Introduction
During Super Bowl LX (2026), something strange happened in the world of politics and entertainment, not just on the field at Levi’s Stadium. Bad Bunny was the main act at the official Super Bowl halftime show. Some people loved it, while others didn’t. The conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA (TPUSA) put on its own show called the All-American Halftime Show. This event that happened at the same time became a topic of conversation across the country about politics, culture, and entertainment.
What Is the Turning Point USA Halftime Show?
The All-American Halftime Show was a counterprogramming event organized by Turning Point USA, designed to take place simultaneously with the NFL’s official Super Bowl halftime performance. The goal was to offer an alternative entertainment experience that emphasized themes such as “faith, family, and freedom” and more traditional American cultural elements.
Unlike the mainstream halftime show, which aired during the Super Bowl broadcast, the TPUSA event was streamed online and on partner platforms rather than television.
Why Was It Created?
Turning Point USA’s alternative halftime show was a reaction to the ongoing conversations about the official halftime show. The group said that the event was meant to celebrate what it called “American values.” This included a focus on performances by country and Americana artists that were popular with conservative audiences.
TPUSA stressed that its show was meant to air at the same time as the official halftime show, giving viewers who wanted different entertainment and messaging a choice.
Who Performed at the All-American Halftime Show?
The All-American Halftime Show featured several well-known performers, including:
- Kid Rock (headliner)
- Brantley Gilbert
- Lee Brice
- Gabby Barrett
These artists are primarily associated with rock, country, and Americana music, offering a contrast to the pop and urban influences of the official Super Bowl halftime lineup. Also visits Our Super Bowl 2026
Where and How It Was Broadcast
Because of licensing restrictions, the Turning Point USA show was not streamed on X (formerly Twitter) as initially planned. Instead, it was broadcast on:
- YouTube livestream
- Rumble
- Partner channels including Real America’s Voice, Daily Wire+, TBN, and others
The event reportedly drew millions of viewers on these platforms during the Super Bowl’s halftime window, even as it remained far smaller than the official halftime audience.
Public and Critical Reaction
Public reaction to the Turning Point USA halftime show was mixed and highly polarized:
📌 Supporters
Supporters called the All-American Halftime Show a patriotic celebration with artists who appealed to conservative values and audiences.Some people watched the Super Bowl break just to see the alternative show.
📌 Critics
Critics said the show was more about politics than entertainment, and it came from divisions in larger cultural debates. Reviews pointed out how different the production styles and audience reactions were from the NFL’s official halftime show.Some people also talked about the choice of artists and whether the event was fun to watch.
How It Compared to the Official Halftime Show
The official Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2026, which was headlined by Bad Bunny, was part of the NFL’s annual big-stage entertainment.It was shown live during the game and watched by tens of millions of people around the world. On the other hand:
- You could watch the Turning Point show online.
- It didn’t happen during the live broadcast.
- It had millions of viewers, but that was still only a small part of the NFL halftime audience.
These differences made it clear what each performance was meant to do: one was meant to be mainstream sports entertainment and the other was meant to be alternative cultural commentary.
Conclusion
The Turning Point USA All-American Halftime Show was one of the most talked-about cultural events around Super Bowl 2026. It wasn’t because it was as big as the official halftime show, but because it showed how politics and entertainment can mix in surprising ways.The event shows how big cultural events like the Super Bowl can start conversations that go beyond the football field, whether people see it as a patriotic alternative or a politically charged spectacle.
Reference Links
- All-American Halftime Show overview — Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-American_Halftime_Show
- Live streaming & performer details — OnFocus News: https://www.onfocus.news/how-to-watch-the-turning-point-usa-halftime-show-2026-stream/
- Coverage of the rival event’s context — Wired News: https://www.wired.com/story/turning-point-usas-halftime-show-was-exactly-what-youd-expect/
- Reports on event viewership and broadcast issues — The Sun: https://www.the-sun.com/sport/15910201/turning-point-super-bowl-all-american-halftime-show/
- Critics and production context — Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/turning-point-usa-all-american-halftime-show-review
