This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Victor Nascimento. It has been edited for length and clarity.
In February, I heard Lady Gaga might be coming to Rio de Janeiro to perform a concert for people to attend for free in May. I knew I wanted to be there for it.
In May 2024, I was at Madonna’s Rio performance — it was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Nothing like it had ever been done before in Rio.
Watching Lady Gaga over the weekend was perfect because we planned ahead.
We booked hotel rooms for 4 weekends before she confirmed the date
In March, to guarantee I would have a hotel booked to see Lady Gaga, my group of eight gay friends booked four weekends at a hotel in Rio, knowing we could cancel the weekends we wouldn’t need once we found out the confirmed date of the concert.
It was confirmed that the concert would be on May 3rd, so we booked our flights and canceled the hotel reservations we wouldn’t need.
We flew into Rio on Thursday because it was Labor Day here in Brazil. I did a little bit of work on Friday morning, and then in the afternoon, around 2:00 p.m., we headed to the beach to enjoy the perfect weather.
Everyone on the beach was talking about how Lady Gaga was going to have to do a rehearsal and sound check on the beach, so we waited around all day, hoping we’d see her.
We saw her rehearsal pretty close
At 8 p.m., she started her rehearsal and performed the entire concert. We were so close to the stage, at the first screen. People were running from the streets, screaming with excitement to hear her. It was almost as great as watching the concert itself.
Already, people were saving spots for the next day. They were superfans in war mode.
On Saturday, we didn’t leave our hotel until 6 p.m. because the hotel was only a 15-minute walk from the beach. We didn’t have to get on a subway or go through checkpoints. It was really easy.
We went for drinks, but didn’t drink much because we didn’t want to have to run back and forth to the toilet during the show, and then walked to the third screen to wait for the show to start. We stood unmoving for hours until Lady Gaga came out at nearly 10 p.m. We made friends with people around us, sharing food with each other — it had a community feel.
But I know that my experience of getting in wasn’t the same as everyone’s. Packed transport, security checks, and long lines made it really difficult for a lot of people to get onto the beach.
The show was incredible
Once she started performing, we watched, jumped, and screamed for two and a half hours. It was incredible. People were dressed like Lady Gaga, crying through the concert.
Everyone surrounding me was either LGBTQ+ or a supporter of the community. It was such a special moment — to see 2 million people waving the LGBTQ+ flag, especially right now.
Instead of fighting the crowds to leave, we stayed and watched the after-show, a DJ, until the beach had cleared out. When we left to get food, the beach was much quieter. I finally got back to the hotel at 3 a.m.
I spent about $700 for 5 days in Rio
I left on Monday and had the very best weekend. I wouldn’t change anything. I think the reason my experience was so good was because I planned so far in advance. It was a perfect weekend — something I’ll never forget.
The city paid for the concert to revitalise Rio’s economy. During my five-day stay, I spent around $700 on hotels, travel, parties, food, and drinks.
The concert transformed a weekend in May that otherwise would have had nothing happening. But instead, they put on a highly anticipated event that brought a lot of tourists in, who spent money.
It wasn’t just good for Rio’s economy — it’s great for Rio. Everyone online was talking about the city.
There are talks that Beyoncé might be coming next year, and if that’s the case, I’ll be here, with the same friends.
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