Music is a universal language, and concerts are one of the best ways to bring people together to enjoy it. And when it comes to size, many concert-goers prefer to go big or go home!

These 5 impressive concerts featured a variety of different musicians with diverse styles, but all of them have one thing in common: A massive attendance record! The record-breaking turnouts of these shows attest to their memorable, striking performances and set them apart from other concerts, both in size and in cultural impact.

Let’s see who played at the top 5 largest concerts ever, and learn a little bit about what made these big gigs so memorable.

The Rolling Stones

Year: 2006

Location: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Attendance: 1.5 million

Event: A Bigger Bang





Source: wikimedia.org

If there’s anything better than a life-changing rock concert, it’s a chance to see the legendary Rolling Stones for free! Millions of fans were exhilarated by the chance to do just that at “A Bigger Bang” in 2006, with plenty of people traveling many hours to make the gig.

One of the fans, Ricardo Soares Cabral, still remembers the concert fondly over a decade later. During a recent interview, he expressed his continued support for The Rolling Stones: “They are still the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world, better by far than U2 or Oasis or Franz Ferdinand or any of the other pretenders.”

The concert wasn’t all fun and games, however: Due to the frequency of crime in Rio de Janeiro, extensive security measures were taken to make sure that musicians, crew, and fans alike were kept safe and able to enjoy the experience.

The Rolling Stones’ stage setup in London was a sight to behold:

Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones engaging with the crowd:

The Rolling Stones – Opening – Live On Copacabana Beach:

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To make sure that no one was left out as a result of being unable to attend the show in person, the show was broadcasted on TV in Brazil, and through satellite and internet for people around the globe.

The record-breaking concert at Rio de Janeiro was held in the middle of the “A Bigger Bang” tour. Other touring locations included London, New Zealand, South America, and Japan.

The “A Bigger Bang” concert tour turned out to be the top grossing tour of 2006. The tour brought in a staggering $437 million already by the end of 2005 , before the free concert in Rio de Janeiro was played.

, before the free concert in Rio de Janeiro was played. Mick Jagger promptly won over the crowd in Rio de Janeiro by introducing himself and addressing them largely in Portuguese .

Paul van Dyk, Carl Cox, and Armin Van Buuren

Year: 2008

Location: Dortmund, Germany

Attendance: 1.6 million

Event: Love Parade





Source: wikimedia.org

The Love Parade of 2008 in Dortmund featured bands from several other countries, including Australia, South Korea, Ukraine and Turkey. Putting a unique twist on the traditional concert, this event staged each of the music groups on one of the floats in the parade.

Specifically referred to as an “Electronic Dance Music Festival and technoparade,” this entertaining event first originated in West Berlin in 1989. The main purpose of the event was to celebrate the freedom of love and electronic music.

Many people came together in an expression of love and passion during the early years of the Love Parade:

Sadly, after plenty of successful years, tragedy struck in 2010 when a crowd crush took 21 lives and injured 500 other concert attendants. In honor of those departed, the Love Parade was discontinued afterwards. Some of the DJ’s present during the grim event reported that organizers told them to continue playing while the tragedy unfolded.

Westbam @ Love Parade 2008 Dortmund:

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AC/DC, Metallica

Year: 1991

Location: Tushino Airfield, Moscow

Attendance: 1.6 million

Event: Monsters of Rock





Source: wikimedia.org

The first Western-style concert in Moscow , the Monsters of Rock show of 1991 drew an astoundingly large turnout. Before the late 1980’s, the regulations that restricted the Russian people banned foreign influences like Western rock music. This made for an even more enthusiastic turnout than the usual when legends such as Metallica and AC/DC entered the stage.

Source: stmuhistorymedia.org

Spirits were high , and the democratic-minded youths of Moscow couldn’t get enough of the heavy, pumping sounds of western metal.



Monsters of Rock Moscow ’91 – Intro [HD]:

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Rod Stewart Concert

Year: 1994

Location: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Attendance: 3.5 million

Event: New Year’s Eve





Source: wikimedia.org

Some people insist that over 4 million people attended this spectacular concert, but many attendants were there primarily for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display and are categorized separately as a result. Regardless of their reason for going, they were treated to a spectacular show as Rod Stewart earned his place in the Guinness Book of World Records .

He gained recognition for not only putting on the “largest live concert,” but also for the “largest free rock concert of all time”. Rod Stewart treated the crowd to a setlist of favorites with an exciting encore .



Live from Rio 1994 to a 3.5 million audience. Rod Stewart – People Get Ready:

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This New Year’s Eve concert and fireworks show was one of several events put on during the holiday season to boost tourism in Rio de Janeiro .

. Rod Stewart made his way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 alongside his record-setting concert performance, making it a memorable year! He was inducted as an individual performer into the same class as John Lennon, Elton John and Bob Marley.

in 1994 alongside his record-setting concert performance, making it a memorable year! He was inducted as an individual performer into the same class as John Lennon, Elton John and Bob Marley. Not only does Rod Stewart have his place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame– he also got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005 as well!

Jean-Michel Jarre Concert

Year: 1997

Location: State University of Moscow, Russia o

Attendance: Over 3.5 million

Event: 850th Anniversary of Moscow





Source: wikimedia.org

Jean-Michel Jarre’s concert of 1997 was the largest concert ever. Immediately following the Oxygene tour, Jean-Michel Jarre was hired by the mayor of Moscow to put on a sensational show in celebration of Moscow’s 850th anniversary. The massive attendance surpassed expectations, with audience members flocking to see the concert set against the impressive backdrop of the State University of Moscow.

Jean-Michel Jarre made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for drawing the most live spectators at an outdoor event. However, this wasn’t enough for Jarre– he then broke his own record three times ! That makes the magnificent Moscow concert Jarre’s fourth record-breaker .

Jean-Michel Jarre playing a laser harp:



Oxygen in Moscow (Full Video) – Jean Michel Jarre:

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