Super Bowl 2026: Justin Bieber reunites with Ludacris at pre-game party 16 years after their hit duet ‘Baby’

Justin Bieber and Ludacris know how to surprise a crowd. Sixteen years after ‘Baby’ first took over the airwaves, the two reunited during Super Bowl LX weekend, giving fans a shot of straight nostalgia. It all went down at a pre-Super Bowl bash packed with celebrities, athletes, and more than a few people who still remember every word of that chorus.

The ‘surprise’ at the party

On February 7, 2026, just before the NFL’s big game in Santa Clara, Bieber showed up unannounced at Sports Illustrated’s SI The Party at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. The place was already buzzing: there were stars everywhere, music blasting, people soaking up the Super Bowl energy. However, the party really kicked off when Ludacris hit the stage. He started out solo, rapping his part from ‘Baby’, while Bieber’s vocals played in the background.




However, that wasn’t the best part

The crowd could tell something was up. And then the cat was out of the bag!

When Ludacris leaned in and teased, “Make some noise for my brother Justin Bieber,” people lost it. And then, there he was — Bieber, now 31, climbing over barricades and joining Ludacris onstage. They hugged, the crowd cheered, and for a moment, it felt like 2010 all over again.

‘Baby’: Looking back at the hit duet

For the unversed, here’s a little background on the shared history of Justin Bieber and Ludacris. Their hit duet ‘Baby’ dropped in 2010 as the lead single from Bieber’s album, ‘My World 2.0’. Ludacris brought the swagger, Bieber brought the hooks, and the song exploded. In the era where billion streams were as rare as they were crowning jewels, the duet hit the top ten in countries all over, and basically became the soundtrack for an entire generation of pop fans. In fact, for many, ‘Baby’ was their introduction to the world of pop culture.

And even with its YouTube video gathering a record number of dislikes, ‘Baby’ stuck around — both as a meme and as a legit pop anthem. For a lot of people, it marked Bieber’s leap from teenage internet star to global pop heavyweight.

Where things stand now

As for now, this Super Bowl reunion wasn’t just about the music. It was about two artists coming full circle, sharing a moment in front of the fans who grew up with them. Bieber didn’t just walk onstage; he started out in the crowd, soaking it in, before Ludacris called him up.

Notably, Bieber’s surprise appearance came hot on the heels of his return to the Grammy Awards, where he wowed everyone with a performance of ‘Yukon’ and picked up several nominations. Right after that, stepping onstage with Ludacris at the Super Bowl party — right in the middle of this major comeback — made the reunion feel even bigger.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”