The NFL has officially revealed who will sing the National Anthem at the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, and the honor goes to rising R&B singer-songwriter Ebony Riley.
The announcement was made on Instagram, where the league confirmed Riley as part of the entertainment lineup for the Pro Bowl Games, which will take place during Super Bowl week in the Bay Area.
Riley quickly shared her excitement with fans, posting a celebratory message on her own Instagram account.
“See yall in the Bay Area!! So excited to be performing the National Anthem at the Pro Bowl games next week on ESPN 🤩,” she wrote.
Ebony Riley at the Give Her FlowHERS Gala 2025 held at The Beverly Hilton on November 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images
(Photo by JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images)
The 2026 Pro Bowl Games will be held on Feb. 3, marking the first time the event takes place on a Tuesday. Coverage begins in the early evening, with the games airing across ESPN, ABC, Disney XD, ESPN Deportes and streaming platforms including the ESPN app and NFL+. The event will be staged at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, bringing Pro Bowl action directly into the heart of Super Bowl week.
Riley’s National Anthem performance will kick off an event that features skills competitions and a 7-on-7 flag football game between AFC and NFC stars. This format, introduced in recent years, has shifted the Pro Bowl away from full-contact play and toward a safer, more engaging showcase of athletic skill.
For Riley, the moment is both professional and personal. Born and raised in Detroit, she has spoken openly in recent interviews about her journey through foster care, her early days singing in church choirs, and her eventual transition from high-fashion modeling to music. Standing in front of NFL players and millions of viewers, she brings that story with her to one of sports’ biggest weeks.
On the other hand, the Pro Bowl Games have gone through several changes since their beginnings as a traditional all-star game in the 1950s. Over time, concerns about injuries and player participation led the NFL to rethink the event. Today, the Pro Bowl Games focus on skills, personality and entertainment rather than hard hits.
This year’s event is fully integrated into the buildup to Super Bowl LX, which will feature the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Players from those Super Bowl teams will not participate in the Pro Bowl Games, opening the spotlight for other NFL stars.
Notable players expected to be part of the festivities include quarterbacks Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, and Matthew Stafford, along with high-profile names like Christian McCaffrey, Puka Nacua, Micah Parsons, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ja’Marr Chase. Hall of Fame legends Jerry Rice (NFC) and Steve Young (AFC) will serve as head coaches, replacing last year’s Manning brothers.
Riley’s soulful style and growing recognition in R&B make her a fitting choice for the moment. Her recent single “Only You,” released in late 2025, has helped introduce her to a wider audience, while interviews on outlets like HOT 97 and WBLS have highlighted her openness about growth, healing, and confidence.
As Super Bowl week arrives in San Francisco, all eyes will be on the Moscone Center, not just for flag football and skills challenges, but also for a National Anthem performance that reflects the NFL’s push to blend sport, music and storytelling in one of its most-watched weeks of the year.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.