The city of Rio de Janeiro prepares for Madonna's free concert in Copacabana this weekend. The presentation marks the end of the The Celebration Tour, which should be the biggest of the singer's career, expected to receive 1.5 million people. The Queen of Pop's biggest audience so far was in 1990, when she brought together more than 125,000 people in England.
The show is scheduled for May 4th, Saturday, and will be completely free – and the performance will literally take place on the sand of Copacabana beach. A mega structure is being assembled at the site to meet the Queen of Pop's requests for the occasion.
Check out hotel options below and all our infallible tips for enjoying this mega event without getting into trouble!
Madonna in Rio de Janeiro
Madonna's concert in Rio de Janeiro will take place this Saturday, May 4th. Anyone who goes there will be able to enjoy DJs playing from 7pm. At 8pm, the American DJ Diplo takes over. At 9:45 pm, the Queen of Pop will finally take to the mega stage set up on Copacabana Beach. The show should be around two hours long, lasting until around 11:45 pm.
Hotels in Rio de Janeiro
Around 80% of hotel rooms in Rio de Janeiro are already booked for the weekend of the Madonna show. Despite this, there are still some options available in the city, including those close to where the show will take place. Check out:
| HOTEL | WHERE IT IS | LINK |
| Hotel Atlântico Rio | Copacabana | Book here |
| Majestic Rio Palace Hotel | Copacabana | Book here |
| CLH Suites Domingos Ferreira | Copacabana | Book here |
| 4 bedroom apartment | Copacabana | Book here |
| Hotel Atlântico Travel | Copacabana | Book here |
| Rio Othon Palace | Copacabana | Book here |
| Orla Copacabana Hotel | Copacabana | Book here |
| Royal Rio Palace Hotel | Copacabana | Book here |
| Pestana Rio Atlantica | Copacabana | Book here |
| Premier Copacabana Hotel | Copacabana | Book here |
Tips for avoiding trouble at the Madonna show in Rio
1. Arrive early!
Arrange to arrive at the show location early. Don't forget that 1.5 million people are expected! Total blockades on the streets around Copacabana begin at 7:30 pm.
2. Contactless payment
A good tip is to disable contactless payments on cell phones and watches. Another suggestion is to uninstall banking apps, as if your cell phone is stolen it becomes more difficult to access your accounts.
3. Be careful with your cell phone!
The ideal is to go to the Madonna concert with as few belongings as possible. A good idea is to carry items such as your cell phone, keys and documents in a bag that is glued to your body and is discreet. Money bags or fanny packs are great options! Check out our post with 11 suggestions for essential safety items.
4. Cash
Carrying paper money (as the Incas did) can be a good idea in these cases, as in large shows of this type it is very common to have cases of credit card fraud.
5. Go for the right look
As the show is on the beach, it is important to pay attention to your footwear. It needs to be comfortable, so it doesn't get full of sand. Slippers/sandals are a great option! Clothing must also be comfortable to withstand the Rio heat.
6. Stay hydrated
Don't forget to bring a bottle of water and stay hydrated during the event. If you don't want to take one, there will be vendors everywhere selling water, soft drinks, beers and more.
7. Wet wipes save – a lot
If possible, put toilet paper or wet wipes in your bag. They will certainly make it easier for you to go to the bathroom during the event.
8. Set a meeting point
With the large crowd expected, arranging a meeting point is essential in case you lose friends or family.
Exact location of Madonna's concert in Rio
The stage for Madonna's historic performance in Brazil was set up on the sand of Copacabana Beach, right in front of the Copacabana Palace hotel. The exact location is close to Posto 2, facing Leme.
Copacabana beach
Where to watch on television?
The show will be broadcast on TV Globo, in addition to the closed channels Multishow and Globoplay streaming, which will have an open signal, just log in to watch.
Are tickets sold in Copacabana?
The show will be completely free, there will be no ticket charges. However, some kiosks on the beach are selling privileged spaces for an average of R$1,000.
There are also hotels with a privileged view of Copacabana beach, but their rooms are already sold out.
Some brands partnering with the show also offered ways to see Madonna up close and in a special area. This is the case of Deezer and also Itau, the event's master sponsor, which will have a special VIP area for guests.
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What will the stage be like?
According to the organization, the stage for Madonna's show in Brazil is twice the size of the stages set up in other cities around the world where the tour passed. To give you an idea, it is 812 square meters, with 24 square meters in front and 18 meters to the ceiling! It's so surreal!
The floor was raised 2.40 meters from the ground, to facilitate the public's view of the sand. In total, three catwalks will be used by the singer and dancers during the show.
Along the entire Copacabana beach, 18 sound towers will be spread out to ensure that the entire public can hear the show.
Aerial view of the giant stage at Madonna's show (Photo: Pablo Porciuncula / AFP)
Will this be the last show of Madonna's tour?
Yes, the city of Rio de Janeiro was chosen to end The Celebration Tour, which started last year and has already visited cities in Europe, the United States and Mexico.
Click here to guarantee your trip to Christ the Redeemer in advance!
How will public transport work?
In a statement, Rio's city hall presented a mobility scheme similar to that of New Year's Eve. Only taxis and public transport will be able to access Copacabana until 7:30 pm on the day of the show.
Copacabana has three metro stations. The recommendation for the public is to disembark at Siqueira Campos station. Cardeal Arcoverde station, which is closest to the event location, will only be available for disembarking from 4pm on Saturday.
The subway will have extra trains running until 4am. Line 1, which leaves from Uruguai station, in Tijuca, to Jardim Oceânico, in Barra da Tijuca, will maintain its regular operation, passing through Copacabana.
Line 2 will operate directly from Pavuna, in the north, to General Osório station, in Ipanema, also passing through Copacabana.
The metro ticket costs R$7.50, and it is advisable to purchase tickets in advance, but contactless payment (NFC) is also accepted.
Municipal buses will only be allowed to enter Copacabana until 7:30 pm on Saturday, two hours before the show. After this time, the buses, with a fare of R$4.30, will be parked in Botafogo cove. For those who wish to return home by bus, it will be necessary to walk there.
And the security scheme?
The Military Police mobilized more than 3 thousand police officers for the day of the event. Just like New Year's Eve, there will be 18 inspection points with metal detectors at the beach access points. Glass bottles and sharp objects will be retained in the search.
There will also be 12 facial recognition cameras, 64 vehicles and 4 drones. A control center will be set up in Praça do Lido, and 65 patrolling towers will be spread out on the sand.
What happens if I get sick at the Madonna concert?
There will be three medical aid stations and 30 intensive care ambulances in Copacabana for cases like this. In addition, 800 firefighters, including lifeguards, will be on standby to act in a variety of emergency situations.
How many times has Madonna come to Brazil for shows?
This will be Madonna's fourth visit to shows in Brazil. The last one was 12 years ago. She has already performed here with the following tours:
“The Girlie Show”, in 1993;
“Sticky and sweet tour”, in 2008;
“MDNA”, in 2012.
And you, are you going to the Madonna show? Do you have any other tips for enjoying this mega event without going through (so much) trouble? Comment below and help other readers!
