Lady Gaga concert draws 2.1M people to Copacabana
Rio’s Copacabana Beach provided the scene for am unforgettable concert on Saturday night (May 3) and early Sunday morning as 2.1 million people watched the performance of US pop diva Lady Gaga.
The show went down in history as the biggest-ever attendance for the star behind hits like Bad Romance, Poker Face, and Born This Way.
The estimate was drawn up by the city, with information from Rio’s tourism promotion agency, the Military Police, as well as show producers. The crowd is said to have exceeded the 1.6 million people who gathered on the same beach for another US pop star, Madonna, in May 2024.
On Sunday, Lady Gaga posted a thank-you note on social media. She pointed out that the audience of more than 2 million people is the largest ever recorded for a female artist in history.
“Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show—the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil. The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away,” she wrote.
Towers and screens
A total of 16 towers were set up along the Copacabana beachfront, with screens nine meters high and five meters wide, allowing the public to follow the performance from various points.
A study by the city council shows an economic impact of BRL 600 million in Rio, boosting sectors such as hotels, gastronomy, transportation, and commerce.
The free concert was sponsored by private companies with the of the state government and Rio’s city hall.
