Lady Gaga Draws Over 2 Million Fans to Free Concert on Copacabana Beach

Image via Fred Duval / Shutterstock

Lady Gaga made history on Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, drawing more than 2 million fans to a free concert on Copacabana Beach — the largest performance of her career.

The show, paid for by the city of Rio as part of an initiative to boost tourism and stimulate the local economy, is expected to generate approximately $100 million for the region. Officials deployed more than 5,000 police officers and relied on drones, metal detectors, and facial recognition technology to secure the event.

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Gaga’s long-awaited return to Brazil — her first since 2012 — was part of the promotional tour for her upcoming eighth studio album, Mayhem, featuring new tracks like Abracadabra and Die With a Smile. The crowd, composed of fans who had queued since the early morning, was treated to a vibrant setlist including classics like Alejandro, Poker Face, and Bad Romance.

Draped in Brazil-inspired outfits, Gaga delivered an emotionally charged show, waving the Brazilian flag and addressing the crowd with heartfelt words: “You waited for me, you waited for more than 10 years for me... Brazil, I’m ready. I’m going to give it my all.”

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Fans travelled from all across the country to be part of the moment. “She tells us we can be different and that being different is cool,” one fan told Reuters. Another said they were prepared to cry throughout the night.

Gaga closed the show with Bad Romance, telling the crowd: “We are monsters, and monsters never die.”