Sure, the idea that Taylor Swift could perform at the Super Bowl in February 2026 mostly exists as speculation being pushed by her most ardent fans.
But this theory still received some serious consideration from entertainment industry experts Monday. During Monday’s episode of the industry podcast “The Town,” host Matthew Belloni and Bloomberg entertainment editor Lucas Shaw explained why it’s plausible that the pop mega-star could perform for the Halftime Show at Super Bowl LX, which takes place Feb. 8, 2026 at the San Francisco 49ers Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
“I just feel like, if you’re her and you’re coming off the biggest (world) tour ever, the only way to top that is do the Super Bowl, which is the biggest stage in the world,” Shaw said. While there’s “buzz” that Swift could soon announce that she’s doing a Las Vegas residency, specifically at The Sphere, Shaw said he could see her more likely doing the Super Bowl.
“The Sphere would make a little bit of sense because if you’re coming off this big tour, like it’s hard to top it,” Shaw said. However, he also said: “I just feel like the Super Bowl is a little more in line with where her life is at the moment than The Sphere.”
And, where is Swift’s life at right now? Well, she’s dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. And, for her first ever podcast appearance, she chose to appear on his football-themed “New Heights” podcast, which he co-hosts with brother Jason Kelce. During the show, she talked about quickly becoming an NFL fan as soon as she began dating Kelce ahead of the 2023 season.
“Oh my god, I fell in love with it,” Swift said. “I became obsessed with it.”
For the most part, the NFL has become enamored of her — except for a segment of male NLF fans who resent so much attention being paid to her.
Her relationship with Kelce is associated with the “Taylor Swift effect”: a documented surge in sponsorships, ratings and female viewership across all demographics on the days she has attended games. Ahead of Super Bowl in 2024, when Kelce’s Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell agreed that Swift’s interest in the NFL had encouraged young women to watch the sport. “I think that’s great for us.”
With that, it’s easy to see why the NFL would be eager to sign up Swift for a halftime performance — ahead of Metallica. The San Francisco-band would be very excited to perform at the Super Bowl in 2026, according to drummer Lars Ulrich. He recently told Howard Stern that doing the show in the Bay Area would be “a dream come true” and a “right fit.” However, Ulrich admitted: “We haven’t been approached” and “ultimately it’s not our decision.”
It’s not known when the NFL will announce its next halftime performer; the league announced Kendrick Lamar for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show last September, People reported.
Some Swift fans seem to believe that Super Bowl LX is a done deal, according to the theory they concocted after listening to the hints — or “Easter eggs” — they believe she dropped on “New Heights,” according to Shaw.
“All of the craziest Swifties out there have noted two things,” Shaw began. “One is that the 49ers mascot is Sourdough Sam and, two, that this is the 60th Super Bowl.”
But how did Sourdough Sam, an 1840s gold miner figure, even come up out of what Swift said on “New Heights?”
After the superstar announced her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” she revealed that she had developed a new “obsession” since ending her Eras Tour at the end of 2024. She said she had started baking bread and that sourdough has “taken over my life in a huge way.” She admitted to thinking about bread “60% of the time now.”
Fans have suggested that her mention of “60%” could be a nod to Super Bowl LX, the 60th such NFL event, according to People. They also observed that her New Heights appearance began with her thanking Jason Kelce for “screaming for, like, 47 seconds,” as he enthusiastically listed her accomplishments to welcome her to the show.
Swifties have since wondered if the number 47 “could be a connection” to the singer’s 47th stop on her Eras Tour. That stop in July 2023 was at Levi’s Stadium, according to People.
On “The Town” podcast, producer Craig Horlbeck said that a Swift Halftime Show in 2026 makes sense because this could be Kelce’s last year playing professional football before he retires.
But Belloni asked: “What if he’s not there?” Belloni was referring to the possibility that the Chiefs won’t make it to the Super Bowl in 2026 (they were handily defeated 40-22 in the 2025 Super Bowl). “Really, you’re prepared to make the prediction (that the Chiefs will be there)?” Belloni asked.
Horlback replied: “I mean, me saying the Chiefs are going to make the Super Bowl is not the craziest prediction.” But Belloni laughed: “Like, that’s a lot to bet on. You got to decide these things early on. And if they have a crushing loss in the AFC championship, what does she, cancel?”