The NFL faces a new challenge in the organization of the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, after negotiations with Taylor Swift, considered the most influential female artist of today, fell apart. The decision was not related to the economic aspect -as it usually happens in negotiations at this level-, but to legal differences over the property rights of the audiovisual material.
According to entertainment journalist Rob Shuter, who addressed the issue on his Naughty But Nice podcast, the Anti-Hero and Cruel Summer singer demanded full ownership of the recording of her performance, something the NFL was unwilling to accept.
The singer’s proposal implied that all royalties generated by retransmissions, streaming platforms or any subsequent use of the footage be credited directly to her, in addition to requesting the possibility of including brief mentions or promotional slots for her own musical projects during the broadcast of the event.
“The NFL expected the biggest artists in the world to agree to participate for exposure, but Taylor doesn’t need exposure. She wanted a deal that reflected her value,” Shuter explained.
Taylor Swift’s demand is not entirely surprising considering her track record of defending artists’ rights to their recordings. Since her public dispute with Scooter Braun and Big Machine Records over ownership of her first six albums, Swift has made it clear that her priority is to maintain control of her work.
The singer’s decision to turn down the Super Bowl is interpreted as an extension of that philosophy: the 35-year-old artist is not only seeking the visibility offered by the world’s most watched sporting event – which in its 2025 edition surpassed 118 million global viewers – but also a deal that recognizes her artistic independence and influence in the industry.
Interest in seeing Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl had intensified not only because of her musical status, but also because of her romantic relationship with Kansas City Chiefs star and recent Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce.
Their engagement, announced in 2025, had fueled expectations that the artist would headline the halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in California. However, legal differences proved that the personal bond did not outweigh their principles over intellectual property.
Taylor Swift and Adele have already said ‘NO!’ And Miley Cyrus?
For her part, Adele, who had already been approached for the show in 2017 and turned it down on the grounds that the show was “not about music but about mass entertainment”, again declined the offer with no details known about the reasons behind her decision this time around.
With Swift and Adele’s refusals, the NFL has begun to focus its attention on Miley Cyrus, whose stage energy, recent track record with Beautiful Things Deluxe and large-scale event experience position her as one of the strongest candidates to headline the 2026 Halftime Show.
The absence of a Taylor Swift deal represents an unexpected twist for Super Bowl LX, which will be held in February 2026. The halftime show, traditionally one of the most-watched television segments of the year, remains without a confirmed name.
The situation reflects changes in the bargaining power between artists and organizers of major events, in a context where the most influential figures in global pop increasingly prioritize creative control and the profits derived from their presentations.
As the NFL looks to lock down the headliner to replace Swift soon, fans are hoping that the next edition of the show will combine talent, innovation and respect for the independence of the artists, while maintaining the prestige that has characterized the show for decades.
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