrgirl to the league’s global stage as a dream come true. NFL executive Tim Tubito also highlighted the singer’s connection with London audiences and the growing presence of African music in the international music scene.

Her appearance marked a historic moment for African music at the NFL International Games, bringing her songs to the London audience during one of the league’s regular-season fixtures.

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