Shakira fans pack Copacabana ahead of free Rio mega-concert

Fans gathered on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach on Saturday (May 2) ahead of Shakira's free concert later in the night, which could be the biggest show of the Colombian singer's career.

Fans said they had travelled long distances to attend, with one woman saying she had spent a day and a half on a bus to see Shakira, and another saying it was her first time watching her perform.

The singer aims to surpass the attendance figures set by Madonna, who drew 1.6 million people to Copacabana in 2024, and Lady Gaga, who attracted 2.1 million in 2025, according to organizers.

Rio authorities deployed nearly 8,000 personnel, drones, facial-recognition cameras and 18 checkpoints with metal detectors in what authorities described as the biggest security operation yet for one of Copacabana's mega-concerts.

Production: Lais Morais, Sergio Queiroz, Sebastian Rocandio, Hugo Monnet/Reuters