The NFL’s return to Madrid will open with a Spanish-American musical pairing before the Cincinnati Bengals meet the Atlanta Falcons at Bernabéu Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 8.
Spanish classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas will perform Spain’s national anthem, while Taylor Momsen, frontwoman of rock band The Pretty Reckless, will sing the U.S. anthem ahead of the 2026 NFL Madrid Game. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. local time in Madrid, or 9:30 a.m. ET.
Sáinz-Villegas, a Spain native who has lived in the United States for more than 25 years, returns to a venue where he has previously played before more than 85,000 fans. The guitarist has appeared in more than 40 countries, performing with ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony and Berlin Philharmonic, as well as at Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. His career has also included appearances for the Dalai Lama, collaborations with Plácido Domingo and Yo-Yo Ma, and performances of work written for him by composer John Williams.
He said the Bernabéu appearance carries particular significance because it brings together the country of his birth and the United States, which has been his home for decades. Sáinz-Villegas called it an honor to represent Spain through the guitar, an instrument closely tied to the country’s cultural identity, and said music can bring people together across national borders.
Momsen will take the pregame stage after a career leading one of modern rock’s most successful female-fronted acts. The Pretty Reckless broke through with its 2010 album Light Me Up and has produced hits such as the multi-platinum “Heaven Knows.” The group owns nine No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, the highest total by a female-led act, and has toured with AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters and Guns N’ Roses.
The band’s fifth studio album, DEAR GOD, arrived in 2026, with “When I Wake Up” becoming another chart-leading release. Momsen said she has shared stages with major artists throughout her career, but described the chance to sing the anthem at an international NFL event as especially meaningful.
Turizo set for halftime in Madrid
The anthem performances will be followed by a halftime show headlined by Manuel Turizo, whose participation was announced Oct. 9. Madrid is one of seven international-game halftime productions presented by American Express during the 2026 season, with the league staging games across seven countries and four continents in its largest single-season international slate.
The NFL said the pregame selections were designed to connect the event with Madrid while giving the crowd a strong opening to the Bengals-Falcons matchup. Tim Tubito, the league’s senior director of event presentation, music and entertainment, said Sáinz-Villegas and Momsen will help create the stadium atmosphere before kickoff.
Viewers in Spain can watch both anthems and the complete halftime performance live on DAZN, Cuatro and Mediaset Infinity.
The Madrid game adds to the NFL’s long-running international schedule. The league has played 67 regular-season games outside the United States, with international hosts including Berlin, Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Munich, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Toronto.
