U2 to Headline Halftime Show of NFL’s First-Ever Thanksgiving Eve Game
U2 to Headline Halftime Show of NFL’s First-Ever Thanksgiving Eve Game
Bailey RichardsTue, October 20, 2026 at 9:45 PM UTC
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Bono in Chicago in June 2026Credit: Taylor Hill/Getty -
U2 will perform the halftime show at the NFL’s first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game on Nov. 25
Netflix announced the Irish rockers’ halftime gig, which doubles as a 50th anniversary celebration, on Oct. 20
The performance marks U2’s return to an NFL halftime stage more than two decades after Super Bowl XXXVI
The NFL is starting a new holiday tradition — with a little help from U2!
Netflix announced on Tuesday, Oct. 20 that the Irish rockers will return to headline another halftime show — this time, for the league’s inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game on Wednesday, Nov. 25, which will air live on the streamer.
The “With or Without You” performers — Adam Clayton, Bono, Larry Mullen Jr. and The Edge — will take the stage at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. for the NFL’s first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game, which will see the Green Bay Packers take on the Los Angeles Rams. Kickoff will be at 8 p.m. ET.
“One of the biggest bands on the planet. One of the biggest stages in sports,” Netflix teased alongside an Instagram post announcing the inaugural game and halftime show.
U2 performing in Dublin in September 2026Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty
The holiday halftime show is a special gig for another reason, the streamer said Tuesday, as it will also be a 50th anniversary celebration of sorts for the band. It will be an encore celebration for the rockers, who already celebrated the milestone in September by returning to Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, where the band originally formed in 1976.
U2’s newly announced NFL halftime gig also marks the second time the Irish rockers have graced the NFL stage, and comes over two decades after their Super Bowl XXXVI halftime show.
In a press release, Netflix described the band’s 2002 set at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans as “one of the most memorable moments in Super Bowl history.”
The performance, which came a few months after the 9/11 terror attacks, saw U2 pay tribute to the victims by projecting their names. Lead singer Bono also ended the show by opening his jacket to reveal an American flag sewn in the lining of his jacket.
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Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix along with Greg Peters, elaborated on the league’s decision to bring the “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” performers back for a halftime performance over 24 years after the iconic set.
Poster for U2’s Thanksgiving Eve NFL halftime showCredit: Netflix
“There’s a reason U2 has headlined stadiums for decades: they don’t just perform, they deliver iconic moments audiences remember forever,” Sarandos said in a statement Tuesday. “We’re thrilled that they’ll bring that same magic to the NFL stage on Netflix.”
“It’s going to be an unforgettable night for football fans and Netflix members worldwide,” added the Netflix co-CEO.
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In addition to the Thanksgiving Eve game featuring U2’s halftime set, Netflix will also air two games on Christmas Day this year: the Packers versus the Chicago Bears at Chicago’s Soldier Field, followed by the Buffalo Bills against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Colorado.
The platform will also stream the NFL Honors during the week of the Super Bowl next year.
U2 is set to release their 16th album, Carnaval De Luz, on Nov. 13.
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
