Some concerts go beyond expectations, drawing historic crowds and uniting the masses under a shared passion for music and the experience of seeing a live band.
From rock legends to pop sensations, these concerts are not just big — they’re humongous! And it’s worth noting that New Year’s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the place to be if live music is your thing.
So, get ready to groove as we count down the biggest-ever concert audiences.
9. The Black Eyed Peas (Tie)
Danny Moloshok / MOLOSHOK/AP Photo
Venue: Copacabana Beach
City: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Attendance: 1 million
Date: Dec. 31, 2006
Note: We only included individual artists once on this list; if not, one artist would have appeared at least three times.
Bottom Line: The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas played the biggest show of their career when they ushered in the 2007 New Year in Rio. A million people crowded Copacabana Beach to hear all the Peas’ massive hits, including “Hey Mama,” “My Lumps,” “Let’s Get It Started” and “Where Is the Love.” They even covered Gun n’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”
Copacabana Beach is where Rio residents gather every New Year’s for the city’s amazing fireworks display. DJs and bands kick things off when the sun goes down, and hundreds of thousands — if not millions — usher in the New Year together.
9. Antonello Venditti (Tie)
Venue: Circus Maximus
City: Rome, Italy
Attendance: 1 million
Date: June 24, 2001
Bottom Line: Antonello Venditti
Singer-songwriter Antonello Venditti was already one of the biggest entertainers in Italy when he made history in 2001 by playing a show in honor of A.S. Roma (the Associazione Sportiva Roma soccer team), which won its third annual championship.
Plus, performing at Circus Maximus is always sure to impress. After all, it’s one of the oldest live entertainment venues — it was an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium constructed in 6th century B.C.
9. The Beach Boys (Tie)
Amy Sancetta / AP Photo
Venue: The Philadelphia Museum of Art
City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 1 million
Date: July 4, 1985
Bottom Line: The Beach Boys
There’s arguably no greater American band than the Beach Boys. They’ve influenced nearly everyone who’s anyone in music, from Bowie to the Beatles (who released “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band” after hearing “Pet Sounds.”)
In 1985, the Beach Boys were headliners for Philly’s Independence Day bash, which included Joan Jett and Christopher Cross as opening acts. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin (a big fan) also joined them onstage.
8. Paz Sin Fronteras II
Venue: Plaza de la Revolución
City: Havana, Cuba
Attendance: 1.1 million
Date: Sept. 20, 2009
Bottom Line: Paz Sin Fronteras II
“Paz Sin Fronteras” (Peace Without Borders) was a series of benefit concerts organized by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes. The concerts were aimed at promoting peace and unity and were held in various locations around the world.
The first “Paz Sin Fronteras” concert took place on March 16, 2008, in Cúcuta, Colombia, near the border with Venezuela. The event brought together hundreds of thousands of people and featured performances by Juanes as well as other well-known artists from Colombia and other Latin American countries. But it was Paz Sin Fronteras II that became one of the biggest concerts of all time, with Juanes, once again, headlining.
The concert drew 1.1 million people — about 10 percent of Cuba’s population.
7. Diana Ross
Carlos Rene Perez / AP Photo
Venue: Central Park
City: New York, New York
Attendance: 1.2 million
Date: July 21, 1983
Bottom Line: Diana Ross
The Diana Ross concert in Central Park was organized to celebrate the park’s renovation and commemorate its 150th anniversary.
It was initially scheduled for July 20, 1983, but it was rained out and rescheduled for the next day. It rained again, but despite the weather, over a million people turned out to see Miss Ross do her thing.
Some of the songs she performed that night included “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “I’m Coming Out,” “Upside Down” and “Endless Love.” The concert aired in its entirety on HBO.
5. The Rolling Stones
Greg Allen / Invision / AP Photo
Venue: Copacabana Beach
City: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Attendance: 1.5 million
Date: Feb. 18, 2006
Bottom Line: The Rolling Stones
They don’t call The Rolling Stones “The Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World” for nothing. They’ve been together for over 60 years and continue to release albums as well as perform for sold-out crowds.
In 2006, they were on their A Bigger Bang world tour to promote their album of the same name (it was also the last to feature drummer Charlie Watts). About 1.5 million fans came to the Copacabana Beach show to see them play all the classics.
5. Live 8
CAROLYN KASTER / AP Photo
Venue: Philadelphia Museum of Art
City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 1.5 million
Date: July 2, 2005
Bottom Line: Live 8
Live 8 was not only in one city — it took place in cities around the world simultaneously following the 2005 G8 conference summit. The shows were meant to raise poverty awareness and took place on July 2, 2005 — 20 years after Live Aid.
The Philadelphia show (the only one in North America) was one of the biggest concerts ever. Some of the acts that played Live 8 Philly included Linkin Park (with Jay-Z), Stevie Wonder, Maroon 5 and the Dave Matthews Band.
4. Monsters of Rock
JAN PITMAN / AP Photo
Venue: Tushino Airfield
City: Moscow, Russia
Attendance: 1.6 million
Date: Sept. 28, 1991
Bottom Line: Monsters of Rock
The 1991 Monsters of Rock festival marked the first time a major festival of this scale was organized in the former U.S.S.R. It aimed to promote peace and unity through music.
The lineup featured some of the most iconic bands and artists of that time. The headliner was AC/DC, and opening acts were Metallica, the Black Crowes and Pantera.
3. Jorge Ben Jor
Venue: Copacabana Beach
City: Rio de Janeiro
Attendance: 3 million+
Date: Dec. 31, 1993
Bottom Line: Jorge Ben Jor
Jorge Ben Jor is not as well known in the U.S., but he’s an absolute icon in his home country of Brazil.
It’s no surprise now that Copacabana Beach brings in massive local crowds for its New Year’s Eve fireworks show, but city officials hired a major act — Ben Jor — to bring in more tourists. Their plan succeeded — his was the first-ever concert to have more than 3 million attendees.
2. Jean-Michel Jarre
EDDY RISCH / KEYSTONE / AP Photo
Venue: Moscow State University
City: Moscow
Attendance: 3.5 million (approximated)
Date: Sept. 6, 1997
Bottom Line: Jean-Michel Jarre
If we were to list separate concerts for Jean-Michel Jarre, he’d appear on the list no less than three separate times.
The French electronic composer and performer not only played to 3.5 million attendees in Moscow, but he also played to 2.5 million people in Paris in 1990 (for the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution) and 1.3 million at Rendez-vous Houston in 1986 (for the city’s 150th anniversary). That’s more than 7 million people in just three concerts.
1. Rod Stewart
Danny Johnston / AP Photo
Venue: Copacabana Beach
City: Rio de Janeiro
Attendance: Up to 4.2 million
Date: Dec. 31, 1994
Bottom Line: Rod Stewart
While estimates vary by a million people, the free concert staged by Rod Stewart is the most well-attended concert of all time, so much so that it’s an official Guinness World Record.
The number is a bit of a fluke, however. Many of the people (we don’t know an exact or even estimated number) turned up solely for the New Year’s fireworks display and just happened upon the concert.
