Top 5 most attended music concerts in history

Lady Gaga following her recent concert at the Copacabana Beach in Brazil joined the list of the most attended music concerts in history.
Over two million people gathered at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, May 3rd, to see Lady Gaga’s biggest concert ever and one of the most attended music concert in history. The city of Rio funded the free show as part of a plan to boost tourism and strengthen the local economy. Officials estimate the event could bring in up to $100 million.
This concert marked Lady Gaga’s return to Brazil after more than a decade, with her last performance in the country dating back to 2012. Fans, known as her “Little Monsters,” arrived early, forming long lines to get a good spot. They came not just for the music but for a major pop culture event.
The show was part of a promotional tour for Gaga’s eighth album, Mayhem, featuring new songs like Abracadabra and Die With a Smile. However, the night wasn’t just about new music, Gaga delivered a spectacular performance with dramatic visuals, bold costume changes, and a setlist mixing her latest tracks with classics like Poker Face, Bad Romance, and Shallow.
After the show, Gaga thanked Brazil for the unforgettable night and praised her fans for their love and enthusiasm. “You reminded me why I do this,” she wrote on Instagram. “Obrigada, Brazil.”
The most attended music concert in history
Here are the most attended concert in the history of music events and festivals:
Rank | Event | Date | Venue | Estimated Attendees |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rod Stewart’s New Year’s Eve Concert | 31 December 1994 | Copacabana Beach | 4.2 million |
2 | Jean Michel Jarre – 850th Anniversary of Moscow Concert | 6 September 1997 | State University of Moscow | 3.5 million |
3 | Jorge Ben Jor’s New Year’s Eve Concert | 31 December 1993 | Copacabana Beach | 3 million |
4 | Jean Michel Jarre – Bastille Day Concert | 14 July 1990 | La Défense, Paris | 2.5 million |
5 | Lady Gaga's concert | 5 May 2025 | Copacabana Beach | 2 million |