More than two million fans poured onto Copacabana Beach in Rio for Lady Gaga’s free concert on Saturday – marking the biggest show of the singer’s career.
The show – which is paid for by local authorities to help boost its economy – is believed to raise almost £80 million for the Brazilian city.
Organisers said about 2.1 million people were estimated to have attended.
Many fans – which the star refers to as her “Little Monsters” – had dressed up in Gaga-themed costumes, referencing major hits like Poker Face, Born This Way and Bad Romance.
The singer and actor’s trip to Brazil is part of a global tour to promote her new album, Mayhem.
“Tonight, we’re making history. Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told the crowd.
More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show, more than double the initial forecast, according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport, Rio’s City Hall said in a statement on Friday.
Ingrid Serrano, a 30-year-old engineer, made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show.
“I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano.
Another fan, Manoela Dobes, said it was “surreal” to be there, describing it as the “best day of my life”.
Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach.
Last year, Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans, while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994.
According to Guinness World Records, that was the biggest free rock concert in history.
The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June.
“It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars, restaurants, and retail, generating jobs and income for the population,” Osmar Lima, the city’s secretary of economic development, said in a statement last month.
In a recent report, Rio’s City Hall said that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (around £79 million) into Rio’s economy.
Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028.
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