Every year Super Bowl Sunday comes with the unofficial triple threat, the game, the commercials and the one and only halftime show. In 2026, while the Seahawks-Patriots match had its moments with the Seahawks winning, it was the ads and the halftime performance that sparked conversation long after the whistle blew.
The 2026 Superbowl commercials were packed with celebrity cameos, humor and honestly unexpected twists and that’s exactly what made the ones I loved memorable. Companies know that viewers aren’t just watching the game, they’re watching the breaks too and this year’s best commercials understood how to make those moments count.
Pringles- Sabrina Carpenter builds “ Pringleleo.” One of the most talked about spots featured singer Sabrina Carpenter creating her perfect partner out of pringles chips. The idea is lowkey goofy; she literally assembles “Pringleleo” as a romantic partner but that’s what made it fun. It didn’t try to be deep, it just committed to its absurd premise and delivered laughs, nostalgia and pure energy.
Pepsi- Polar bear blind taste test. Pepsi brought back the iconic polar bear from cola advertising history and put it in a blind taste test where it chooses pepsi over coke. Directed by Taika Waititi, the ad poked fun at a classic rivalry and leaned into humor rather than straightforward selling and that’s probably why I liked it.
Levi’s- feel-good fashion return. Levi’s returned to the Super Bowl after years away with a commercial that focused on everyday people and iconic jeans. It Featured artists like Dochii and Rosé and even characters like Woody from Toy Story. The ad lowkey reminded how good music can make a jean commercial cooler.
Fanatics Sportsbook. The ad, titled “Bet On Kendall.” This one charts my favorite superbowl commercials because it leaned into what people already know about Kendall Jenner. I loved that she trolled her basketball players’ ex-boyfriends and made fun of the Kardashian curse. Which is that anyone that dates a Kardashian-Jenner ends up having a rough patch after.
Then there was the halftime show, a cultural moment that I loved to have been able to see. Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny headlined the Apple Music LX halftime show, performing in mostly Spanish and bringing out stars like Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. His set was a vibrant celebration of identity, music and unity creating a connection that went beyond field goals.
Some critics including political figures blasted the choice calling it “terrible” or saying it didn’t fit the superbowl tradition. But to me, the reaction misses the point:art isn’t always comfortable, breaking expectations is part of what makes culture exciting. Bad Bunny did not only perform songs, but sparked conversation about inclusion, representation and what big cultural moments can look like. The performance surprised some, thrilled others and most importantly got people talking.
