U2 to Headline NFL Thanksgiving Eve Halftime Show on Netflix

U2 will headline the halftime entertainment for the NFL's first Thanksgiving Eve game, bringing the Irish rock band to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Wednesday, November 25, 2026. The performance will take place during the Green Bay Packers' matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and the game streaming live on Netflix.

The announcement, made by Netflix and the NFL on October 20, comes as U2 marks 50 years since forming in Dublin in 1976. The appearance will also bring the band back to a major American football event after its widely remembered performance at Super Bowl XXXVI in February 2002.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the band's history of stadium performances made it a fitting choice for the broadcast. The company has increasingly paired its NFL games with prominent musical acts as it expands its live sports programming.

"There's a reason U2 has headlined stadiums for decades: they don't just perform, they deliver iconic moments audiences remember forever," said Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix. "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."

Jesse Collins Entertainment will produce the U2 halftime show, according to Netflix's announcement. The performance follows the platform's previous holiday broadcasts featuring major musical acts.

Netflix's first Christmas Gameday in 2024 featured Beyoncé during the Baltimore Ravens' game against the Houston Texans. In 2025, Snoop Dogg headlined the halftime entertainment during the Detroit Lions' Christmas Day matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Thanksgiving Eve contest is part of Netflix's broader NFL schedule for the 2026 season. The platform began its season with the league's first regular-season game in Australia, featuring the San Francisco 49ers against the Los Angeles Rams, according to Netflix.

Netflix will also stream a Christmas Gameday doubleheader on December 25, 2026. The Green Bay Packers will face the Chicago Bears at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the Buffalo Bills against the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET.

The streaming schedule also includes a Week 18 game on January 9, 2027, at 1 p.m. ET, during the final weekend of the regular season. Netflix will additionally carry NFL Honors globally during the week of the Super Bowl.

According to Netflix, its 2026 NFL games will be available to subscribers in more than 200 countries, with broadcasts offered in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. Games will also air on NBC-owned stations and affiliates in the competing teams' markets, while viewers in the United States can watch on mobile phones and tablets through NFL+.

NBC Sports will produce the games and their pregame and postgame coverage, while EverWonder Studio will serve as an executive producer for Netflix. The Packers-Rams matchup and U2's halftime performance are scheduled for November 25 at SoFi Stadium.

U2's 50th-anniversary celebrations coincide with the planned release of the band's new album, Carnaval de Luz, on Friday, November 13, 2026, according to Ireland's RTÉ.