The NFL is pairing a hometown rock staple with Super Bowl history—bringing “generations of MVPs” onto the field before kickoff.
Green Day is set to open Super Bowl 60 with a 60th-anniversary opening ceremony celebrating “generations of Super Bowl MVPs,” according to the NFL. The performance will take place February 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and will air live at 3:00 p.m. PT (6:00 p.m. ET) on NBC, Telemundo, Peacock, and Universo.
This is not halftime. It’s a pregame, kickoff-setting moment designed to blend music, nostalgia, and league legacy—right as the biggest game of the year begins.
The NFL has been treating milestone Super Bowls like cultural tentpoles—not just football events. Putting Green Day in the opener signals a clear direction: make the start of the broadcast feel like an event on its own, while reminding fans how long this championship has shaped sports culture.
For the Bay Area, the pick also lands as symbolic. Green Day formed in the East Bay, and Super Bowl LX is being played in their backyard. Billie Joe Armstrong described it as both a homecoming and an honor—welcoming the MVPs and opening the night for fans worldwide.
The political uproar around Bad Bunny, Green Day, and ICE
Even before kickoff, Super Bowl LX is already brushing up against politics. That’s because both Green Day and Bad Bunny have public records of speaking out on immigration and Trump-era policies. For Green Day, that includes recent anti-Trump messaging and lyric changes that critics have amplified.
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny has drawn attention for criticizing ICE actions and for comments about worries that immigration enforcement could impact Latino fans at U.S. events. As a result, his Super Bowl spotlight has become a flashpoint for culture-war commentary online.
That noise got louder this week after President Donald Trump criticized the entertainment lineup and said he would not attend Super Bowl LX. He cited travel distance as the main reason. Still, he also took shots at the performers.
What’s happening at Super Bowl 60
Here’s what the NFL has confirmed so far.
- Green Day will open the game with a Super Bowl 60 opening ceremony recognizing six decades of Super Bowl history.
- The ceremony will usher “generations of Super Bowl MVPs” onto the field as part of the tribute.
- The event takes place February 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA).
- It will air live at 3:00 p.m. PT on NBC, Telemundo, Peacock, and Universo.
Opening ceremony vs. halftime: Think of this as the scene-setter. The opening ceremony frames the night—introductions, symbolism, and spectacle before the teams take over. Halftime is a separate entertainment block later in the game.
Why Green Day fits the Super Bowl stage
Green Day isn’t a random booking. It’s a deliberate one.
They’re one of the rare bands with multi-decade recognition across age groups, from longtime fans who remember the early breakthrough years to newer listeners who know the catalog as stadium-ready staples. The NFL also leaned into the hometown factor, calling the pairing of local icons and NFL legends “a powerful way” to start Super Bowl LX.
Translation: expect something built for maximum energy and mass familiarity—because this is the part of the broadcast where the league wants casual viewers to lock in early.
The MVP anniversary ceremony—why the NFL is spotlighting it
The MVP angle is a smart choice for a 60th-anniversary year because it’s a clean storyline: one game, one defining player, one moment fans remember.
“Generations of MVPs” also lets the NFL do what it does best in big broadcasts—turn football history into live theater. It’s legacy marketing, yes, but it’s also fan service: a parade of names that instantly connects eras, teams, and iconic Super Bowl moments.
This isn’t just nostalgia. It’s branding. The league is reinforcing the Super Bowl as a long-running institution—while giving the broadcast an emotional “why this matters” hook before the first snap.
What to watch for on game day
No guessing, no fake spoilers—just realistic things fans should watch for.
- How the ceremony is staged: Will MVPs enter by era, team, or decade? (Format not confirmed yet.)
- How long the opening segment runs: The start time is confirmed, but the exact duration isn’t.
- Song selection: The NFL referenced a selection of best-known anthems, but no official tracklist was shared.
- How the opener transitions into pregame performances: The Green Day segment leads into the broader pregame entertainment.
- The tone: Expect celebration-first—more “anniversary event” than standard pregame intro.
Confirmed pregame performers (after the opening ceremony)
After the opening ceremony, the NFL said the pregame entertainment includes:
- Charlie Puth performing the national anthem
- Brandi Carlile singing “America the Beautiful”
- Coco Jones performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
With the Green Day Super Bowl 60 opening set to double as a living highlight reel of MVP history, Super Bowl LX is shaping up to treat the first minutes of the broadcast like a main event—not background noise. Topview TV will keep tracking official updates as the NFL releases more details on the ceremony format, MVP lineup, and the full game-day rundown.
