Shakira draws a crowd of 2 million with free concert in Brazil

Colombian global superstar Shakira delivered a massive free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night, drawing what city officials estimated to be around 2 million people to the famous shoreline.

The show followed in the footsteps of recent large-scale performances at the same location by Madonna in 2024 and Lady Gaga the year before, both of which attracted enormous crowds who filled the beach. Shakira’s appearance was part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour, named after her 2024 album.

Her set began at approximately 11 p.m., running more than an hour behind schedule, but fans remained energized, greeting her with loud cheers and applause. Overhead, drones lit up the sky, spelling out “I love you Brazil” in Portuguese.

During the show, Shakira reflected on her early connection to the country, recalling her first visit decades ago.

“I arrived here when I was 18 years old, dreaming about singing for you,” Shakira told the crowd shortly after coming on stage. “And now look at this. Life is magical.”

She performed a string of her biggest hits, including “Hips Don’t Lie,” “La Tortura,” and “La Bicicleta,” before closing the night with “BZRP Music Sessions #53/66,” a track released after her breakup with Gerard Piqué.

At one point, the singer also spoke about perseverance, especially among women. “Us women, every time we fall we get up a little wiser,” she said.

Rio’s mayor, Eduardo Cavaliere, shared the attendance estimate on social media, writing: “The She-Wolf made history in Rio,” referencing Shakira’s 2009 hit.

Experts say the bond between Shakira and Brazilian fans goes back decades. Felipe Maia, an ethnomusicologist working toward a doctorate in popular music and digital technologies at Paris Nanterre University, noted that her early performances in Brazil during the 1990s helped build a strong connection with local audiences.

The concert is part of a broader effort by the city to stimulate the economy in the period between Carnival and New Year’s celebrations and the upcoming Saint John’s Day festivities in June.

“For us, parties are serious business. Because parties generate jobs, income, development, and identity for the city,” Cavaliere said on Wednesday, per AP, as he presented the city’s operational plan for the event. “Our investment in this show will give us a financial return 40 times greater.”

According to a study conducted by City Hall and Riotur, the city’s tourism agency, the concert could bring in about 777 million reais, or roughly $155 million, fueled by increased spending at restaurants, hotels, and retail businesses.