Over a million people flooded Brazil’s Copacabana beach for a free Madonna concert, enduring the heat to witness the finale of her “Celebration” world tour.
The city estimated the crowd at 1.6 million, filling the sand and oceanfront boulevard for several blocks.
Fans, some camping out for days, secured prime spots, while wealthier attendees watched from boats near the beach and onlookers packed beachfront apartments.
Firefighters sprayed water to cool fans in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius before the concert, with free drinking water distributed.
Temperatures hovered around 27 C during the late-night show. Madonna, 65, delivered hits like “Like a Prayer,” “Vogue,” and “Express Yourself” for over two hours, concluding her tour that began last year.
“Rio, here we are, in the most beautiful place in the world, with the ocean, the mountains, Jesus,” Madonna told the crowd, referencing the city’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.
Brazilian pop stars Anitta and Pabllo Vittar, along with younger musicians from samba schools, also performed.
More than 3,000 police officers were deployed, and crowd management mirrored strategies used for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Authorities increased vigilance over heat-related health issues after a Brazilian fan died at a Taylor Swift concert last year.
Rio’s state and city governments invested 20 million reais ($3.9 million) in the concert, with additional funding from private sponsors, aiming to boost Rio’s economy by an estimated 300 million reais.
