Taylor Swift has reportedly walked away from performing at the Super Bowl halftime show.
According to an industry insider, the 14-time Grammy-winner will not be hitting the stage amid recent speculation that she would be performing at the 2026 show. Reports originated from Rob Shuter’s Substack and were later picked up by NBC affiliate WCNC, as well as other outlets.
Swift reportedly decided to not do the halftime performance after her alleged demands were not approved. A music industry insider told Shuter that Swift was allegedly asking to be paid for the event, but Super Bowl performers are reportedly only paid a union scale and not for the performance itself, unlike other shows artists put on in their career. The Super Bowl is often used for artists as a promotional leverage however, given Swift's megastar status, she allegedly was expecting more.
“She wasn’t asking for favors, she was asking for respect,” said one music industry exec quoted by Shuter. “Taylor knows her worth. She knows the kind of ratings she brings, the global attention she commands. She wasn’t about to hand that over for free.”
The exec added: “Taylor Swift doesn’t need ‘exposure.’ She wanted a deal that reflected her value.”
Since the alleged requests from Swift were not met, Shuter reports that the deal is no longer on the table.
“The NFL, along with sponsor Apple Music, had been determined to land her for 2026 after years of speculation. But with both sides refusing to budge, the deal is dead – for now,” Shuter reported.
The journalist believes that “the sense inside the industry is that the NFL fumbled the chance of a lifetime.”
An insider told Shuter that Swift " doesn’t need the Super Bowl,” adding, "But the Super Bowl absolutely needs her. Without Taylor, it’s just another halftime show.”
Why did fans think Taylor Swift was performing at the Super Bowl?
Swift's name began to circulate as a contender for the coveted Super Bowl halftime show after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told NBC's Today that the singer would be welcomed with open arms.
“We would always love to have Taylor play,” Roger explained during his Sept. 3 interview on Today. “She is a special, special talent. And obviously, she would be welcome at any time.”
When asked if Swift would have any involvement in the halftime show, Goodell said, “I can’t tell you anything about that,” then added that Swift's attendance at the Super Bowl is “a maybe.”
While Shuter reportedly gave some insight into the Super Bowl halftime show, the NFL has not announced who will be given the opportunity to perform just yet. Artists such as Adele, Miley Cyrus, and Mariah Carey have been thrown into the ring as well as Swift's name, but until the announcement, nothing is set in stone.
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