Super Bowl halftime show 2021: what time does The Weeknd play at the NFL game on Sunday - and how to watch in the UK

The Weeknd has said he will ‘try his best’ to keep the show ‘PG for the families’

The Weeknd performing in 2017 - the Canadian artists will be stepping out in front of an audience of millions on Sunday (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Harper's BAZAAR)

Millions of people tune into the Super Bowl halftime show every year – last year's featured Jennifer Lopez and Shakira and drew a crowd of more than 104 million viewers on television worldwide.

With the big game coming up on Sunday (7 February), who’s taking on the daunting task of entertaining millions of viewers in the midst of one of the biggest dates on the sporting calendar?

The colossal Raymond James Stadium will be the venue for The Weeknd's halftime gig, though it will be far from full due to coronavirus restrictions (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Here is everything you need to know.

Who’s performing at this year’s Super Bowl?

Given the honour of performing during this year's Super Bowl halftime show is Canadian R&B superstar, The Weeknd.

Fans hoping to see the artist – real name Abel Tesfaye – break out his confrontational aesthetic (he has incorporated blood, violence and decapitation into his recent music videos as a comment on fame and celebrity culture) may be disappointed.

Speaking during a press conference ahead of the show this weekend, he was asked whether he planned to “tone down” his style for the “family event”.

“Yeah, for sure. I definitely want to be respectful to the viewers at home,” he said. “I will still incorporate some of the storyline. It is a very cohesive story I have been telling throughout this era and throughout this year.

“The story will continue but definitely we will keep it PG for the families. Definitely. I will try my best.”

The star said he had been watching Diana Ross’ halftime show in 1996 in preparation for the big day, as well as similar performances by Michael Jackson, Prince and Beyonce.

The Weeknd follows in the recent footsteps of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, and Katy Perry in filling the coveted slot.

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company is executive producing the halftime show for a second year.

How can I watch it in the UK?

The performance will take place on 7 February at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The Super Bowl has been played on the first Sunday in February for the last 16 years and is the culmination of the regular season.

This remains the same - even in a global pandemic - with Super Bowl 55 set to take place on Sunday 7 February 2021.

The game will start at 11.30pm UK time and will go through to around 3am on Monday 8 February, when the victors will be crowned.

Sky Sports NFL – Sky channel number 408 – and BBC One will both be airing the game live from 11.30pm on 7 February.

The half-time show is expected to begin around 1am in the early hours of Monday morning, but you’ll want to tune in just before that to make sure you catch it all.