U2 to headline NFL Thanksgiving Eve halftime on Netflix

U2 will headline the halftime show of the Thanksgiving Eve NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams on November 25, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles ^[1]. The game, streaming exclusively on Netflix, marks the first-ever Thanksgiving Eve NFL matchup and the band’s return to the football field nearly 25 years after their iconic Super Bowl XXXVI performance in 2002 ^[2]. That 2002 show, held months after 9/11, featured Bono in an American flag-lined jacket and performances of 'Beautiful Day,' 'MLK,' and 'Where the Streets Have No Name'.

The 2026 performance comes as U2 celebrates 50 years since their formation in Dublin in 1976 ^[1]. Their upcoming sixteenth studio album, Carnaval de Luz, is set for release on November 13, with three singles already released: 'Street of Dreams,' 'Silencio,' and 'The Greatest Show on Earth' ^[2]. The band plans a world tour in 2027 to support the record.

Netflix has made a recent push to elevate its NFL halftime shows, having previously featured Beyoncé in 2024 and Snoop Dogg in 2025 ^[1]. The streamer’s co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, praised U2 for delivering 'iconic moments audiences remember forever'.

Meanwhile, reports suggest Jay-Z is positioning himself to headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show, according to one source ^[1]. The possibility of Beyoncé joining him onstage for a duet of 'Crazy in Love' remains unconfirmed. Jay-Z’s label, Roc Nation, has held an NFL halftime production deal since 2019, and Bad Bunny headlined the 2025 show. Jay-Z recently performed two sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium in July. The story was first reported by The Independent and ESPN.