Eager to enhance your interest in music? Whether you’re a die-hard classic rock fan? Or you need to get more of the latest pop hits! Our list of the 10 biggest concerts of all time has them all.
In honor of the upcoming concert season, we’re looking back at the most notable performances of all time. So, ready to take a trip down memory lane?
The 10 biggest concerts of all time:
In this list, I’ve mentioned the top ten biggest music concerts that the world has ever seen. So let’s get ready for the journey.
1. Rod Stewart at Copacabana Beach (1994)
No concert list is complete without a mention of Rod Stewart’s beach shindig. This free one-night show happened in 1994 at Copacabana Beach. And drew an estimated 3.4 million individuals, making it the largest paying crowd in music history.
At the time of the concert, there were reports that the crowd was so large that it could be seen from space! Just imagine how loud it must have been. 3.4 million people sang along with swaying to Rod’s iconic tunes like “Maggie May” and “Tonight’s The Night.”
Rod Stewart put on such an unforgettable show for one night only. The sheer size of this concert is still unparalleled today.
2. Jean Michel Jarre at the State University of Moscow (1997)
The second event on our list is a concert that took place on October 11, 1997. Mr. Jean-Michel Jarre, a French composer, and the other performers performed at the Moscow State University. The concert was attended by around 2.6 million individuals, making it the largest show in history at that time.
It was an amazing spectacle—and if you’re lucky, you might get to see something like it one day. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming Rolling Stones tours!
3. Jorge Ben Jor at the Famous Copacabana Beach (1993)
In this list of the 10 biggest concerts of all time, at number 3, we have Jorge Ben Jor performing at the famous Copacabana Beach. This was a huge event, with more than 1.5 million people in attendance! Jor is a legendary artist who has been performing since the 1960s. So it’s no surprise that this concert was such a massive success.
This iconic show has become legendary and influenced other huge concerts. It’s hard to imagine that a single festival could draw over a hundred thousand people—but it did!
4. Legendary Jean-Michel Jarre at La Défense (1990)
At the time of Jean-Michel Jarre’s La Défense performance, it was the largest paying audience ever assembled for a concert. More than 1.5 million individuals came to see him play under the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Such an event still holds the record for the largest audience at a western concert.
This event stood out mainly because of the massive sculpture and light installation surrounding the main stage. This gave the crowds an incredible view of the performers and helped to create an even more magical atmosphere.
5. Monsters of Rock (1991)
The Monsters of Rock festival is number five on our list of the ten biggest historical concerts. It took place in Donington Park, England, in 1991. This two-day event drew a fantastic audience of 107,000 people. Who came to see some of the top rock bands of the time, including Metallica, Slayer, AC/DC, and Pantera.
The show also featured performances from lesser-known acts like Suicidal Tendencies, the Black Crowes, and Primus. The energy at this concert was palpable, and fans went ballistic for their favorite bands all weekend.
6. The amazing Love Parade Festival (2008)
The sixth biggest concert ever took place in Germany in 2008. Known as the “Love Parade Festival,” this annual music festival attracted 1.5 million people! It featured over 500 DJs and seven huge stages to keep the party going all day long.
Sadly, after this “Love Fest,” there was a stampede while attendees tried to leave, and 21 people died, leading to the event being shut down and never repeated again. However, it is still among the biggest concerts in history, with a massive gathering of music lovers from all over Europe.
7. The Live 8 Concert, Philadelphia (2005)
You might remember Live 8—the concerts held worldwide in 2005 to raise public awareness about poverty and hunger. The Philadelphia edition, held on July 2nd, was the biggest one of the bunch. An estimated 1.7 million individuals attended the show!
The event brought together many of the biggest names in music at the time, including Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Bon Jovi, and more. In addition, the flags of every G8 nation were flown above the stage while performers took turns belting out their best hits.
The star-studded show was broadcast on television stations worldwide. And still considered one of the most successful events ever held regarding fundraising and raising public awareness.
8. The mesmerizing Rolling Stones concert at Copacabana Beach, 2006
You might be too young to remember this, but the Rolling Stones once played a concert on Copacabana Beach. It was a pretty big deal.
Around 1.5 million individuals turned up to watch the concert, which is still one of the biggest concerts of all time. The stage was set up on the beach, and the band played for over three hours, with a fireworks display at the end.
9. The Great Jean-Michel Jarre at Rendez-vous Houston (1986)
Jean-Michel Jarre may not be a household name, but his Rendez-vous Houston concert in 1986 was a huge success. The event attracted an astonishing 1.4 million individuals over four nights.
The French musician was joined on stage by some of the biggest names in music, including Tangerine Dream, Bill Evans, and Mick Jagger. Fireworks and a light show lit up the night sky for miles around. And the concert ended with Jarre flying away in a hot air balloon. The event was broadcast live to millions of TV viewers across 32 countries.
10. Paz sin Fronteras II (2009)
At number ten, we have the follow-up to the original show, Paz sin Fronteras II. This one occurred in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 15th, 2009. And it was even more significant than its predecessor, with an audience of an estimated 3.5 million individuals.
The show featured a mix of classic hits from past performers along with some new artists such as Shakira, Juanes, and Ricardo Arjona. It was broadcast in over 25 countries and allowed fans from around the world to experience the concert’s energy. Even if they couldn’t make it in person.
Conclusion
So, those were the top 10 biggest concerts of all time. Concerts are a unique experience that people can’t replicate in a movie theatre or at home. Seeing your favorite artist or band live is a memory that will stay with you forever.
So think about which of these ten biggest concerts you would like to attend. If you could visit any of them, which one would it be? Let us know in the comments!
