Red Panda Remains the Most Iconic Halftime Act in Sports
By James Moreau | 02 Feb, 2026

From her 1993 Clippers debut to recent NFL appearances, Red Panda remains the most in-demand halftime performer in the world.

Acrobat Rong Niu, better known as Red Panda, is the most iconic halftime performer in sports history.

Commonly featured during NBA halftimes her act consists of riding a custom $25,000 7-foot unicycle while flipping metallic bowls onto her head with her feet.  She’s most in demand from October to May covering basketball season and booking between 60 and 80 appearances.  Red Panda’s booking fee is as high as $5,000 for the 5-minute performance.

Her NBA debut came in 1993 when the Los Angeles Clippers called her last minute to fill in a canceled act.  Ever since she has become a featured act in the league.

A fourth-generation acrobat Red Panda began training at age seven in Taiyuan, China, under her father’s guidance.  Her act commonly is performed to “Da Hua Jiao” a traditional-style Chinese pop song often associated with celebrations and weddings.

Beyond sports venues she has made appearances on America’s Got Talent in 2013 and Britain’s Got Talent in 2025.

She made her NFL debut December 2025 in Indianapolis on Monday Night Football, showcasing her still growing admiration in the sports landscape.

Today the 55-year-old resides in Nevada.