Elton John Returns to Rio for a Big Rock in Rio Night
BRAZIL · CULTURE
Key Facts
- —What happened Elton John headlined Rock in Rio on Monday night, marking his first Brazil concert since 2017.
- —The scale More than 100,000 fans filled the festival grounds to watch the 79-year-old singer perform.
- —What it means Organizers billed the concert as a special one-off return, not an official farewell performance.
- —The catch Despite talk of a farewell, Elton John never called this his last-ever show in Brazil.
- —What comes next Rock in Rio’s final three nights run September 11 to 13, closing with Twenty One Pilots.
Elton John returned to Rio de Janeiro for a nostalgia-filled Rock in Rio set in front of more than 100,000 fans.
Elton John headlined Rock in Rio on Monday night, closing out the festival’s first block in style. More than 100,000 fans packed the venue for his first Brazil show since 2017.
The 79-year-old British singer played for more than two hours, longer than planned. He greeted the crowd simply: “Good evening, Rio. Good evening, Brazil.”
A Nostalgic Night at Cidade do Rock
The show opened with “Funeral for a Friend” and “Love Lies Bleeding.” Hits like “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and the Jets” and “Sacrifice” followed.
Rolling Stone Brasil reported he also played “Skyline Pigeon,” a deep cut he called popular mainly in Brazil. A video screen brought pop star Dua Lipa into the show for their duet “Cold Heart.”
Elton stretched his piano solo during “Rocket Man” well past the recorded version. The audience sang along to nearly every chorus, according to reviewers at the show.
Longtime bandmates backed him throughout the night, including guitarist Davey Johnstone and drummer Nigel Olsson. Johnstone has played guitar for Elton since 1971, more than half a century.
Many fans wore sequined outfits and oversized glasses, echoing the singer’s flashy stage looks. Brazil’s TV Globo carried the set live, the only Rock in Rio show to get that treatment this year.
A Return, Not Exactly a Farewell
His farewell tour had skipped Brazil during the pandemic, Brazilian outlet Gazeta Brasil reported. Elton said this show made up for that missed stop.
Rock in Rio’s own website called the concert his big comeback, not a farewell. Some Brazilian reviewers still described the night as an emotional goodbye.
The show fell on September 7, Brazil’s Independence Day and a national holiday. Brazilian veteran singer Gilberto Gil also performed that day, on a different stage.
What’s Left of Rock in Rio 2026
This year’s festival runs in two blocks of shows at Cidade do Rock. That is the festival’s own park in western Rio de Janeiro.
The first block ran from September 4 to 7, the last day a national holiday. Foo Fighters, Avenged Sevenfold and Calvin Harris headlined the three nights before Elton John.
Three more nights remain, running September 11 through 13. Stray Kids, Maroon 5 and Twenty One Pilots will headline those final shows.
Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo is expected to close out the last night. This year marks the festival’s 11th edition in Rio de Janeiro.
Rock in Rio first launched in the city back in 1985. It also holds separate editions in Lisbon, Portugal.
More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Elton John play Rock in Rio in 2026?
Elton John headlined the main stage on Monday, September 7, 2026, in Rio de Janeiro.
Was this billed as Elton John’s farewell concert in Brazil?
Organizers billed it as a special return, not a farewell. Reviewers still called the night an emotional goodbye.
When does Rock in Rio 2026 end?
The festival’s final three nights run from September 11 to 13, closing with Twenty One Pilots on the main stage.
Sources: Rolling Stone Brasil, Rock in Rio official site, Australian Associated Press (AAP), Pipoca Moderna, CNN Brasil, Attitude, The Rio Times Online.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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