Burna Boy to headline NFL’s first Paris game

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Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy will headline the halftime show when the New Orleans Saints face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL’s first regular-season game in France at Stade de France on October 25, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

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The historic fixture is part of the NFL’s expanding international schedule, with Paris one of three cities set to host its first regular-season game this season, alongside Melbourne in Australia and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

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Burna Boy will return to Stade de France less than 18 months after making history as the first African artist to headline a solo concert at the stadium, performing before a sold-out crowd of more than 80,000 in April 2025.

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The Nigerian, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, said his return to the venue for the NFL fixture would be special, particularly with the league breaking new ground in France.

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“Paris gave me one of the biggest nights of my career, and to walk back into Stade de France for a moment like this means everything,” Burna Boy said in a statement.

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“The NFL is bringing something to France that has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it representing African music, and I intend to give the people a show they will not forget.”

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The Saints-Steelers clash is one of a record nine international games scheduled by the NFL during the 2026 season as the league continues its efforts to expand its global reach.

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NFL senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, Tim Tubito, said Burna Boy was chosen to headline the halftime show because of the significance of the occasion and his connection with Paris.

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“The first NFL game in France deserves a halftime moment that matches the occasion, and there is no artist better suited to it than Burna Boy,” Tubito said.

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Burna Boy is also a Grammy Award winner, having won Best Global Music Album for Twice As Tall in 2021, further establishing his profile on the international stage.

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The Saints and Steelers will make history as the first NFL teams to play a regular-season game in France, with Burna Boy’s performance adding an African music presence to the league’s Paris debut.

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