After Lady Gaga’s record-shattering free performance at Copacabana Beach this past weekend, Rio de Janeiro’s ambitious mayor is already hunting for the next global superstar to grace Brazil’s most famous shoreline in 2026. With Irish rock legends U2 and renaissance queen Beyoncé topping the wishlist, the stakes couldn’t be higher in what’s becoming an annual tradition of musical spectacle.
How Gaga’s apocalyptic beach party made history
The numbers alone tell a story of epic proportions. Whether you believe the mayor’s office count of 2.1 million attendees or Gaga’s own claim of 2.5 million, Saturday’s free concert was a watershed moment in live music history. Transforming the iconic Copacabana shoreline into an extension of her Coachella apocalyptic vision, the “Mayhem” songstress delivered what might be remembered as the performance of her career.
The show served as a promotional masterclass for her latest album and upcoming world tour, which includes six dates across France this November. But beyond artistic achievement, these mega-events represent something far more tangible to city officials: cold, hard cash.
The economics behind the extravaganza
When Madonna took over the same beach last year, she generated a staggering 293 million Brazilian reais (approximately $57.5 million) in economic impact for the city. That windfall explains why Mayor Eduardo Paes remains steadfast despite criticism over public spending for these events.
“Am I spending public money on Lady Gaga? Yes. I spent it on Madonna too,” Paes bluntly told critics. “You know why? Because she fills every hotel, she fills every restaurant.” It’s a simple economic equation that’s difficult to argue with—spectacular music drives spectacular tourism.
The race for 2026: U2’s guitars or Beyoncé’s rhinestone saddle?
The ink had barely dried on Gaga’s setlist when speculation began swirling about next year’s headliner. Mayor Paes accidentally ignited a firestorm in late April during an events calendar presentation when he casually dropped: “By the way, I’d like to announce that U2 will be here next year.”
After media outlets predictably went wild, Paes backpedaled on Twitter: “To whom it may concern: I did not announce a U2 concert at Copacabana next year. I just said I would like to see U2 at Copacabana next year. Thank you for your attention!”
Yet this seemingly spontaneous wish might have deeper roots. Back in November 2024, when Brazilian journal O Globo directly asked U2 guitarist The Edge about performing at Copacabana, his response was intriguingly open-ended:
“Wow, this is the first time I’m hearing about this, so… I don’t know! I don’t know if we could pull it off, but we’d be flattered to be invited, because we love Rio, we love Brazil, and it would be an amazing place.”
The Beyoncé factor
While U2 contemplates their potential beach bash, another musical force is reportedly in advanced talks for the coveted spot. According to Veja Rio magazine, Beyoncé and her recently launched “Cowboy Carter Tour” might be galloping toward Copacabana in 2026.
The magazine cites “one of Eduardo Paes’ trusted confidants” claiming negotiations with the Texas diva are already well underway. After making waves with her country-inspired reinvention and spectacular tour kickoff in Los Angeles, Beyoncé commanding millions on Copacabana Beach feels almost inevitable.
Creating a signature musical moment
Regardless of which megastar ultimately claims the 2026 slot, Rio’s commitment to establishing an annual musical pilgrimage is crystal clear. Deputy Mayor Eduardo Cavalieri has all but institutionalized the concept, stating: “What’s certain is that every first Saturday of May, for the next four years, we’ll have a concert worthy of Lady Gaga. U2 and Beyoncé are dreams.”
This nascent tradition positions Rio alongside other global destinations with signature musical moments—like New York’s Governor’s Ball or England’s Glastonbury—but with a uniquely democratic twist: these shows are free and accessible to anyone willing to stake out space on the sand.
As the competition between U2’s arena-tested anthems and Beyoncé’s genre-bending spectacle heats up, one thing remains certain: whoever takes that Copacabana stage next will face the monumental task of following Lady Gaga’s benchmark performance. The countdown to May 2026 has already begun.
