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Sunday, February 8, 2026

What to know about the Israeli president's state visit to Australia

February 08, 2026
What to know about the Israeli president's state visit to Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The stated purpose of Israel PresidentIsaac Herzog'svisit to Australia is to support the Jewish community still reeling from anantisemitic attackat Sydney's Bondi Beach that left 15 dead. But his critics warn his presence undermines rather than repairs social cohesion frayed by the far away war in Gaza.

Protest rallies are expected to follow the president, who performs a largely ceremonial role as head of state, as he travels to Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra over four days starting Monday. Some critics demand he be arrested in Australia on suspicion of inciting genocide in Gaza.

He is the first Israeli head of state to visit Australia sinceReuven Rivlinin 2020. Herzog's father,Chaim Herzog, also visited Australia as Israel's president in 1986.

Here's what to know:

The Australian visit comes at a time of extraordinary bilateral tensions

Within hours of two gunmen allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group launching their attack in Sydney on Dec. 14 last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahublamedhis Australian counterpartAnthony Albanese, posting on social media "your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on the antisemitic fire."

Netanyahuhad been outraged by Australia's decision four months earlier to join France, Britain and Canada inrecognizing a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu has repeatedly sought to link widespread calls for a Palestinian state, and criticism of Israel's military offensive in Gaza, togrowing incidents of antisemitismworldwide.

Albanese has accused Netanyahu of being "in denial" over the humanitarian consequences of war in Gaza. Netanyahu has branded the Australian a "weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews."

Australian Jews have appealed to both leaders to restore "diplomatic norms" to a bilateral relationship that had been friendly for decades.

Albanese has made clear his government's invitation to Herzog to make that state visit was the idea of Jewish leaders.

"President Herzog is coming particularly to engage with members of the Jewish community who are grieving the loss of 15 innocent lives," Albanese said.

"People should recognize the solemn nature of the engagement that President Herzog will have with the community of Bondi in particular, and bear that in mind by the way that they respond over coming weeks," he added.

Jewish leaders welcome Herzog's visit

Sydney-based Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said his community "warmly anticipates" Herzog's arrival.

"His visit will lift the spirits of a pained community and we hope will lead to a much-needed recalibration of bilateral relations between two historic allies," Ryvchin said.

"President Herzog is a patriot and a person of dignity and compassion and holds an office that is above party politics. He is a person who has sadly had to comfort families, police and first responders after terrorist attacks many times, and will know how to reassure and fortify our community in its darkest time," he added.

Ryvchin is one of the Australian Jewish leaders who have accused Albanese's center-left Labor Party government of not doing enough to curb an increase in antisemitism in Sydney and Melbourne, where 85% of Australia's Jewish population live, since theIsrael-Hamas warbegan in 2023.

Herzog sees opportunity to reset relations

Herzog, a former head of Israel's centrist Labor Party, now holds a job meant to serve as a unifier and moral compass for all Israelis. A onetime rival of Netanyahu, he has good working relations with the prime minister.

Ahead of his visit, Herzog told The Associated Press that the "primary reason" for the trip was to stand with Australia's Jewish community as the representative of all Israelis.

"From thousands of miles away in Israel, we feel the deep pain of our Jewish Australian sisters and brothers. I am coming to show them our love and support at this devastating time," he said.

But Herzog also said the visit is an opportunity "to reinvigorate relations" between Israel and Australia.

"There is a long history of partnership between our two nations and deeply held shared values," he said, adding that the visit "offers a chance to reignite the longstanding bipartisan support for ties between Israel and Australia."

"I hope to be able to communicate this message of goodwill and friendship to the Australian people, and dispel many of the lies and misinformation spread about Israel over the last two years," he said.

Israel's critics have called for Herzog's invitation to be withdrawn

"This is one of the most divisive figures in the world. Bringing him to Australia will undermine social cohesion, it will not rebuild it. It will increase division, it will not bring about national unity," Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti said. Sidoti described the invitation as a "crazy idea."

Sidoti was one of three experts appointed by the U.N.'s Human Rights Council to an inquiry thatreportedin September last year that Herzog, Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense MinisterYoav Gallanthad incited the commission of genocide in Gaza.

The findings carry no legal consequence and Israel has rejected genocide allegations against the country as antisemitic "blood libel." Sidoti and other lawyers say Australian police could potentially arrest Herzog on suspicion of inciting genocide, which is a crime under Australian law as well as international law. Australian Federal Police have declined to comment.

A lawmaker in Albanese's government,Ed Husic,said he was "very uncomfortable" with Herzog's visit. Husic, a Muslim and vocal critic of Israel's conduct in Gaza, said he was "concerned that a figure like that doesn't necessarily enhance social cohesion."

Some state government lawmakers from Albanese's Labor Party have said they will join a protest in downtown Sydney on Monday planned by the Palestine Action Group activist organization.

"We need to send a clear message to our government and to the world … we are fundamentally opposed to this tour, which is designed to normalize genocide," protest organizer Josh Lees said.

Police prepare to use enhanced powers of arrest to control protesters in Sydney

In response to theBondi shooting, the New South Wales state parliament rushed through legislation increasing police powers to arrest protesters in the aftermath of a declared terrorist attack.

New South Wales PremierChris Minnssaid a heightened police response in Sydney during Herzog's visit was necessary to ensure safety.

"We will have thousands of mourners and thousands of protesters as well as a visiting head of state all in the same city at the same time. And we've got a responsibility to keep people safe in those circumstances," Minns said.

"Every international city anywhere in the world would apply exactly the same geographical restrictions so that the two groups don't meet and as a result there's not a major confrontation," Minns added.

Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed.

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Meloni condemns anti-Olympics actions in Milan, calling demonstrators 'enemies of Italy'

February 08, 2026
Meloni condemns anti-Olympics actions in Milan, calling demonstrators 'enemies of Italy'

MILAN (AP) — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni condemned recentanti-Olympics protestsin Milan and alleged sabotage of train infrastructure, calling those responsible "enemies of Italy and Italians" early Sunday.

Associated Press Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday Feb. 7, 2026. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP) Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday Feb. 7, 2026. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP) Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday Feb. 7, 2026. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP) A demonstrator holding a cardboard cutouts representing trees cut down for a new bobsled run takes part in a march against the environmental impact of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, in Milan, Saturday Feb. 7, 2026. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP) United States' activist Chris Smalls speaks during a protest against ICE, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Milan-Cortina Olympics Protest

The protesters "demonstrate 'against the Olympics,' causing these images to end up on televisions around the world. After others cut the railway cables to prevent the trains from leaving," Meloni said in a statement on Facebook, adding that thousands of Italians are working to keep the Games running smoothly, many of whom are volunteers.

"Solidarity, once again, with the police, the city of Milan, and all those who will see their work undermined by these gangs of criminals," she said.

Italy's transport ministry said it has opened a terrorism investigation into the synchronized sabotage of railway lines in northern Italy on Saturday, the first day of the Games.

No one has claimed responsibility, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The alleged sabotage first hit the central Bologna hub, which governs rail traffic between northern and southern Italy, around 6 a.m. Saturday when it was still dark out, ANSA reported. It then struck Pesaro-area trains along the Adriatic coast.

Infrastructure was burned or cut to cause the sabotage in both cases, the news agency said.

The transport ministry didn't provide details, but said it would seek millions of euros in compensation from the perpetrators. Thousands of passengers were impacted by the hourslong delays.

In Milan, Italian police fired tear gas and a water cannon on Saturday evening at dozens of protesters who threw firecrackers and tried to access a highway near aWinter Olympicsvenue. The brief confrontation came at the end of a peaceful march by thousands against the environmental impact of the Games and the presence ofU.S. agents in Italy.

The skirmish comes days after Meloni's governmentapproved a security decreethat allows police to detain people for up to 12 hours when there are reasonable grounds to believe they may act as agitators and disrupt peaceful protests. Opposition lawmakers criticized the measure as an attack on freedom of expression.

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Peaceful protest is legitimate, but "we draw a line at violence," International Olympic Committee spokesperson Mark Adams said during the IOC's daily media briefing. "That has no place at the Olympic Games."

Police on Saturday held off the violent demonstrators, who appeared to be trying to reach the Santagiulia Olympic ice hockey rink, after the skirmish. By then, the larger peaceful protest, including families with small children and students, had dispersed.

At the earlier, larger demonstration, which police said numbered 10,000, people carried cardboard cutouts to represent trees felled to build the new bobsled run in Cortina. A group of dancers performed to beating drums. Music blasted from a truck leading the march, one a profanity-laced anthem against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Beforehand, a group of masked protesters had set off smoke bombs and firecrackers on a bridge overlooking a construction site about 800 meters (a half-mile) from the Olympic Village that's housing around 1,500 athletes.

The demonstration coincided with U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to Milan as head of the American delegation. Vance and his family visitedLeonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper"closer to the city center, far from the protest, which also was against the deployment of ICE agents to provide security to the U.S. delegation.

U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, an ICE unit that focuses on cross-border crimes, frequently sends its officers to overseas events like the Olympics to assist with security. The ICE arm at theforefront of the immigration crackdownin the U.S. is known as Enforcement and Removal Operations, and there is no indication its officers are being sent to Italy.

The demonstration on Saturday followedanother one last week, when hundreds protested the deployment of ICE agents.

Like last week, demonstrators Saturday said they were opposed to ICE agents' presence, despite official statements that a small number of agents from an investigative arm would be present in U.S. diplomatic territory, and not operational on the streets.

AP Olympics:https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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UK leader's chief of staff quits over appointment of Mandelson as ambassador despite Epstein ties

February 08, 2026
UK leader's chief of staff quits over appointment of Mandelson as ambassador despite Epstein ties

LONDON (AP) — British Prime MinisterKeir Starmer's chief of staff resigned Sunday over the furor surrounding the appointment ofPeter Mandelsonas the U.K. ambassador to the U.S. despite his ties toJeffrey Epstein.

Morgan McSweeney said he took responsibility for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson, 72, to Britain's most important diplomatic post in 2024.

"The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself," McSweeney said in a statement. "When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice."

Starmer is facing a political storm and questions about his judgement after newly published documents, part ofa huge trove of Epstein filesmade public in the United States, suggested that Mandelson sent market-sensitive information to the convicted sex offender when he was the U.K. government's business secretary during the 2008 financial crisis.

Starmer's government has promised to release its own emails and other documentation related to Mandelson's appointment, which it says will show that Mandelson misled officials.

The prime minister apologized this week for "having believed Mandelson's lies."

He acknowledged that when Mandelson was chosen for the top diplomat job in 2024, the vetting process had revealed that Mandelson's friendship with Epstein continued after the latter's 2008 conviction. But Starmer maintained that "none of us knew the depth of the darkness" of that relationship at the time.

A number of lawmakers said Starmer is ultimately responsible for the scandal.

"Keir Starmer has to take responsibility for his own terrible decisions," said Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition Conservative Party.

Mandelson, a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labour Party, has not been arrested or charged.

Metropolitan Police officers searched Mandelson's London home and another property linked to him on Friday. Police said the investigation is complex and will require "a significant amount of further evidence gathering and analysis."

The U.K. police investigation centers on potential misconduct in public office, and Mandelson is not accused of any sexual offenses.

Starmer hadfired Mandelsonin September from his ambassadorial job over earlier revelations about his Epstein ties. But critics say the emails recently published by the U.S. Justice Department have brought serious concerns about Starmer's judgment to the fore. They argue that he should have known better than to appoint Mandelson in the first place.

The new revelations include documents suggesting Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein after the 2008 global financial crisis. They also include records of payments totaling $75,000 in 2003 and 2004 from Epstein to accounts linked to Mandelson or his husband Reinaldo Avila da Silva.

Aside from his association with Epstein, Mandelson previously had to resign twice from senior government posts because of scandals over money or ethics.

Starmer had faced growing pressure over the past week to fire McSweeney, who is regarded as a key adviser in Downing Street and seen as a close ally of Mandelson.

Starmer on Sunday credited McSweeney as a central figure in running Labour's recent election campaign and the party's 2004 landslide victory. His statement did not mention the Mandelson scandal.

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How 'Melania' fared in its second weekend at the box office

February 08, 2026
How 'Melania' fared in its second weekend at the box office

"Melania" is chugging along at the box office after animpressive opening weekend.

USA TODAY

The controversial documentary aboutfirst lady Melania Trumpgrossed another $2.37 million in North American theaters in its second weekend of release, according to estimates shared Sunday, Feb. 8, by Amazon MGM Studios. This represents a decline of 67% from the movie's first weekend, bringing its domestic total to date to $13.35 million.

A 67% decline is considered a fairly large drop at the box office, generally indicating that devoted fans prioritized seeing the film early on and that there may not be a huge audience beyond that in theaters. But the second weekend of "Melania" also fell on Super Bowl weekend, which is traditionally a slow period for movie theaters.

The horror-thriller "Send Help," which debuted Jan. 30, repeated at No. 1 at the North American box office this weekend with another $10 million, according to Comscore estimates. "Melania" was in 10th place, below a pair of 2025 releases: Disney's animated smash "Zootopia 2" grossed $4 million, and the sci-fi epic "Avatar: Fire and Ash" collected an additional $3.5 million. Two new horror titles, "Dracula" and "The Strangers – Chapter 3," took in $4.5 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

The documentary "Melania" follows first lady Melania Trump in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump's second inauguration in 2025.

"Melania," which follows the first lady in the 20 days leading up toPresident Donald Trump's2025 inauguration, is coming off a surprising theatrical debut of $7 million. "Melania" had been tracking to make $3 million to $5 million in its opening weekend.

Jeff Bock, senior media analyst for Exhibitor Relations, told USA TODAY ahead of the movie's release that any opening above $1 million would be a "huge number," suggesting "that a lot of folks who don't normally go to the movies went to this."

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Amazon MGM Studiospurchased "Melania" and a companion docuseries for $40 millionand reportedly spent$35 millionon marketing. The film is far from being profitable just yet, though Amazon will recoup some of its costs through ads and streaming service sign-ups.

<p style=The new "Melania" documentary had a splashy premiere at the Trump Kennedy Center in Washington on Jan. 29, 2026. See which celebrities and political figures walked the red carpet, starting with President Donald Trump first lady Melania Trump.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The first couple steps out for the world premiere.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=First lady Melania Trump

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="Melania" director Brett Ratner

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Lisa Oz (from left), Mehmet Oz, Oliver Oz and Daphne Oz.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="Melania" producer and first lady adviser Marc Beckman

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jeanine Pirro <p style=House Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Jennifer Rauchet

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Pete Hegseth kisses Jennifer Rauchet.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins <p style=U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and his wife, former U.S. Homeland Security adviser Julia Nesheiwat.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Christie Mullin and Sen. Markwayne Mullin

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions of United States Richard Grenell

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Linda McMahon <p style=Kathryn Burgum and Doug Burgum

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Kelly Loeffler and Jeffrey Sprecher

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Doug Collins and Lisa Collins

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Lee Zeldin and Diana Zeldin

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lori Chavez-DeRemer Steve Witkoff Tham Kannalikham Scott Turner Alina Habba <p style=Brett Ratner (left) and Marc Beckman

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Brett Ratner

Melania Trump is chic in black at movie's Kennedy Center premiere

Thenew "Melania" documentaryhad a splashy premiere at the Trump Kennedy Center in Washington on Jan. 29, 2026. See which celebrities and political figures walked the red carpet, starting with President Donald Trumpfirst lady Melania Trump.

In a statement, Kevin Wilson, Amazon MGM Studios' head of domestic theatrical distribution, hailed the documentary's "strong theatrical performance" and said the release has built "momentum ahead of the film's eventual debut on Prime Video."

Directed byBrett Ratner, who was ousted from Hollywood in 2017 after six women accused him of sexual harassment, "Melania" wasalmost universally pannedby critics.USA TODAY's Brian Truittwrote that "while it does offer an extremely flattering view of all things Melania, outside of a few candid glimpses, you're not going to learn a lot about who she really is."

Melania Trump attends the premiere of "Melania" on Jan. 29 in Washington.

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, "Melania"received a dismal approval ratingof just 8% from critics. Audiences, though, have embraced it. "Melania" earned a Rotten Tomatoes score of 99% from moviegoers who could verify that they purchased a ticket to see it, and audiences polled by the market research firm CinemaScoregave it a grade of A.

Contributing: Brian Truitt

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Melania' movie box office – How it performed in second weekend

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Who will perform with Bad Bunny at Super Bowl 60? Predictions on guests

February 08, 2026
Who will perform with Bad Bunny at Super Bowl 60? Predictions on guests

Bad Bunnyis set for theSuper Bowl halftime show, but is he bringing anyone with him to the world's biggest stage?

USA TODAY

The Puerto Rican artist's performance has alreadycaused much debate, but fans are looking forward to a performance that could unify, shut down his critics, and bring Latin music to an even bigger audience. The NFL has its bets on the 31-year-oldhelping globalize the Super Bowl, too.

And with up to 15 minutes to kill (some double headliners have gottenas low as 12 minutes to split), it's almost guaranteed the "Tití Me Preguntó" singer won't be alone.

<p style=Bad Bunny has touched down in the Bay Area ahead of his highly anticipated, and contested, Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Sunday, Feb. 8, in Santa Clara, California.

The Puerto Rican superstar appeared at the Apple Music press conference with hosts Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden to chat all about what fans can expect from his solo halftime show debut (he previously hit the stage with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira in 2020).

"I feel more excited about all of the people than thinking about me," he said onstage, visibly nervous, and taking it all in. "My family and all my friends."

Scroll through for more photos of star sightings this Super Bowl weekend.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=From left: Charlie Puth, Coco Jones, and Brandi Carlile attend the Super Bowl LX Pregame & Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show press conference at Moscone Center West on Feb. 5, 2026, in San Francisco.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Octavia Spencer visits SiriusXM on Radio Row at Super Bowl LX on Feb. 4, 2026, in San Francisco, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=WWE Champion CM Punk

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Caroline Fenton on the SiriusXM radio set at the Super Bowl LX media center in San Francisco on Feb. 4, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Guillermo Rodriguez attends Opening Night for Super Bowl LX at San Jose Convention Center on Feb. 2, 2026. <p style=Too Short and E-40 during the Bay Area host committee press conference at the Super Bowl LX media center at the Moscone Center on Feb. 2, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tom Brady attends Madden Bowl at Super Bowl LX on Feb. 6, 2026 in San Francisco. Alix Earle attends Madden Bowl at Super Bowl LX on Feb. 6, 2026 in San Francisco. Ciara attends Madden Bowl at Super Bowl LX on Feb. 6, 2026 in San Francisco. Teyana Taylor attends Madden Bowl at Super Bowl LX on Feb. 6, 2026 in San Francisco. Megan Moroney attends Madden Bowl at Super Bowl LX on Feb. 6, 2026 in San Francisco. (L-R) Jessica Betts and Niecy Nash-Betts attend as Tequila Don Julio 1942 Gets Guests Ready Pa'l Show at a Private Celebration during Super Bowl Weekend on Feb. 6, 2026, in San Francisco. (L-R) MJ Acosta-Ruiz, Brie Bella, Boston Rob and Nikke Bella pose for a photo at SiriusXM on Radio Row at Super Bowl LX on Feb. 6, 2026, in San Francisco. <p style=Coco Jones

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Brandi Carlile

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Bad Bunny, Alix Earle, more stars flock to Bay Area for Super Bowl 60

Bad Bunnyhas touched down in the Bay Area ahead of his highly anticipated, and contested, Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Sunday, Feb. 8, in Santa Clara, California.The Puerto Rican superstar appeared at the Apple Music press conference with hosts Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden to chat all about what fans can expect from his solo halftime show debut (he previously hit the stage with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira in 2020)."I feel more excited about all of the people than thinking about me," he said onstage, visibly nervous, and taking it all in. "My family and all my friends."Scroll through for more photos of star sightings this Super Bowl weekend.

While longtime collaboratorJ Balvinhas cleared up rumors that he would hit the stage following the pair'spost-feud reunion, other former collaborators and friends have neither confirmed nor denied making appearances.

Who could take the stage with Bad Bunny at Super Bowl 60? Here's some predictions:

Cardi B

From left, J Balvin, Cardi B, and Bad Bunny perform onstage during the 2018 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on Oct. 9, 2018, in Los Angeles.

Though the Bronx MC ismere months postpartum, she's also gearing up for her first headlining arena run in six years, theLittle Miss Drama Tour, on Feb. 11. The pair also have a hit record – "I Like It" with Balvin – that will let the "Up" rapper dip her toes in the Super Bowl field, after sheturned down the honorin 2019 to rack up "more hits" and experience performing.

Jennifer Lopezand Shakira

Colombian singer Shakira and Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami.

In a throwback to Bad Bunny and Balvin's special guest appearances duringJennifer LopezandShakira's coheadliningSuper Bowl performancein 2020, the rapper could offer the same invitation. Lopez and El Conejo Malo previously collaborated on the 2018 Latin trap hit, "Te Guste," which could slot in nicely with the singer's career-spanning set.

JLo currently has a break amid her Up All Night Las Vegas residency; however, Shakira will be preparing for the second half of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour with multiple dates in El Salvador. Still, the trio may not want to pass upmaking Latin history again.

Rauw Alejandro

Rauw Alejandro took the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, by storm as he made a surprise performance of "Que Pasaría," "Party," "Punto 40," "Buenos Términos," and "Lokera" at Bad Bunny's Puerto Rican Residency.

With two reggaeton collabs under their belt – 2022's "Party" and 2024's "Que Pasaría..." – Bad Bunny andRauw Alejandrocould bring the globally dominating genre to the biggest stage in American music. Rauw also hit the stage during Benito's record-breaking Puerto Rican residency in 2025, in a highly anticipated appearance that also saw the "Todo De Ti" singer play his biggest hits.

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Marc Anthony

Bad Bunny, left, and Marc Anthony perform onstage during the 19th annual Latin Grammy Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Nov. 15, 2018, in Las Vegas.

Grammy-winning salsa legendMarc Anthonycould make his way to the Super Bowl stage to perform his 2018 hit with Bad Bunny (and Will Smith), "Está Rico." An appearance from the Spanish Harlem native, a mainstay of the '90s and the top-selling salsa artist of all time, would help bridge generations of Latin music.

Maluma

<p style=For Bad Bunny, every album, every tour and every day is a new opportunity to reach new career heights.

In November 2025, the Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar kicked off his 24-date DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS world tour with back-to-back nights in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Then, in December, her performed more shows in Mexico City before kicking off the new year in Santiago, Chile, and then making a quit pit stop back in the states to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in February.

Scroll through to see some of the best moments from Benito's world tour, which is sponsored in part by Hennessy. In this photo, Bad Bunny performs during the world tour opener at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Nov. 21, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs during his DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS world tour at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Medellin, Colombia, on Jan. 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny is set to hit the Super Bowl halftime show stage in the San Francisco Bay Area in two weeks.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Fans of Bad Bunny await his concert on Jan. 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=A vendor shows Bad Bunny-themed t-shirts outside the Atanasio Girardot Stadium before the artist's concert in Medellin, Colombia on Jan. 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs during his DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS world tour in Colombia.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=A street vendor sells Bad Bunny merchandise outside the Atanasio Girardot Stadium.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=A fan wears a Bad Bunny-themed outfit.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs during his DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS world tour in Colombia.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=During the first act of the night on Dec. 11 in Mexico City, Bad Bunny welcomed Lorén Aldarondo Torres, the lead singer for the band Chuwi for a performance of "WELTiTA."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A vendor displays a cap with the slogan Bad Bunny interacts with a fan in the crowd. On the sixth night of Bad Bunny's Mexico City shows, Tijuana-born singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas made a surprise appearance at the world tour. Sitting behind paino, Venegas performed Mexican singer Natanael Cano surprised fans during Bad Bunny last night in Mexico City on Dec. 21. The two collaborated in 2019 on <p style=Bad Bunny and J Balvin found their way back to the "Oasis" of friendship recently. The Latin music superstars, who'd been rumored to be feuding, reconciled during a surprise reunion at Bad Bunny's Mexico City concert on Dec. 21, as seen in social media footage of the pair's performance.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> On stage in Mexico City, the singers apologized to each other for any past disrespect in their relationship, as well as praised the musical impact they've made in their respective careers.  <p style=For the Dec. 11 date, Bad Bunny brought out Colombian singer Feid for the exclusive song of the night "Perro Negro."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=During Bad Bunny's fourth night in Mexico City on Dec. 15, 2025, the Puerto Rican star invited Mexican music group Grupo Frontera as his special guest to perform "un x100to."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs onstage with Grupo Frontera in Mexico City on Dec. 15, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs on stage during Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour at Estadio GNP Seguros on Dec. 11, 2025, in Mexico City, Mexico.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=As he shared Puerto Rico with the world this summer, Bad Bunny's La Casita stage − designed after a traditional home − became one of the hottest celeb destinations of the season.

Week after week, the casita welcomed A-listers, from NBA legend LeBron James to "Mad Men" actor Jon Hamm. Bad Bunny's "Caught Stealing" costar Austin Butler also attended, and singer Becky G, actress Penélope Cruz and her husband Javier Bardem, fellow Boricua Ricky Martin and Mexican pop star Belinda were a few of the many spotted in the VIP section at the shows.

And for the world tour shows, it's no different. Mexican actor Diego Boneta was spotted at the HENNESSY CLúB stationed at GNP Seguros Stadium, an elevated pre-show interactive experience featuring signature cocktails and immersive brand moments.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="Manifest" and "Jurassic World Rebirth" actress Luna Blaise was also spotted at the Hennessy activation.

The Mexico City experience brought together creators, tastemakers, media and fans to honor the vibrant spirit of the city while spotlighting Hennessy's ongoing partnership with Bad Bunny and the brand's commitment to championing Latin culture around the world.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Diego Boneta attends Bad Bunny's "DtMF" concert in Mexico City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs on stage during Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour world tour at Estadio GNP Seguros on Dec. 11, 2025, in Mexico City, Mexico.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Audience reacts as Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny performs during a concert of his "DeBi TiRAR MaS FOToS World Tour" in Mexico City on Dec. 10, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs onstage with Grupo Frontera on Dec. 15, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=TikTok creator Zack Lugo attends Bad Bunny's "DtMF" concert in Mexico City with Hennessy.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Audience use their phones as Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny performs during a concert of his "DeBi TiRAR MaS FOToS World Tour" in Mexico City on Dec. 10, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs on stage at Estadio GNP Seguros on Dec. 10, 2025, in Mexico City, Mexico.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs on stage at Estadio GNP Seguros on Dec. 10, 2025, in Mexico City, Mexico.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny is projected on a screen as he performs in San Jose, Costa Rica, on Dec. 5, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny's tour kickoff on Nov. 21, 2025, began with a visualizer showing two boys hearing the news that he didn't want to leave Puerto Rico, a nod to his groundbreaking "No Me Quiero Ir de Aqui" residency.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny's shows will unfold in three acts, with the beginning act taking place on the main stage. 

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The second act continues in La Casita, where Bad Bunny treats the concert like one big house party. 

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=To close out the night on Nov. 21, 2025, Bad Bunny delivered a heartfelt moment with "DtMF" and projected fan photos on the towering LED screen.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=With Bad Bunny's latest tour, which began with his Puerto Rico residency, he is set to make history as the first Latin act to headline stadiums globally, including Europe, Australia and Latin America.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny's roster of A-list celebs attending his shows has also proved his music transcends language, borders and cultures − and that whoever isn't caught up on his game is losing out on one of the most influential artists of our time.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" pays tribute to Bad Bunny's Boricua roots and sees the singer incorporate traditional genres such as Plena, salsa, and jibaro into his signature Latin urbano sound.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=As Bad Bunny continues to make history with his world tour, he also continues to dominate global streaming lists of 2025. For the fourth time, Bad Bunny was named Spotify's Global Top Artist.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=In statistics shared exclusively with USA TODAY, Spotify revealed that if a single person attempted to listen to all the Bad Bunny streams from 2025 back-to-back, it would take 124,620 years or over 1,200 centuries of non-stop music. He has a loyal band of 27 million listeners and every day his music is streamed over 60 million times on the app.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Luna Blaise attends Bad Bunny's "DtMF" concert in Mexico City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=TikTok creator Zack Lugo attends Bad Bunny's "DtMF" concert in Mexico City with Hennessy.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs on stage during Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs onstage with Grupo Frontera.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bad Bunny performs onstage with Grupo Frontera.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Bad Bunny's world tour. Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour in 2025. Mexican music artist Natanael Cano at Bad Bunny's Mexico City shows. Bad Bunny during one of his Mexico City shows in December 2025. Bad Bunny onstage during his Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour. <p style=Bad Bunny performs onstage with Grupo Frontera on Dec. 15, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Best moments from Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour

ForBad Bunny, every album, every tour and every day is a new opportunity to reach new career heights.In November 2025, the Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar kicked off his 24-dateDeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS world tourwith back-to-back nights in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Then, in December, her performed more shows in Mexico City before kicking off the new year in Santiago, Chile, and then making a quit pit stop back in the states to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in February.Scroll through to see some of the best moments from Benito's world tour, which is sponsored in part by Hennessy. In this photo, Bad Bunny performs during the world tour opener at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Nov. 21, 2025.

Malumaand Bad Bunny have so far never shared the stage before and have only officially collaborated on the remix to Maluma's track "Un Polvo" in 2016, so this one is a bit of a reach. However, the Colombian singer has been supportive of Bad Bunny, including making a cameo at his residency, and he's not unfamiliar to American audiences, having collaborated with the likes of The Weeknd, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and Ricky Martin.

Ivy Queen

Ivy Queen and Bad Bunny perform onstage at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, broadcast on Oct. 14, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Reggaeton icon and pioneerIvy Queenhas performed with Bad Bunny on multiple occasions, with the rapper crediting the Queen of Reggaeton as a major inspiration. "I have a little piece of Ivy in my musical DNA," he said at the Billboard Women in Music Awards, whilepresenting the icon award to his fellow Puerto Rican native. And the Super Bowl wouldn't be the first time the pair performed together: The "Queiro Bailar" singer performed her verse on the remix to Bad Bunny's track "Yo Perreo Sola" at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, as well as during a few of his World's Hottest Tour dates in 2022.

Guests from his Puerto Rican residency: Ozuna, Feid, Arcángel, Nicky Jam or The Marías

De La Ghetto, Bad Bunny, Wisin, Arcangel and Ozuna perform on stage during Univision's "Premios Juventud" 2017 celebrates the hottest musical artists and young Latino change-makers at Watsco Center on July 6, 2017, in Coral Gables, Florida.

With 31 concerts spanning July to September, Bad Bunny never had the same show twice, featuring a who's-who of Latin music that included fellow "Te Boté" collaborator and Puerto Rican singerOzuna, Colombian star Feid, Latin trap legend Arcángel, frequent collaborator Nicky Jam, "Me Porto Bonito" featured artist Chencho Corleone and Los Angeles bilingual indie pop bandThe Marías.

They could all be potential guests at Bad Bunny's halftime show.

Puerto Rican collaborators on 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos'

Gilberto Santa Rosa onstage during 2025 iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina at Kaseya Center on Oct. 25, 2025, in Miami.

In addition to his A-list special guests, Bad Bunny used his residency to spotlight icons and mainstays of the salsa, plena and Puerto Rican folk genres (Gilberto Santa Rosa, Rubén Blades, Los Pleneros de la Cresta, Alfonso Vélez), as well as pay tribute to some of his biggest Puerto Rican influences (Ivy Queen, Wisin of Wisin & Yandel, Tito El Bambino).

Bad Bunny could invite reggaeton OGs Tego Calderon or Hector el Father

Ricky Martin and Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny perform during the 20th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, on Nov. 14, 2019.

The singer, whose latest album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" honors traditional Puerto Rican music, could call on a slew of musical titans to celebrate La Isla del Encanto, such as reggaeton heavyweight Tego Calderón, rapper and producer Héctor el Father, salsa orchestra El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and Latin pop iconRicky Martin.

When is Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show?

Bad Bunny will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Who are the Super Bowl halftime show performers? Bad Bunny headlines

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