Colombian pop star Shakira is returning to Spain for concerts after eight years — and this time, not just one or two shows, but 12. Shakira will take the stage for these concerts in Madrid from September 18 through October 11. For the occasion, a “Shakira Stadium” is being built in the Iberdrola Music area of the Spanish capital.
The stadium was designed by the world-renowned architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group. Speaking about the stadium and the event on social media, Shakira said: “Oh my God, this stadium looks incredible! I can’t wait to see you all at my European residency concerts in Madrid!”
This is part of Shakira’s “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” world tour. Madrid’s official tourism department says this will be the first time an international artist has held this kind of residency concert series in Spain. The massive event is organized by Live Nation España. Shakira will perform September 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27, and October 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11, according to the schedule released by organizers.
The festivities won’t be limited to the concerts alone. A temporary entertainment and cultural space is being built around Shakira’s shows in the Iberdrola Music area. Organizers expect an average of more than 50,000 attendees each night. Across the 12 shows, more than 600,000 people could attend in total. Ticket sales are nearly sold out, effectively making them a rare commodity. Ticket prices, depending on category, start at roughly 10,500 taka in Bangladeshi currency and go up to as much as 104,000 taka.
An added attraction is “Macondo Park,” decorated in a theme inspired by Macondo, the fictional town from Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez’s celebrated novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” The park will feature not just music and dance but also art, literature, food, fashion and children’s entertainment, highlighting various aspects of Latin American culture under the banner “Es Latina.” Through this, attendees will get not just a Shakira concert, but a full cultural experience.
In other words, for several weeks, Madrid’s Iberdrola Music area will become not just a stage for Shakira’s music, but a grand meeting point for music, Latin culture, food, art and entertainment. At the center of this massive event will be Shakira, marking her long-awaited return to Spain.
Shakira’s return to Madrid is also tied to a long personal history with Spain. During her relationship with World Cup-winning Spanish defender Gerard Piqué, Shakira lived in Barcelona for many years. An important chapter of the Colombian pop star’s life unfolded in Spain, which came to feel like home to her. But in 2023, Piqué and Shakira went their separate ways. She later moved with her children to Miami in the United States. Now, after many years, she is finally returning to Spain for concerts — though this time, her destination is not Barcelona but the Spanish capital, Madrid.
Local residents had previously complained about noise and traffic congestion during major events in the Iberdrola area. Organizers say they are taking this seriously this time. Plans include special sound-control systems, acoustic screens, and a staggered process for releasing the audience after each show. While the concerts are planned to run from 8 to 11 p.m. local time, attendees will be allowed to remain at the venue until 1 a.m. Ensuring each night ends smoothly for the roughly 50,000 attendees at this massive event is a considerable challenge for organizers.