Bad Bunny started getting famous around 2016 , and he became globally famous between 2017–2018 when his collaborations started dominating streaming platforms.

Quick Scoop: When did Bad Bunny get famous?

  • He began uploading tracks to SoundCloud in 2016 , which is when he first drew industry attention and started building an online following.
  • His song “Diles” (2016) is widely considered his breakout track, leading to a recording deal and making him a rising name in Latin trap and reggaeton.
  • The big global jump came in 2018 , thanks to hits like “I Like It” with Cardi B and J Balvin and “Mía” with Drake, which pushed him into mainstream English‑speaking markets.
  • By 2020 , he wasn’t just “up‑and‑coming” anymore; he was headlining major stages and appearing at the Super Bowl halftime show as a guest with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, confirming full-on worldwide stardom.
  • Since then, he’s stayed at the very top, with Spanish‑language albums topping global charts and billions of streams per year, cementing him as one of the biggest pop stars on the planet.

Simple timeline

  • 2016 – Uploads songs on SoundCloud, releases “Diles,” starts to rise to prominence in Latin trap.
  • 2017–2018 – Collabs and hits (“I Like It,” “Mía”) make him internationally famous.
  • 2020 – Super Bowl guest spot and chart dominance show he’s a global superstar.
  • 2025–2026 – Keeps breaking records with all‑Spanish albums and remains one of the most streamed artists in the world.

So if you’re answering “when did Bad Bunny get famous?” for casual conversation:

He first got famous in 2016 in the Latin scene, and became globally famous around 2018 when songs like “I Like It” and “Mía” blew up.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.