Lady Gaga is set to give a free concert on Copacabana Beach this Saturday, marking the second consecutive year of large-scale shows organized by Rio de Janeiro’s City Hall. This concert is expected to be the biggest of the pop star’s career, following in the footsteps of Madonna, who turned the iconic beach into a massive dance floor for a similar performance last year.
The free concert is part of Rio’s ongoing efforts to boost economic activity in the city following the Carnival and New Year’s Eve festivities, as well as the upcoming Saint John’s Day celebrations in June. According to Osmar Lima, the city’s secretary of economic development, such events help fill hotels and increase spending in local bars, restaurants, and retail, generating jobs and boosting income for residents.
The concerts are set to take place annually every May at least until 2028, with the aim of drawing more visitors and driving the local economy during what was once considered the low season.
Lady Gaga arrived in Rio early Tuesday, and the city has been buzzing with excitement ever since. Fans, known as “Little Monsters,” have gathered at Copacabana Palace, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pop icon. Local metro employees even danced to her 2008 hit “LoveGame” in a fun promotional video. A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out, and anticipation continues to build for the Saturday night performance.
Rio’s City Hall estimates that around 1.6 million people will attend the show, which is projected to inject around 600 million reais (about $106 million) into the city’s economy, nearly 30% more than Madonna’s concert last year.
Fans from across Brazil and internationally are expected to flock to the event. Ingrid Serrano, a 30-year-old engineer from Colombia, traveled to Brazil specifically for the concert, describing Lady Gaga as a symbol of “total freedom of expression.”
The concert will begin at 9:45 p.m. local time, with 16 sound towers positioned along the beach to ensure the music reaches every corner of the vast venue. Rio’s security plan includes the deployment of 3,300 military personnel, 1,500 police officers, and 400 military firefighters to ensure safety during the event.
The tradition of large concerts on Copacabana Beach dates back decades, with Madonna’s performance drawing 1.6 million fans last year and Rod Stewart’s 1994 New Year’s Eve show attracting a record-breaking 4 million people, marking the largest free rock concert in history.
Source: Swifteradio.com
