Shakira delights 2 million at free Copacabana Beach concert

Colombian megastar Shakira performed a complimentary concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro last Saturday night, with a turnout that city officials estimated at 2 million attendees at one of the globe’s most renowned coastal areas.

This event followed major shows by Madonna in 2024 and Lady Gaga last year, which also drew large audiences who danced on the expansive beach.

For Shakira, this concert was part of her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” or “Women No Longer Cry,” global tour titled after her 2024 album.

Shakira’s performance began near 11pm, over an hour later than planned, with her fans erupting in enthusiastic cheers and claps as aerial drones displayed a message of affection in the sky, reading “I love you Brazil” in Portuguese.

The international artist recalled her initial visit to Brazil, which occurred around 30 years ago.

“I first came here when I was 18, dreaming of performing for you all,” Shakira told the audience shortly after she stepped onto the stage. “And now this is happening. Life is indeed magical.”

The adored pop icon delighted the crowd with hits such as “Hips Don’t Lie,” “La Tortura,” and “La Bicicleta.” She closed the show with “BZRP Music Sessions #53/66,” a track inspired by her breakup with Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué.

She also seized this moment to honor the resilience of women. “We women, every time we stumble, stand up a bit wiser,” she shared.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere announced on X that the concert attracted 2 million spectators. “The She-Wolf made history in Rio,” he expressed, referring to Shakira’s 2009 chart-topping song.

When Shakira initially performed in Brazil during the 1990s, she fostered a strong connection with the local audience, explained Felipe Maia, an ethnomusicologist working towards a Ph.D. in popular music and digital technologies at Paris Nanterre University.

This positive reaction in Brazil “is significantly influenced by her roots from Colombia, a nation that shares numerous cultural similarities with Brazil,” Maia stated, noting that this concert “celebrates the longstanding bond she shares with Brazil.”

Erica Monteiro, who works as a 38-year-old accountant, shared her longtime admiration for Shakira since childhood.

“To me, she embodies the strength of the Latino community,” Monteiro remarked before the concert. “Often seen as lesser, we actually possess immense strength.”

Post-concert, Hellem Souza da Silva reflected on how both Shakira’s performance and Bad Bunny’s shows in Sao Paulo in February have reinforced Brazil’s Latin identity.

These artists “emphasise that Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and similar nations are indeed part of Latin America, and that America goes beyond the United States,” she articulated.

On Saturday morning, crowds began arriving on the beach to secure a premium spot for the event.

Street vendors offered sweet corn, other local delicacies, water, caipirinhas, the famed Brazilian cocktail, as well as essentials like toilet paper, deodorant, and even sandbags for fans seeking a higher vantage point near the stage set opposite Copacabana Palace, an iconic five-star hotel.

Street vendor Simone Paula da Cunha arrived on the beach on Friday night, with hopes of selling her stocked beer and water to earn about $100 altogether.

Though exhausted, da Cunha was thrilled about witnessing Shakira live. “I remember her from when she had black hair,” she reminisced. “I’m a huge enthusiast of hers.”

The free performances are part of City Hall’s strategy to stimulate the economy after the celebrations of Carnival and New Year’s Eve and before the month-long Saint John’s Day festivities in June.

“For us, social events are a significant affair. They create employment, bring in revenue, boost development, and enrich the city’s culture,” Mayor Cavaliere emphasised on Wednesday while unveiling the city’s operational strategy for the festivities.

“Our financial commitment to this event will yield returns forty times greater,” he noted.

Shakira’s appearance is expected to generate about 777 million reais (around $155 million), according to analysis by City Hall and Riotur, the municipal tourism agency, fueled by the influx of visitors and their expenditure on dining, lodging, and shopping.

Data from City Hall indicates that more tourists came to Rio in May during years when such shows occurred — 2024 and 2025 — compared to 2023.

In 2024, tourism rose by 34.2% on May 1, just before the performances, relative to the previous year. In 2025, there was a 90.5% increase compared to 2023.

Prior to Shakira’s show, Airbnb declared on April 22 that there was a noticeable rise in travelers from Brazil, other parts of Latin America, and cities in Europe like Paris and London.