The Bad Bunny effect: Duolingo reports a 35% increase in Spanish learners after Super Bowl 2026
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show led to a notable 35% increase in Spanish learners on Duolingo.
Bad Bunny's performance during the Super Bowl 2026 has resonated widely, triggering significant engagement not just from fans but also across digital applications. In particular, language learning platform Duolingo reported a striking 35% increase in users who began taking Spanish lessons following the artist's halftime show. This surge illustrates the impact of cultural events on language learning trends, drawing attention to how popular artists can influence educational platforms.
On Monday, Duolingo took to its social media platform X to announce this remarkable statistic, highlighting a dramatic shift in user behavior related to the Super Bowl. The company shared data indicating that while the app's usage during the pre-game hours remained stable and even saw a slight decline at the beginning of the game, there was an unprecedented spike in new users immediately after Bad Bunny's performance.
This phenomenon underscores the connection between entertainment and education, showcasing how a major cultural event can ignite interest in learning a new language. The increase in Spanish learners on Duolingo following Bad Bunnyβs performance points to a larger trend where celebrity influence can play a crucial role in shaping educational engagement, particularly in language acquisition.