The NFL has selected Spanish classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas and rock singer Taylor Momsen to perform the national anthems before the Cincinnati Bengals face the Atlanta Falcons in the 2026 NFL Madrid Game.
The regular-season matchup is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 8, at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. CET and 9:30 a.m. ET. Sáinz-Villegas will perform Spain’s national anthem, while Momsen, the frontwoman of The Pretty Reckless, will sing the U.S. national anthem.
Madrid game entertainment schedule
- On Oct. 9, the league confirmed that Colombian singer Manuel Turizo would lead the halftime show in Madrid.
- Before the Bengals and Falcons take the field on Nov. 8, Sáinz-Villegas will perform the Spanish anthem and Momsen will deliver the American anthem.
- The anthems and Turizo’s halftime performance will air live in Spain on DAZN, Cuatro and Mediaset Infinity.
Two performers with international profiles
Sáinz-Villegas, who was born in Spain and has lived in the United States for more than 25 years, has built a global career as a classical guitarist. He has appeared in more than 40 countries and performed alongside orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony and Berlin Philharmonic.
His previous appearances have included Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, as well as performances for the Dalai Lama. He has worked with Plácido Domingo and Yo-Yo Ma, while film composer John Williams has written music specifically for him. The guitarist has also played at the Bernabéu in front of more than 85,000 spectators.
Sáinz-Villegas said the opportunity connects the two countries that have shaped his life and career.
“As a Spaniard who has made the United States my home for 25 years, playing the Spanish anthem at the Santiago Bernabéu for the NFL is deeply moving,” Sáinz-Villegas said. “It is a privilege to represent Spain through the guitar and to be part of an event that brings people together across borders.”
Momsen will bring a different musical background to the pregame ceremony. The Pretty Reckless became a major force in modern rock after its 2010 debut album, Light Me Up. The band’s catalog includes the multi-platinum single “Heaven Knows,” and it owns nine No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, the most by a female-fronted act.
The Pretty Reckless has toured with AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters and Guns N’ Roses. Its fifth studio album, DEAR GOD, arrived in 2026 and produced another chart-leading track with “When I Wake Up.”
Momsen said she viewed the Madrid assignment as a rare chance to represent the United States in front of an international NFL audience.
“I have sung incredible songs with legendary artists, but performing the anthem at the NFL’s Madrid game is especially meaningful,” Momsen said. “To represent the country on an international stage makes it a special moment.”
Part of the league’s biggest international slate
The Madrid halftime concert is one of seven American Express-presented halftime shows across the 2026 International Games. The NFL’s international schedule will feature games in seven countries and on four continents, the league’s largest single-season global slate.
The league has played 67 regular-season games outside the United States. Berlin, Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Munich, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Toronto have all hosted NFL regular-season contests.
Tim Tubito, the NFL’s senior director of event presentation, music and entertainment, said the league aimed to create a pregame program that reflected the host city while building energy for kickoff.
“Pablo Sáinz-Villegas and Taylor Momsen give us two outstanding artists for the pregame stage as the NFL returns to Madrid,” Tubito said. “Their performances will connect with fans, reflect the city and help set the atmosphere for a strong day of football.”
