Taylor Swift Finally Reveals Why She Turned Down the 2026 Super Bowl
Swift made the confession during her most recent interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
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Every year, one of the biggest debates is who will take the Super Bowl halftime stage — and this time, the conversation has been even more intense because the headliner is Bad Bunny. While many have celebrated the choice, others —Donald Trump and his allies— have openly criticized it. Still, one of the strongest names rumored for the show before the announcement was Taylor Swift.
At first, speculation pointed to failed negotiations between Swift and the NFL. According to exclusive info from Rob Shuter on Substack, the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement. “Experts say the league underestimated her,” one source said. However, during her most recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, October 5, Swift revealed the real reason she turned it down.
The televised interview stayed light and playful, but the extended cut on the show’s website revealed a telling moment. As reported by Variety, during one of Fallon’s signature games — where guests confirm or deny internet rumors — Taylor was asked if she had declined the Super Bowl offer because she wouldn’t own the rights to her performance footage.
So, Why Did Taylor Swift Really Turn Down the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Turns out, it wasn’t about recording rights after all. According to reports, Roc Nation — the company that oversees the Super Bowl halftime show — never actually gave Taylor a formal offer. Instead, she only received vague conversations about the idea.
But even if the offer had come through, Taylor admitted she probably would’ve said no anyway. Why? Because she’d be too focused on supporting her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, to even think about performing during the game.
.@taylorswift13 addresses rumors that she turned down the Super Bowl Halftime Show 👀 #TaylorOnFallon #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/ZPFIpozZ1J
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) October 7, 2025
It’s also worth noting that halftime performers are confirmed months before the NFL season ends, so at that point, no one could’ve known whether Travis would even make it to the Super Bowl. Still, Taylor made it clear that her priorities are personal this time around. As she explained, “This has nothing to do with Travis — he would love for me to do it. But I’m just too locked in.”