The biggest concert of the year, which happens to take place in the middle of an American football game, is almost upon us.
Watch Super Bowl LIX live with ESPN on Kayo Sports, on Monday February 10 from 9am AEDT. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
The Super Bowl halftime show has grown into one of the largest spectacles on earth, with over 100 million viewers in the US alone, plus many millions more around the planet.
And with legendary performers like Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Madonna and Beyonce having previously taken the spotlight, it’s one of the most prestigious gigs in music.
Following Rihanna in 2023 and Usher in 2024, hip-hop superstar Kendrick Lamar is the headline act for Super Bowl LIX (aka Super Bowl 59).
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show.
WHAT TIME DOES THE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW START?
With the Super Bowl kicking off at 10:30am AEDT on Monday February 10, it’s anticipated the halftime show will begin a bit after 12pm AEDT.
What better way to spend your lunch break?
WHO IS PERFORMING AT THE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW?
The NFL is even more up-to-date than usual in 2025, with hiphop superstar Kendrick Lamar to perform at New Orleans’ Caesar’s Superdome.
The 37-year-old is a 17-time Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize for Music winning rapper and songwriter, most known for his 2017 album Damn, as well as his 2024 output such as Not Like Us, a diss track about fellow rapper Drake.
There has been some controversy about Lamar’s selection with local right-wing politicians declaring the show must be “family-friendly”, pointing to past performances such as Rihanna “groping herself while she sang song lyrics that were so offensive that few Louisiana adults could read those lyrics before an audience without shame.
“We realise that these past vulgar performances may have been acceptable to the residents of those states where those Super Bowls were held but, in Louisiana, these lewd acts are inappropriate for viewing by children, objectify women, and are simply NOT welcomed by the majority of Louisiana parents.”
Lamar’s feud with Drake, which is central to Not Like Us, is also a point of contention given the accusations it makes about Drake’s sexual proclivities and whether they can or should be repeated during the halftime show.
Drake, who is currently in Australia for a tour, launched a lawsuit against Lamar for “falsely accusing him of being a sex offender, engaging in pedophilic acts, harbouring sex offenders, and committing other criminal sexual acts.” He is also suing his own record label, Universal Music Group, who represent both men.
Fellow Grammy-winning artist SZA will join Lamar as a special guest performer.
It will not be Lamar’s first Super Bowl halftime appearance. He was a guest in the Super Bowl 2022 halftime show in Los Angeles, when LA-based rappers Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg headlined.
HOW TO WATCH THE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW
For those wanting to tune into this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, you can catch all the action LIVE on ESPN via Kayo Sports.
Watch Super Bowl LIX and the Halftime Show headlined by Kendrick Lamar live with ESPN on Kayo Sports, on Monday February 10. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Eagles stand in way of Super Bowl first | 00:54
HOW LONG DOES THE HALFTIME SHOW LAST?
Although halftime typically lasts for 30 minutes, Kendrick Lamar’s set during Super Bowl 59 is expected to run around 13 minutes.
WHICH SONGS WILL KENDRICK LAMAR PERFORM AT THE SUPER BOWL?
The actual setlist is always a surprise for the day itself, but there are a few obvious picks.
Not Like Us and Humble feel like sure things – even if much of the former probably won’t be allowed to be performed – while top betting market options include King Kunta, Squabble Up, DNA, A.D.H.D, Savior, All the Stars, Luther, Gloria, Euphoria and N95.
Of note, Lamar performed M.A.A.D City and Alright when he was part of the 2022 Super Bowl rapper medley.
WILL THERE BE ANY SURPRISE GUESTS WITH KENDRICK LAMAR?
We already know SZA will be there but it’s almost certain there’ll be more of his mates popping up on stage.
Lil Wayne, who is from New Orleans where Super Bowl 59 is being played, felt he was likely to be picked as the headliner and Lamar even addressed that so-called snub in the single wacced out murals, but there shouldn’t be any sort of feud stopping an appearance.
Baby Keem, who is Lamar’s cousin, is a hot favourite along with Future, Metro Boomin, Jay Rock, Doechii and Travis Scott.
Tyler the Creator posted a cryptic message on Twitter last week which many have taken as a hint he’ll be at the Super Bowl.
In the past Lamar has also collaborated with Taylor Swift, Jay-Z, Beyonce and Rihanna. Swift is likely to be at the Super Bowl anyway due to partner Travis Kelce.
It would seem unlikely Drake will appear given he is both in Australia and hates Lamar, but stranger things have happened.
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