# Mayhem on the Beach

Mayhem on the Beach (Portuguese: Mayhem na praia, Originally: Todo Mundo no Rio: Lady Gaga) is a free concert by American singer Lady Gaga, scheduled to take place on May 3, 2025, at Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of the promotion for her eighth studio album, Mayhem (2025). The event is part of the Todo Mundo no Rio initiative and will mark the artist’s return to the country after thirteen years. Attendance is expected to exceed 1.5 million people, making it one of the largest performances of her career.
The event has generated significant anticipation both locally and internationally, with a notable impact on tourism and the economy of Rio de Janeiro. Since its announcement, there has been a considerable increase in demand for flights and accommodations in the city, particularly in the Copacabana area. Organized in collaboration with the production company Bonus Track and supported by the Todo Mundo no Rio initiative, the concert aims to establish Rio as a key destination for large-scale events. The event is scheduled to be broadcast live on TV Globo, Globoplay, and Multishow, reaching a global audience.

## Background and announcement

After weeks of media speculation, on February 21, 2025, Lady Gaga officially announced through her platforms that she would be performing a free concert, titled Mayhem on the Beach, on May 3 at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of the promotion for her eighth studio album, Mayhem (2025). The announcement coincided with a press conference at the Prio Theater in Rio de Janeiro, where the event’s production company, Bonus Track, confirmed its organization as part of the Todo Mundo no Rio initiative, in collaboration with the city government and the state administration. Gaga expressed:
   It is a great honor to be invited to perform for Rio. Throughout my entire career, Brazilian fans have been a vital part of the soul of the Little Monsters. I have been dying to perform for you for years, and my heart broke when I had to cancel in the past because I was hospitalized. Your understanding that I needed that time to heal meant the world to me. Now, I am back, feeling better than ever, and working very hard to make sure this show is one you will never forget. Get ready for Mayhem on the Beach.
This concert marks Gaga's return to Brazil after thirteen years, her last performances in the country being part of The Born This Way Ball tour in 2012, which included shows in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Porto Alegre. She was originally scheduled to headline the Rock in Rio festival in September 2017, but had to cancel due to severe pain caused by fibromyalgia, the same condition that ultimately forced her to end the Joanne World Tour later that year. At the time, she stated on social media: "Brazil, I'm devastated that I'm not well enough to go to Rock in Rio. I would do anything for you, but I must take care of my body now." Her phrase, "Brazil, I'm devastated," became a cultural reference among Gaga’s fandom and on social media in general. During the press conference announcing the concert, Lucas Padilha, Rio’s Municipal Secretary of Culture, jokingly suggested that Gaga should now post "Brazil, I'm not devastated anymore," marking her return to the country and referencing the lasting impact of her 2017 cancellation on her followers. Attendance for Mayhem on the Beach is expected to exceed 1.5 million people, making it one of the largest events of her career.

## Production

Mayhem on the Beach will feature a large-scale production, with a stage set up across a 28,000-square-meter area along Copacabana Beach. The concert is part of the Todo Mundo no Rio initiative, led by Bonus Track in collaboration with Live Nation, and is supported by the municipal government and sponsored by Corona. According to Luiz Oscar Niemeyer, CEO of Bonus Track, the event is designed to showcase Rio de Janeiro as a prime destination for major international events. He stated, "Events of this scale offer multiple benefits to the city, both economically and in terms of tourism and image, highlighting the best that Rio de Janeiro has to offer."
The broadcast will be handled by TV Globo, Globoplay, and Multishow, with a team of hundreds of professionals managing logistics, costumes, and stage design. The show is expected to last two and a half hours, from 9:00 PM to 11:30 PM. Niemeyer also confirmed that Lady Gaga will debut a brand-new show, which will premiere earlier at Coachella in April, and that her Rio de Janeiro performance will feature a setlist focused on her greatest hits. Rio de Janeiro's mayor, Eduardo Paes, emphasized the positive impact of the event, stating that "it helps build our identity." He also noted that large-scale concerts at Copacabana Beach have historically generated significant economic benefits, citing performances by Jorge Ben (1993), Rod Stewart (1994), The Rolling Stones (2006), and Madonna (2024).

## Tourism and economy

Following Gaga's announcement, there was a significant increase in tourism demand for Rio de Janeiro. According to various media reports, flight searches from Argentina to the city surged by 150% compared to the previous three weeks. Meanwhile, the travel agency Despegar reported a 650% increase in airline ticket demand compared to the same period the previous year. A similar trend was observed in Chile, where travel agency Cocha reported a 250% increase in searches related to the concert and a 136% rise in travel bookings for May, partly driven by a favorable exchange rate. Most Chilean travelers opted for accommodations in Copacabana and Ipanema, prioritizing locations near the concert venue. Additionally, domestic travel searches within Brazil to Rio de Janeiro also saw an increase of over 60%. Reports indicated that more than half of these searches resulted in actual bookings. According to Airbnb data, searches for accommodations in the city skyrocketed by 150 times compared to the same period in the previous year, specifically for dates around the event. Copacabana, the neighborhood where the concert will take place, became the most sought-after area, accounting for half of all lodging searches. Most reservations were made by tourists from nearby cities such as São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, and Brasília, as well as from countries including Argentina, Chile, and the United States. Alfredo Lopes, president of the hotel union HoteisRIO, highlighted the broader economic benefits of such events, stating that they help "maintain stable occupancy rates in the city throughout the year and generate a positive impact beyond the hotel sector."