The Colombian singer Shakira drew two million people to Copacabana beach on May 2 as part of her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour“. The free concert surpassed the economic records set by Madonna and Lady Gaga in the city. Rio de Janeiro’s mayor’s office said attendance met safety and tourism forecasts.
The show generated 800 million reais (US$160 million) in economic activity for the local economy, according to data from Eduardo Cavalieri’s administration. This figure represents 40 times the amount the municipality invested in the organization.
Event development and collaborations
Just after 11 p.m., more than an hour late, drones traced the silhouette of a she-wolf—the symbol of the empowered woman on her tour—in the sky, followed by the outline of her own face, and finished with a glowing “Te amo Rio” (I love you, Rio) over the Atlantic Ocean.
Shakira took the stage dressed in Brazilian colors and addressed the crowd in Portuguese: “Brazil, I love you! It’s magical to think that we are here, millions of souls together, ready to sing, dance, feel, and remind the world what truly matters.” Then she added, “I came here at 18, dreaming of singing for you. And look at this. Life is magical.”
Brazilian singer Anitta took the stage in an outfit just as eye-catching as Shakira’s. Together, they danced to “Choka Choka” while the audience sang along to the lyrics.
Shakira e Anitta cantam 'Choka Choka' juntas! #ShakiraNaGlobo pic.twitter.com/Kh1dmirV4q
— TV Globo 📺 (@tvglobo) May 3, 2026
After performing the most important parts of her 30-year artistic repertoire, she made a gesture of respect towards Brazilian music. Caetano Veloso, 83 years old, took the stage, and together they sang O Leãozinho (Little lion) in Portuguese. It was then Maria Bethânia’s turn to perform O que é, o que é? (What is it, what is it?), by the composer Gonzaguinha, and Ivete Sangalo joined the Colombian to sing Pais tropical (Tropical Country).
Tribute to the single mothers of Brazil
Before the concert, Shakira published an open letter in the newspaper O Globo about the social background of her visit. “I discovered that there are 20 million single mothers in this country who are quietly raising their families”, the artist wrote.
“I hope this concert can serve, even if just for one night, as a mirror in which those women can see themselves,” she stated in the writing. With this performance, she became the first Latin artist to headline the “Todo Mundo no Rio” (Everyone in Rio) cycle, an institutional program that positions Copacabana as a venue for large-scale international events.
Financial impact and tourism strategy
To further drive economic activity during slower months, Rio de Janeiro schedules concerts in May. This initiative bridges the gap between the February carnival and the San Juan festivities in June. As a result, official indicators show tourism growth of 34% in 2024 and 90.5% in 2025 following the strategy’s implementation.
In terms of financial results, Shakira surpassed Madonna’s 469 million reais (US$95.7 million) and Lady Gaga’s 592 million (US$120 million) in 2025. While Lady Gaga retains the attendance record with 2.5 million people, Shakira now holds the revenue record.
Distribution and reach
The signal, distributed by TV Globo, Multishow, and the Globoplay platform, allowed for immediate global visibility. Beyond the musical aspect, it projected to the world the power, joy, and rhythm of Latin culture, while reinforcing the artist’s position as a transversal reference for different generations on the continent.