The 112th Grey Cup delivered one of its most anticipated halftime spectacles in recent memory, with Machine Gun Kelly bringing his genre-spanning energy to Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on November 16, 2025. The announcement, made by the Canadian Football League on October 16, positioned the Cleveland-born artist as the headline act for what became a landmark evening in Canadian sports entertainment.

The CFL’s decision to book MGK marked a notable shift in the league’s approach to halftime entertainment, traditionally dominated by Canadian artists. The move aligned with the league’s broader strategy to attract younger, cross-border audiences while maintaining the event’s distinctly Canadian character. Alongside the headliner, the evening featured Our Lady Peace performing the SiriusXM Grey Cup Kickoff Show and Manitoba native Catie St. Germain delivering the national anthem.

Winnipeg’s selection as host city for the 112th Grey Cup carried significant weight, with the Manitoba capital marking its first time hosting the championship since 1977. Princess Auto Stadium, with its 33,000-seat capacity, provided an intimate yet substantial backdrop for the performance. The event drew viewers across multiple platforms, with broadcasts reaching audiences in Canada, the United States, and internationally through CFL+.

Who Is Headlining the 2025 Grey Cup Halftime Show?

Machine Gun Kelly, professionally known as MGK, took the Princess Auto Stadium stage as the Bud Light Grey Cup Halftime Show headliner on November 16, 2025. The announcement came directly from the CFL on October 16, 2025, generating immediate buzz across sports and music communities. MGK’s selection represented a strategic departure from the league’s typical halftime performer choices, bringing an artist with deep roots in American rock, hip-hop, and pop circuits.

MGK’s Setlist and Performance Details

MGK’s halftime set drew from multiple albums and eras of his career, featuring songs including starman, dont wait run fast, bloody valentine, lonely road, my ex’s best friend, vampire diaries, and cliché. The performance promoted his Lost Americana album and tour, which officially launched in Winnipeg following the Grey Cup appearance.

MGK has established himself as a multi-platinum artist whose work spans hip-hop, pop, rock, and alternative genres. His international credentials include headlining an NFL halftime show in Germany, with his song don’t wait, run fast receiving additional exposure through ESPN’s 2025-26 college football coverage. These credentials positioned him as an unconventional yet compelling choice for a CFL audience traditionally accustomed to different musical styles.

Supporting Performers

Our Lady Peace, the Juno Award-winning Canadian alt-rock band, performed at the SiriusXM Grey Cup Kickoff Show, bringing domestic prominence to the entertainment lineup. Catie St. Germain, a Niverville, Manitoba native, sang the national anthem, representing the host province in a ceremonial role. St. Germain holds multiple Princess Auto Stadium performances and received nominations for 2025 Manitoba Country Music Awards.

When and Where Is the Grey Cup 2025?

The 112th Grey Cup took place on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Kickoff occurred at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, corresponding to 5 p.m. Central Time in the host city. The halftime show occurred approximately one hour into the game, following standard CFL championship protocols.

Event Timeline

1. January 2024: Winnipeg officially selected as host city for the 112th Grey Cup
2. October 16, 2025: CFL announces MGK as halftime headliner, Our Lady Peace as kickoff act, Catie St. Germain for national anthem
3. November 10-14, 2025: Grey Cup Festival with multiple entertainment events across Winnipeg venues
4. November 16, 2025: 112th Grey Cup championship game with halftime performance by MGK

How to Watch the Grey Cup 2025 Halftime Show

Viewers across North America accessed the Grey Cup and its halftime entertainment through multiple broadcast options. In Canada, the game aired live on TSN and CTV, with French-language coverage on RDS. American audiences watched via CBS Sports Network, while international viewers accessed the free CFL+ livestream service.

For those attending in person, limited tickets remained available via Ticketmaster at the time of the October 16 announcement. The Ticketmaster platform served as the primary authorized seller for championship game admission, with various seating categories offering different proximity to the stage and field.

Broadcast Details

The multi-platform approach ensured maximum accessibility for audiences seeking to witness MGK’s performance regardless of geographic location or cable subscription status. The CFL+ international stream particularly benefited viewers outside North America who previously faced significant barriers to accessing Canadian football content.

History of Grey Cup Halftime Shows

The Grey Cup halftime tradition dates back to the 1960s, evolving from modest field performances into elaborate stage productions reflecting broader entertainment trends. The championship consistently featured Canadian artists throughout its history, creating a distinct national identity for the spectacle that distinguished it from American football’s halftime conventions.

Winnipeg’s hosting of the 112th Grey Cup marked a significant homecoming for the event, returning to a city with deep Canadian football roots after nearly five decades. The decision to book MGK signaled an intentional diversification of the performer pool, potentially signaling a new era of cross-genre bookings designed to attract broader demographic interest.

The 2025 edition followed a pattern of increasingly ambitious halftime productions across North American football leagues. MGK’s experience headlining NFL events and performing at major international festivals provided a foundation for delivering a professional-scale spectacle appropriate for the championship context.

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Certain elements of the 112th Grey Cup halftime show have been firmly established through official CFL announcements and verified reporting. The date, venue, headliner identity, supporting performers, and broadcast details all received confirmation through authoritative sources including the CFL’s official channels and major Canadian news organizations.

Historical comparison data for past Grey Cup halftime performers remains limited in publicly available sources. While the event is described as an iconic Canadian tradition emphasizing domestic artists, specific details about previous headliners require additional research through archival CFL materials and Canadian sports journalism databases.

Context and Significance

The 112th Grey Cup represented more than a championship game for Canadian football; it functioned as a cultural touchstone bringing together sports enthusiasts, music fans, and national identity narratives. MGK’s appearance marked a notable moment in the event’s evolution, introducing an artist whose career trajectory defied easy categorization.

The choice to host in Winnipeg carried particular resonance given the city and province’s passionate engagement with CFL football. Princess Auto Stadium’s configuration and the local audience’s demonstrated support for the Blue Bombers created conditions for an electric atmosphere during both the game and halftime performance.

Festival programming extending from November 10-16 provided additional context for the championship weekend, with Brad Paisley’s Canada Life Centre appearance and numerous free community events creating a sustained celebration rather than a single-day spectacle. This approach reflected broader trends in major sporting events leveraging entertainment programming to maximize economic and cultural impact for host cities.

Official Statements and Sources

The Canadian Football League announced on October 16, 2025, that Machine Gun Kelly would headline the Bud Light Grey Cup Halftime Show at the 112th Grey Cup, marking a significant moment for the championship’s entertainment tradition.

— CFL official announcement, October 16, 2025

The announcement received coverage across major Canadian news outlets, with the Winnipeg Free Press providing initial reporting alongside official CFL press releases. The dual-channel approach to information distribution ensured broad awareness while maintaining direct connection to the sport’s governing body.

MGK brought his Lost Americana tour to Winnipeg as part of the Grey Cup weekend, extending the album launch celebration to Canadian audiences following his international touring schedule.

— Official CFL coverage of the halftime performance

Summary

The 112th Grey Cup halftime show delivered on its promise of a memorable entertainment experience, with Machine Gun Kelly commanding Princess Auto Stadium for an approximately 20-minute performance spanning his diverse catalog. The event successfully blended international appeal with local context through supporting performances by Our Lady Peace and Catie St. Germain, while comprehensive broadcast coverage ensured audiences across North America and beyond could participate in real time.

Winnipeg’s return as Grey Cup host after 48 years provided historical weight to the occasion, while the CFL’s willingness to book an artist with MGK’s cross-genre background suggested an evolving approach to championship entertainment. The combination of confirmed logistics, verified performer credentials, and multi-platform accessibility positioned the 112th Grey Cup as a benchmark for future editions of the event.

Those seeking additional event information or comparing entertainment options across sporting championships may find relevant details in comprehensive guides such as Fort St John Tickets – 2025 Events, Venues and Prices or Olympique de Marseille vs PSG Stats – All-Time Record and Recent Matches for context on other major sporting events.

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