Largest Concerts in World History

Concerts are their own magical realm of community, fun, and musical talent. It’s where people can come together to bask in collective appreciation for music, artists, and the translation of words into rhythmic art. Concerts can be found in the far and vast reaches of the world; sometimes, they even break the scales of attendance. Throughout history and the decades of music, concerts have changed with the times, and so has their size. 

These concerts are the largest in music history, from small gigs to now spectacularly enormous venues to accommodate thousands of concert-goers. Featuring rockstars – such as Metallica – and popstars – such as Madonna – you’ll find an array of artists who have earned their position on this list. Information such as the number of attendees, locations, and concert year was found in Wikipedia's long list of most attended concerts and guitarlobby.com. Whether you love the gritty sound of The Rolling Stones, the electronic compositions of Jean-Michel Jarre, or the powerful voice of Diana Ross, here are 15 of the largest concerts in world history. Were you in attendance at any of these once-in-a-lifetime concerts?

1970 Isle of Wight Festival - 700k

1970 Isle of Wight Festival - 700k

Isle of Wight is an island in England that is bustling and populous and, apparently, a historical venue for famous music festivals. Between 1968 and 1970, the island held three consecutive music festivals, with the last one in 1970 being the largest music event of its time. It even had a larger attendance than Woodstock!

The 70’s concert enlisted a showstopper performer: Jimi Hendrix. Once he was on board, so was an amalgamation of other notable artists, such as Rory Gallagher, The Doors, Joni Mitchell, and Miles Davis. So many other talented musicians were a part of this monumental event. It featured rock bands from different walks of the Earth – Canada, England, and America – as well as composers, instrumentalists, and singers.

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Statue of Liberty Weekend Concert - 800k

Statue of Liberty Weekend Concert - 800k

You may know this concert as the Liberty Weekend event, a four-day celebration that marked the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. This event didn’t just feature a bundle of famous musicians but also some notable names from politics. Ronald Regan, who was president at the time, delivered a speech for the opening ceremony with his wife, Nancy Reagan, standing to the side with poise and elegance.

Kenneth Mack Jr. was present to deliver the National Anthem, while Frank Sinatra was there to give a speech. On July 4, 1986, a concert was conducted with musical performances from many talented individuals: Johnny Cash, Whitney Houston, John Denver, and many more. This day's long celebration was one for the history books!

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Black Eyed Peas - 1,000,000

Black Eyed Peas - 1,000,000

“I Gotta Feeling” you know who the Black Eyed Peas are because of their American pop tunes that are catchy enough to get you pumping your hand as if you're at the club. The hip-hop group had one of the largest concerts in the world during 2006. Their tour ended at Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

More than one million people were present, making it the largest concert for the pop group. The group, known for their energetic mix of hip-hop, pop, and electronic music, electrified the crowd with hits like "Where Is the Love?" and "Let's Get It Started." The concert was a vibrant celebration of music and unity, cementing the Black Eyed Peas' status as global superstars.

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The Beach Boys - 1,000,000

The Beach Boys - 1,000,000

On July 4, 1985, one million people gathered for the Sea to Shining Sea concert – a catchy name with a musical rhythm. With the alliteration in the concert title, what better band could do the opening performance than The Beach Boys? They definitely brought that groovy, surf-esque vibe to the event.

On this Independence Day, The Beach Boys weren’t the only ones with musical talent. A few supporting acts were The Oak Ridge Boys, Jimmy Page, Joan Cross, and many more. The notable concert was held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art – an immersively artistic place for an equally musically immersive experience.

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Diana Ross - 1,200,000

Diana Ross - 1,200,000

In the city that never sleeps, New York City was ecstatic to see the magnanimous Diana Ross in Central Park. The year was 1983, and Ross was storming the music industry with her powerful voice and presence, so it’s no surprise that New Yorkers took to the streets instantly when her concert was announced to be free in Central Park.

The attendance was an outstanding 1.2 million spectators, and a charitable live event. The event gave a percentage of its proceeds to a Central Park playground near West 81st Street, something Diana had wished to be restored for quite some time. Ross defied the odds of concert venue attendance: along with over one million in person, the rest of the concert-goers attended through television.

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Jean-Michel Jarre - 1,300,000

Jean-Michel Jarre - 1,300,000

Jean-Michel Jarre, an artist who tends to go beyond the boundaries of music performances, is a French composer and performer. He’s a pioneer in electronic and ambient spectacles that feature elaborate displays of fun absurdity, such as lasers, projections, and fireworks. French, he may be, but his talent has a hold on the American people.

The year was 1986, the setting was Houston, Texas, and the concert was called ‘Rendez-vous Houston.’ Everything is bigger in Texas, including its concerts, so when you need a huge performance, you call Jarre. Texas was celebrating its 150th anniversary and remembering those lost in the Challenger Space Shuttle explosion. With a 1.3 million attendance, Jean-Michel brought a memorable performance to Texas!

Daniele Dalledonne/Jean Michel Jarre live @ Sonar Electronica Tour/CC BY 2.0/Flickr

Live 8 - 1,500,000

Live 8 - 1,500,000

Live 8 was a series of benefit concerts held on July 2, 2005, to raise awareness about global poverty and urge action on behalf of the world's poorest nations. The largest of these concerts took place in London’s Hyde Park, where over 1.5 million people gathered to watch an incredible lineup of artists.

The star-studded lineup featured legendary acts such as Pink Floyd, who reunited for their first live performance in over 20 years, along with U2, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Paul McCartney, and many others. Live 8 was more than just a concert; it was a global movement.

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The Rolling Stones - 1,500,000

The Rolling Stones - 1,500,000

In 2006, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, The Rolling Stones gave a stunning performance from their ‘Bigger Bang’ world tour. Copacabana Beach was the venue for their outstanding performance, which makes perfect sense: a great venue for an infamous band. There were 1.5 million attendees, making it one of the largest concerts in world history.

The iconic rock band performed on a massive stage set against the stunning backdrop of the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and the rest of the band delivered a high-energy set featuring classic hits like "Start Me Up" and "Satisfaction," captivating the enormous crowd with their timeless rock sound.

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Madonna - 1,600,000

Madonna - 1,600,000

Madonna’s twelfth concert tour takes the place of one of the largest concerts in history. It was her ‘Celebration Tour’ that began in 2023 and ended in 2024. She even had a free concert in Rio de Janeiro at the notable Copacabana Beach with 1.6 million attendees.

Known as the “Queen of Pop,” Madonna showed everyone in attendance why she’s been given that title. She gave a memorable performance of versatility and pop greatness. Madonna's performance was a testament to her enduring influence on pop culture, offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime experience in one of the most iconic locations in the world.

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AC/DC, Pantera, Metallica, The Black Crowes, E.S.T. - 1,600,000

AC/DC, Pantera, Metallica, The Black Crowes, E.S.T. - 1,600,000

The ‘Monsters of Rock’ music event is a celebration of let-out-your-anger rock music. Rock and roll is a force of musical genre, and this musical festival brought together some of the best rock bands worldwide. This unifying moment of rock and roll music was in 1991 in Moscow, Soviet Union.

At the forefront of the festival were AC/DC, Pantera, Metallica, The Black Crowes, and E.S.T. – very exciting and infamous names of rock and roll! During this time, the Soviet Union was facing political unrest, so these rock bands played for an outraged audience: emotional, energetic, head-pounding music perfect for all those angry and distressing feelings.

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Antonello Venditti - 1,800,000

Antonello Venditti - 1,800,000

An Italian singer and songwriter, Antonello Venditti is known for the social issues he addresses in his music. Not so much an issue, but it seems Venditti is just as passionate about soccer as he is about the social climate. The A.S. Roma soccer team won three annual championships, so the people of Rome naturally felt that a celebration was in order.

In Rome, Italy, in 2001, Venditti performed at the Circus Maximus for 1.8 million excited Italians. He gave a loud, jovial, and head-pumping performance for millions of rowdy, soccer-happy Italians. The concert holds the spot for the largest free concert Italy has ever seen.

Luciano Vitti/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jean-Michel Jarre - 2,500,000

Jean-Michel Jarre - 2,500,000

The electronic composer appears once again. Instead of Texas, we’re in Paris, France, in 1990. At the venue, La Defense, Jean-Michel Jarre performed for the French on Bastille Day, or the anniversary of the French Revolution. The 90s was France’s 200th celebration of the historical event.

Jarre brought a memorable performance for a historical event. An enormous pyramid structure was set up in front of La Defense, situated perfectly with the Parisian skyline backdropping it. There were lights, lasers, fireworks, special effects, and, oddly, giant metal puppets walking around the concert. 2.5 million people were in attendance for this unforgettable performance.

Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jorge Ben Jor - 3,000,000

Jorge Ben Jor - 3,000,000

Copacabana Beach reveals itself once again! The venue housed another famous and memorable musician, Jorge Ben Jor. He’s a Brazilian pop star who dives into many genres, such as samba, bossa nova, Tropicália, MPB, and rock. It was the holiday season of 1993, and Jorge was ready to give an unforgettable performance.

New Year’s Eve was upon the world, and the Brazilian star was booked to perform for the venue’s show. Three million people were present, and the concert was the first ever to reach that mark at Copacabana Beach. Jorge Ben gave a performance that ended the year with a bang and prepared everyone who witnessed the live event with excited anticipation for the new year.

Focks/Jorge Ben Jor @ Barra Music/CC BY-ND 2.0/Flickr

Jean-Michel Jarre - >3,500,000

Jean-Michel Jarre - >3,500,000

Jarre…we meet again. The French pioneer of electronic music knew how to give momentous spectacles, and what’s a better event than a birthday? Moscow’s 850th birthday, to be exact. In 1997, at the State University of Moscow, Jarre put on a performance that no Russian would forget.

To no surprise, his electrifying display of talent featured lasers, fireworks, and even a satellite link to the Russian Space Station. The Mayor of Moscow reached out to Jarre to inquire if he was available, and he definitely didn’t regret that decision! The attendance was over 3.5 million people – a pivotal end to the trio of Jarre’s largest concerts in world history.

Lionel FLUSIN/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Rod Stewart - >3,500,000

Rod Stewart - >3,500,000

Rod Stewart's largest concert took place on New Year’s Eve 1994 in Rio de Janeiro, where he performed for an astonishing crowd of over 3.5 million people, making it one of the biggest concert audiences in history. Held at the famous Copacabana Beach, the event was part of Rio’s annual New Year celebrations.

Stewart created a joyous atmosphere that perfectly matched the festive occasion. The event was a vibrant celebration of music, New Year’s Eve, and the power of live performance. It solidified Rod Stewart’s status as a global music legend, with his performance remaining one of the most memorable and widely viewed concerts of the 1990s.

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