More than two million fans gathered on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro for a free Lady Gaga concert, city officials reported.
The event marked the largest performance of her career and was funded by the city to boost Rio’s economy, with hopes of generating up to $100 million (£75 million) in local revenue.
The concert, held on Saturday, was part of a promotional tour for Lady Gaga’s eighth album, Mayhem, featuring songs like Abracadabra and Die With a Smile. It was her first performance in Brazil since 2012.
Devoted fans, known as “Little Monsters,” began arriving early in the morning, forming long lines to secure a spot on the beach.
The event featured a robust security operation, including 5,000 police officers, metal detectors, facial recognition cameras, and drones.
This isn’t the first major free concert hosted by the city; Madonna also performed on Copacabana beach in May 2024, with that event also funded by the city government.
An emotional Lady Gaga addressed the crowd, saying, “You waited for me, you waited for more than 10 years for me,” while proudly waving a Brazilian flag. “Brazil, I’m ready. I’m going to give it my all.”
She dazzled the audience in Brazil-inspired costumes, some reflecting the national football team’s colors.
The crowd sang along enthusiastically to her greatest hits like Alejandro, Poker Face, and Abracadabra, while waving rainbow fans and watching the show on giant screens.
Fans traveled from across the country to attend. Luan Messias, 28, spent the night on a bus from Itanhaém in São Paulo state.
Alisha Duarte, 22, who began queuing at 7:40 a.m., told AFP, “Lady Gaga is worth it! It’s going to get super crowded, but we’ll survive.”
Another attendee, Paulo Oliveira, shared why the singer resonates with so many: “She tells us we can be ourselves, that being different is cool.”
Lai Borges, another fan, predicted the show would be unforgettable: “It’s going to be emotional and I’m going to cry a lot.”
As the night ended, Gaga left the crowd with a powerful message, referencing her fan base: “We are monsters, and monsters never die,” before closing with her iconic hit Bad Romance.
