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Super Bowl 2025: How to watch, when it starts – and who will be performing the half-time show | Ents & Arts News

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The 59th Super Bowl is fast approaching, with the Kansas City Chiefs looking to make history with an unprecedented third consecutive title.

The Chiefs, led by sensational quarterback Patrick Mahomes, will face a familiar foe in the Philadelphia Eagles, who they beat two years ago for the title.

It looks to be a tense match-up – but the biggest NFL event of the year is always packed with so much more than just on-field drama, from epic half-time shows to multi-million dollar advertising spots.

And, of course, pop sensation Taylor Swift is expected to once again be in the stands supporting her Chiefs tight end boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Here’s all you need to know ahead of what could be a historic Super Bowl.

When is it and how can I watch?

Aerial view of the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Pic: mpi34/MediaPunch /IPX
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Aerial view of the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Pic: mpi34/MediaPunch /IPX

Super Bowl LIX will be played at Caesars Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints, on Sunday 9 February, with kick-off at 6.30pm local time.

Kick-off will be 11.30pm UK time.

The good news is coverage starts at 10pm on Sunday on Sky Sports NFL (407) and Sky Sports Main Event (401).

If you’re up late and on the move, you can also watch the show with Sky Go – online or on NOW TV, with the Sky Sports Day Pass.

These competitors have a history

This will be the Chiefs’ fifth Super Bowl in six years and comes off the back of two wins in a row; one against the San Francisco 49ers last year and the other against the Eagles in 2023.

They’re early favourites to defeat the Eagles again to claim what Americans are calling the “three-peat”.

But the Eagles, who last won the competition in 2018, won’t roll over; they will be out for revenge after their epic against the Chiefs two years ago.

Kansas City were seen as slight underdogs ahead of that match-up, and trailed for much of the game.

They were 27-21 down heading into the final quarter, and things looked bleak for the Chiefs after Mahomes appeared to re-injure the right ankle that had been a major worry going into the game.

However, when the teams returned after the last quarter, a resilient Mahomes produced a heroic effort and threw for two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

He also set up Harrison Butker’s 27-yard game-winning field goal with eight seconds to play in front of 67,827 fans at the stadium in Arizona.

Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Harrison Butker kicks the game-winning field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pic: AP
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Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Harrison Butker kicks the game-winning field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Pic: AP

Kansas City Chiefs players celebrate after winning the Super Bowl. Pic: AP
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Kansas City Chiefs players celebrate after winning the Super Bowl. Pic: AP

Mahomes stole the headlines, but Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts turned in an almost equally dazzling performance, running for three touchdowns and a Super Bowl record 70 yards.

He also threw for a touchdown in what is widely considered one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time.

Hurts has looked impressive heading into this Super Bowl, having had three rushing touchdowns alongside fellow Eagles star Saquon Barkley as they hammered the Washington Commanders 55-23 to book their place.

It was a tougher road to the final for the Chiefs, who narrowly overcame Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills 32-29 after Harrison Butker kicked what would prove the winning points with three minutes to play.

This time around, the Chiefs go in as slight favourites largely due to their recent history of showing up on the big stage, but it’s a close one to call with Hurts’ Eagles in red-hot form.

Trump will become first sitting president to attend game

Having already made headlines during the first 100 days of his second presidency, Donald Trump is confirmed to become the first sitting US president to attend the Super Bowl.

The US Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the president, said “extensive planning and coordination” has been going on for days ahead of his arrival.

With the leader of the free world in attendance, fans attending the game can also expect to be subject to extra security measures, with Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi saying details on this will be released in the coming days.

Donald Trump attends the National Prayer Breakfast,
Pic: AP
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Donald Trump has not indicated which side he will be supporting. Pic: AP

Mr Trump has not given any indication as to which side he will be backing, but did tell reporters that there is a “certain quarterback that seems to be a pretty good winner”, appearing to refer to Mahomes.

When asked how they feel about playing in front of Mr Trump, Mahomes told a news conference that it is “always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president”, while Kelce called it a “great honour”.

The president also plans to sit for an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier as part of the network’s preshow programming, which is set to be taped from Florida before the game.

It is traditional for the president to grant an interview to the network that’s broadcasting the football game, though both Mr Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden were inconsistent about participating in the past.

Taylor Swift to appear again – but not for the half-time show

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Taylor cheers on Travis after Chiefs beat the Bills

Swift has become a regular feature at Chiefs games, often showing up to support her boyfriend Kelce.

The pop star was seen cheering him and his teammates on as they beat the Bills in the AFC Championship game that secured their place in the Super Bowl, and came on to the field at the Arrowhead Stadium after their victory to kiss him as confetti fell behind them.

The 14-time Grammy Award-winning superstar now has her own back-to-back Super Bowls to attend, having also turned out for Kelce last year.

She attracted plenty of attention in her own right, as she was making a much-discussed journey from her concert in Tokyo in time for the big kick-off in Las Vegas.

Recording artist Taylor Swift and Ashley Avignone in the stands during the game
Pic: Reuters
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Swift shouts from the stands while next to Ashley Avignone during last year’s Super Bowl Sunday. Pic: Reuters

She made it with plenty of time to spare, and went on to enjoy herself after the Chiefs’ 25-22 win over the 49ers, winning what appeared to be a beer-chugging contest, partying with celebrity suite mates such as Blake Lively, Ice Spice and Lana Del Rey.

The Bad Blood singer isn’t touring this time around, and may well enjoy taking a backseat as she watches fellow American stars perform in the half-time show.

Who is singing the national anthem?

Every Super Bowl epic starts with a moving rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, and this time it will be performed by soul singer/songwriter Jon Batiste.

Jon Batiste. Pic: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
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Jon Batiste. Pic: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP

The New Orleans native told Entertainment Tonight at the end of January: “I’m excited to figure out an arrangement that lasts the test of time.”

Also on the bill is Christian recording artist Lauren Daigle and jazz musician Trombone Shorty, who will perform America the Beautiful, while R&B vocalist Ledisi will perform Lift Every Voice and Sing.

Who is performing in the half-time show?

Kendrick Lamar was confirmed as the headliner back in September last year, not long after his brutal rapping feud with Drake.

Two of the Humble hitmaker’s diss tracks on the Canadian rapper were number ones last year, and his latest album GNX was released to much critical acclaim in November.

Kendrick Lamar performs during the 2023 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Manchester, Tenn. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
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Kendrick Lamar performing in 2023. Pic: Amy Harris/Invision/AP

In a statement after he was announced for the Super Bowl, the 17-time Grammy award-winning rapper said: “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”

He has the track record to back that comment up, having previously performed at the 2022 half-time show, where he joined Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J Blige, 50 Cent, Anderson .Paak, and Eminem at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The shows tend to be packed with a few surprise guests, but multi-Grammy-winning singer SZA has been confirmed as a feature.

On 23 January, Lamar and Apple Music released a trailer of him walking on a football field before SZA walked up from behind and playfully splashed the rapper.

The duo have hits together including the Oscar-nominated All The Stars and Doves In The Wind, and also performed together on two tracks on Lamar’s most recent album.

What about the ads?

The Super Bowl isn’t just the biggest stage for footballers – it’s also the biggest stage for advertisers looking to reach its millions of viewers – unique audience, because they’re as primed to watch the ads as they are the game.

“This is a societal moment where we come together as a country,” says Kimberly Whitler, marketing professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. “We may be on different sides… but we come together.”

The price for a 30-second ad spot at during this year’s game will cost companies up to $8m (£6.4m), a rise from about $7m the year before.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI is rumoured to be airing its first-ever TV advert during this year’s Super Bowl, according to the Wall Street Journal, keeping up with rivals such as Google.

In order to get as much as a return on investment for those millions, most advertisers release their ads in the days ahead of the big game to get the most publicity for their spots.

A lot of advertising companies simply release an ad trailer, showing off which celebrities are going to be promoting their products.

Celebrities we know are featuring in ads

Here’s a round-up of some of the stars you’ll be seeing during the breaks:

Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey explains a conspiracy theory that football was invented to sell food for an Uber Eats ad, with British singer Charli XCX and US writer and TV star Martha Stewart also joining forces. In a teaser, they are seen using the “We listen and we don’t judge” TikTok trend to tell each other misconceptions they’ve had.

“I thought a Super Bowl was something I could order on Uber Eats,” British singer Charli XCX tells Stewart as they sit on a sofa together with a takeaway bag.

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal will provide a When Harry Met Sally reunion – playing their characters at the famous Katz’s Deli, enjoying a sandwich with Hellmann’s mayonnaise. This time round, it’s Sydney Sweeney who joins to utter the famous line: “I’ll have what she’s having.”

Actress turned TV host Drew Barrymore and actor Orlando Bloom will star in the first-ever Super Bowl commercial for MSC Cruises, with Barrymore singing a rendition of Madonna’s Holiday while on board a ship in the company’s teaser.

Meta will be advertising its Smart Glasses through Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt, with both Marvel actors posting brief videos of themselves wearing the Ray-Ban frames on Instagram. Hemsworth accidently eats a banana from an art piece worth $6.2m, and Kris Jenner appears to scold them.

There’s a star-studded list of beer promoters this year, with England great David Beckham getting told he has a long-lost twin brother (who turns out to be Matt Damon) by his parents in the Stella Artois teaser, and Post Malone getting a three-peat of his own by appearing in a third Bud Light ad, this time with comedian Shane Gillis.

Food commercials have stars such as singer Doja Cat, whose vocal support for Taco Bell has resulted in her featuring in their ad spot, while actors Adam Brody and Nick Offerman join basketball star James Harden in a Pringles ad.

Nestle Coffee Mate’s ad features singer Shania Twain, while actor Eugene Levy‘s eyebrows fly off in an advert for pizza chain Little Caesars, and Haagen-Dazs reunites Fast & Furious stars Michelle Rodriguez, Vin Diesel and Ludacris – this time driving not-so-fast, so they can take the time to enjoy eating an ice cream bar.

There are also some ads with more serious messages, with rapper Snoop Dogg and Super Bowl record breaker Tom Brady voicing reasons why people hate each other in an effort to combat hate speech, for the Foundation To Combat Antisemitism.

And finally, who holds the most Super Bowl titles?

Here are the top winners from 1967 to 2022:

• Pittsburgh Steelers: 6
• New England Patriots: 6
• San Francisco 49ers: 5
• Dallas Cowboys: 5
• New York Giants: 4
• Green Bay Packers: 4

And that’s all you need to know for the big game – enjoy the match!

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