Every year the Super Bowl arrives like a cultural juggernaut—part championship football, part advertising spectacle, part national holiday. When February 2026 rolled around, expectations were sky-high. And honestly? It delivered in spades. From the moment the coin landed in the Patriots’ favor to the final seconds ticking off with Seattle holding a commanding lead, the night gave us drama on the field and pure entertainment off it.
I’ve watched quite a few Super Bowls now, and something about this one felt different. Maybe it was the sheer volume of artificial intelligence woven into the commercials. Maybe it was the bold cultural statement during halftime. Or maybe it was simply the fact that the game itself refused to be boring despite early one-sided scoring. Whatever the reason, Super Bowl 60 left a mark.
A Night of Football, Flash, and Future-Focused Ads
Right from kickoff at Levi’s Stadium, the energy was palpable. The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots renewed a rivalry that dated back more than a decade. Yet this matchup carried extra weight—new quarterbacks, new coaches, new stakes. And while the scoreboard told one story, the advertising breaks told another entirely.
The Game Unfolds: Defense Dominates Early
Seattle struck first with a field goal, then another, and another. Jason Myers was simply automatic, eventually setting a Super Bowl record with five successful kicks. The Patriots’ offense struggled to find rhythm early, and the Seahawks’ defense kept them pinned. By halftime the score sat at a lopsided 12-0. Not exactly the high-scoring shootout many predicted.
But football has a funny way of shifting momentum. New England finally got on the board in the fourth quarter with a long touchdown pass. Later they added more points. Still, Seattle answered with a defensive touchdown and another field goal. The final margin felt more comfortable than the game actually played—Seahawks 29, Patriots 13.
- Jason Myers – 5 field goals (new Super Bowl record)
- Seattle defense – fumble return touchdown
- Drake Maye – late TD pass for New England
- Overall feel – defensive battle with late fireworks
Even if you weren’t rooting for either side, you had to respect the grind. Both teams played hard. Both defenses showed up. And both fanbases left with something to talk about for months.
Halftime Show: Bad Bunny Makes History
When Bad Bunny stepped onto the field, the atmosphere changed. Sugar cane fields, piraguas, vibrant colors—Puerto Rico was front and center. He opened with Tití Me Preguntó and never let the energy drop. Salsa, reggaeton, pure rhythm. Surprise guests Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin added extra electricity. Gaga brought a Latin twist to one of her hits while Martin delivered a powerful verse.
The only thing more powerful than hate is love.
Message displayed during Bad Bunny’s closing moments
The closing image—a football marked “Together we are America”—carried real weight. In a time when division feels constant, the halftime show offered a reminder that music and sport can still unite people, even if only for fifteen minutes.
The Real Star of the Night? The Commercials
Let’s be honest: a lot of people tune in for the ads. And 2026 did not disappoint. Average cost per 30-second spot? Around eight million dollars. Some reportedly went north of ten. When brands spend that much, they better bring something memorable. Many did.
AI was everywhere. Chris Hemsworth hilariously battled his own smart home in an Amazon Alexa spot. Google Gemini helped a family redesign their new house using old photos. Microsoft showed a scout using Copilot to analyze linebacker prospects. Even smaller players like Genspark and Wix jumped in with AI-powered tools. It felt like the future had officially arrived in prime time.
- Amazon Alexa+ – Chris Hemsworth vs killer smart home
- Google Gemini – family redesigns home with AI
- Microsoft Copilot – football scout uses AI in Excel
- Svedka – mostly AI-generated “super freaky” Fembot reboot
But nostalgia still held strong. Dunkin’ recreated Good Will Hunting with an all-star cast of 90s sitcom legends plus Tom Brady. Pepsi staged a dramatic defection of Coca-Cola’s polar bear mascot. Hellmann’s turned Andy Samberg into “Meal Diamond” singing about sandwiches. These spots leaned hard into familiarity—and it worked.
Celebrity Overload: Who Stole the Show?
Where do you even start? Matthew McConaughey and Bradley Cooper debated a “foodball” conspiracy for Uber Eats. Sabrina Carpenter built her dream guy out of Pringles tubes. Peyton Manning, Post Malone and Shane Gillis chased a runaway keg down a hill for Bud Light. Serena Williams opened up about her wellness journey. The list goes on and on.
In my view, the Dunkin’ spot edged out the competition for pure fun. Seeing Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Ted Danson and others in one retro diner scene? That hit different. It reminded us why we love these silly, over-the-top commercials in the first place.
Prediction Markets Took Center Stage
Another storyline that refused to stay quiet: prediction markets. Platforms let people trade on everything from which songs Bad Bunny would perform to which brands would air spots. Trading volume reportedly soared into the hundreds of millions. Some users experienced delays from sheer traffic. Others debated whether these markets are betting in disguise or something entirely new.
Either way, the conversation is only getting louder. When millions of dollars ride on guessing whether a QR code appears in a Lay’s ad, you know the culture has shifted.
Health, Heart, and Humor: Other Standouts
Some brands went emotional. Ring highlighted reuniting lost dogs with families. Toyota showed a grandfather and grandson buckling “superhero belts” across generations. Dove continued its mission of building confidence in young female athletes. These spots reminded us that advertising can still pull heartstrings without feeling manipulative.
Then there was pure humor. Liquid I.V. asked viewers what color their urine was (yes, really). Rob Gronkowski lounged poolside in a cheeky prostate health spot. William Shatner beamed around delivering fiber-rich cereal. The range was wild—and that variety is exactly what makes the Super Bowl ads special.
What It All Means Moving Forward
Looking back, Super Bowl 60 felt like a turning point. AI went from buzzword to centerpiece. Streaming platforms continued carving out real estate for smaller brands. Cultural representation reached new heights. And the game itself proved that defense can still win championships—even if the final score doesn’t always reflect the drama.
Whether you’re a die-hard football fan, a commercial connoisseur, or just someone who likes seeing celebrities do ridiculous things for thirty seconds, there was something for everyone. And honestly? That’s the magic of the Super Bowl. It brings us together, makes us laugh, makes us think, and occasionally makes us question why we’re so invested in a singing toilet ad.
Until next year, America. Keep the nachos coming.
