The queen of pop closed her world tour with a record-breaking show on Copacabana beach on Saturday (May 4), drawing more than 1.6 million fans to the majestic venue.
Although Copacabana Beach has seen larger crowds during New Year’s events in the past, Madonna’s free concert surpassed the previous record held by the Rolling Stones, who performed there in 2006, according to a press release from promoter Live. Nation.
The 65-year-old pop superstar’s performance in Rio also surpasses her record attendance of 130,000 fans at the Parc des Sceaux in Paris in 1987, according to the Associated Press. Before the concert in Rio, dubbed “Celebration in Rio,” Madonna’s website touted the free event as the “biggest concert yet” of her four-decade career.
During Saturday’s concert, which was broadcast locally on Brazilian television, Madonna performed numerous hits, including “Like a Virgin,” “Like a Prayer” and “Into the Groove.” And she had Anitta and Pabllo Vittar as special guests.
The show in Rio was sponsored by Itaú bank and marked Madonna’s first performance in Brazil since 2012. Tickets were available to fans on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event.
Rio de Janeiro was the last stop on Madonna’s Celebration Tour, which is projected to gross more than $225 million. The tour began in London in October 2023 before visiting Canada, the United States and Mexico City.
