Over a million fans gathered at Brazil’s Copacabana beach for a free Madonna concert on Saturday, marking the finale of her “Celebration” world tour. The city estimated the crowd at 1.6 million, and it extended across the sand and the oceanfront boulevard of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic beach.
Many attendees had arrived hours or even days early to secure prime spots, while wealthier spectators watched from dozens of boats moored near the shore or from crowded beachfront apartments.
To alleviate the discomfort from the day’s peak temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), firefighters sprayed water on the crowd before the show, and organizers distributed free drinking water. By the time of Madonna’s late-night performance, the temperature had cooled to about 27 C (81 F).
Madonna, aged 65, delivered a more than two-hour performance starting at 10:45 pm (0145 GMT Sunday), featuring hits like ‘Like a Prayer’, ‘Vogue’, and ‘Express Yourself’. “Rio, here we are, in the most beautiful place in the world, with the ocean, the mountains, Jesus,” she said during the concert, referencing the city’s renowned Christ the Redeemer statue.
The event also featured performances by Brazilian pop stars Anitta and Pabllo Vittar and emerging talents from local samba schools.
Security was tight, with over 3,000 police officers deployed around the venue, which the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart had previously chosen for their million-attendee concerts.
Following the heat-related death of a young fan at a Taylor Swift concert last year, Brazilian authorities have heightened their focus on preventing similar incidents.
The concert, which cost Rio’s state and city governments 20 million reais ($3.9 million), received additional funding from private sponsors. Officials estimate the event could inject approximately 300 million reais into Rio’s economy.
