List of most-attended concerts

The following is a list of the most-attended concerts in history, including ticketed concerts with at least 100,000 tickets sold and free concerts with at least one million attendees. The list excludes concerts that are part of music festivals.
The first concert to sell at least 100,000 tickets was by Grateful Dead at Englishtown Raceway Park in 1977, with 107,019 tickets sold. Currently, Marko Perković Thompson holds the record for the concert with the most tickets sold, held in 2025 at the Zagreb Hippodrome, with 504,000 tickets sold. Additionally, Michael Jackson held 11 concerts with at least 100,000 tickets sold, Robbie Williams held four such concerts, and Queen and the Rolling Stones each held such concert three times.
The attendance numbers of free concerts are exaggerations.[1] The first free concert to attract at least one million attendees was by Jean-Michel Jarre on Place de la Concorde in 1979. Currently, Rod Stewart holds the record for the free concert with the highest attendance, held on New Year's Eve 1994 on Copacabana Beach, attracting over 3.5 million attendees. Additionally, Jean-Michel Jarre held a total of 5 free concerts with over a million attendees. Madonna and Lady Gaga are only female artists so far to have held such concert, each did so once, with Gaga holding the female attendance record of 2.5 million.
Ticketed concerts
[edit]| * | Indicates the concert had sold the most tickets up to that point |
Free concerts
[edit]| * | Indicates the concert had the highest attendance up to that point |
| ‡ | Indicates a standalone free concert |
See also
[edit]- List of highest-grossing live music artists
- List of highest-grossing concert tours
- List of highest-grossing concert tours by Latin artists
- List of highest-grossing concert tours by women
- List of highest-grossing benefit concerts
Notes
[edit]- ^ Estimated ticket sales ranged between 190,000 and 200,000,[6] while total attendance was higher, estimated between 350,000 and 400,000 people.[7][8]
- ^ According to Folha de S. Paulo in 1995, event's organizers estimated an audience of 4 million, while the Military Police of 3.5 million.[50]
- ^ Promoter Live Nation and Gaga's representatives estimated an audience of 2.5 million,[54][55] whilst the local authorities claimed a number of 2.1 million.[56]
- ^ Reported official assistance by Rio City Hall.[58][59] Other media outlets estimated an attendance as high as 2.5 million people according to El País.[60]
- ^ According to Folha de S. Paulo in 2006, other estimations ranged from 1.2 to 1.3 million attendees.[62][63]
References
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