Lady Gaga has just delivered the most monumental performance of her career with her recent show in Brazil.
The renowned pop icon, known for hits like “Poker Face,” “Bad Romance,” “Shallow,” and the recently released “Abracadabra,” took the stage on Saturday night for a free concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach and drew an astonishing crowd of over 2.5 million people in attendance. According to the show’s organizers, the turnout has set a new record for the largest audience ever at a concert by a female artist, surpassing Madonna’s record of drawing 1.6 million in attendance of her 2024 show at the same venue.
Addressing the massive audience mid-performance, Gaga said, “Your spirit may be heard around the world tonight. Two and a half million people.”
Gaga opened the concert with “Bloody Mary” and powered through a setlist packed with fan favorites like “Poker Face” and “Alejandro,” along with a barrage of fresh tracks from her latest album, Mayhem. In a nod to her Brazilian fans, she wore a custom outfit inspired by the country’s flag.
Following the landmark performance, Gaga took to Instagram to reflect on the experience, expressing her gratitude to all the fans who came out in support of the show. “Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show — the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil. The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing, the biggest crowd for any woman in history. I wish I could share this feeling with the whole world… If you lose your way, you can find your way back if you believe in yourself and work hard. Thank you for waiting for me to come back. I love you. I will never forget this moment,” she continued.
Since Gaga first announced the special one-night-only show, fans (dubbed as her Little Monsters) began camping outside her hotel as early as Tuesday, singing her songs and hoping to catch a glimpse of her. On Friday evening, she surprised them by taking to the stage for rehearsals, turning the soundcheck into a mini concert. “I’ve missed you so much,” she told the crowd. “I know that this is not the first show here, I know this is just a rehearsal; it feels like it’s the real show.”
The concert marked 12 years since Lady Gaga last performed in Brazil, and fans began lining up early Saturday morning to secure prime spots near the stage. As the night unfolded, she declared, “Tonight, we’re making history. Thank you for making history with me… The people of Brazil are the reason why I can shine.”
The Rio concert follows Gaga’s headlining appearance at Coachella as well as sold-out stadium shows in Mexico City. The pop superstar is now set to head to Singapore for a four-day residency at Singapore’s National Stadium, marking her only set of shows across Asia. Soon after, Gaga is set to set out across the United States and Europe for her forthcoming Mayhem Ball world tour, though it remains unclear if it would mirror the production of her shows at Coachella or Rio De Janeiro, or take a new creative direction.
As fans worldwide anticipate the rest of Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball world tour, listen to Mayhem in its entirety below: