Todo Mundo no Rio

The project was founded in 2024 by Eduardo Paes, then Rio de Janeiro's mayor. It gained prominence after Madonna's inaugural show in May of that year, which attracted an audience of 1.6 million people – the largest in the singer's career, according to data from Riotur.^[7][8][9] Additionally, the event generated approximately R$300 million for the local economy. Inspired by the success of this performance, Paes expressed his desire to institutionalize the experience by hosting a new show every year until 2028, when his term was expected to end.^[10][11] Subsequently, Lady Gaga's participation was confirmed as the event's next headliner.^[12]

In the following year, Gaga's performance on 3 May drew a record audience of 2.1 million people,^[a] surpassing the previous mark set by Madonna.^[16] This made it the biggest show of Gaga's career, exceeding all her previous concerts in terms of attendance.^[17] Moreover, it was the largest solo artist concert of the 21st century and also set the record for the largest audience at a solo concert by a woman in music history.^[18][19] The economic impact was estimated at around R$600 million (US$109 million) for the city.^[20]

On 11 February 2026, Shakira was officially confirmed as the headlining artist for the third edition of the event, scheduled for May 2.^[21] During preparations for the show, part of the stage structure collapsed on the afternoon of April 26. The accident killed a worker, who was identified as 28-year-old Gabriel de Jesus Firmino. According to officials, the professional suffered severe crushing injuries to his lower limbs while involved in a lifting system during the stage assembly. A public statement by Shakira followed, in which she said she was "devastated" by the news and expressed condolences.^[22][23]

On 21 March 2026, Rio mayor Eduardo Cavaliere permanently banned artist Chappell Roan from performing at the event following a controversy involving the alleged mistreatment towards the stepdaughter of Jorginho by Roan's security guard.^[24] The event was later disproven by both Roan's team and the security guard himself, Pascal Duvier. Cavaliere did not provide another statement after the situation was publicly resolved.^[25]

The event is held free of charge and is funded by both the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro and private sponsors.^[26][27] The megashow's format is designed to offer the public a high-quality cultural experience, gathering major international music stars in an atmosphere of integration and celebration. The project also intends to turn the first Saturday of May into an iconic date – initially dubbed "Celebration May".^[28][29]

To broaden access to the event, the shows are broadcast live. For instance, Madonna and Lady Gaga's performances have been confirmed to be simultaneously broadcast by TV Globo, Multishow, and Globoplay.^[30][31] This strategy ensures that even those who are unable to attend Copacabana Beach in person can follow the show and participate in the celebration.^[32]

The success of Madonna's show, which generated an economic impact of around R$300 million,^[33] provided a strong argument for continuing the project. In an interview with the PodK Liberados podcast,^[34] Mayor Eduardo Paes stated:

"Are you going to spend public money on Lady Gaga? I will. I spent on Madonna too. Do you know why? Because it fills all the hotels, fills all the restaurants."

These positive results reinforce the expectation that the megashows will not only promote culture but also boost the local economy, benefiting sectors such as hospitality and dining.^[35] It is expected that the positive results of the project will encourage the continuation and strengthening of this series of events, attracting new partnerships and sponsors for future editions.^[36] Moreover, the Todo Mundo no Rio project reinforces the image of Rio de Janeiro as a global city capable of hosting large-scale cultural events with international appeal.^[37]

The table below presents the history of the shows held.

• Operation Fake Monster, foiled bomb plot targeting the 2025 concert