by the El Reportero wire services
Colombian singer Shakira headlined a free concert Sunday night in Mexico City’s Zócalo that drew an estimated crowd of more than 400,000 people, according to figures from city authorities.
The event took place in the country’s main public square, where thousands of people began filling the plaza and surrounding streets of the Historic Center hours before the show began. Families, young people, tourists and fans of the artist gathered to watch the performance.
Due to the large turnout, city officials implemented a special security and mobility operation. Public transportation hours were also extended to help attendees travel to and from the event.
The concert began at approximately 8:38 p.m., when the stage lights went out and Shakira appeared before the crowd. Giant screens and a sound system installed throughout the plaza allowed people even in distant areas to follow the performance.
For about an hour and a half, the singer performed several of the most popular songs of her career. The audience joined in on many of the songs, singing along and holding up cell phones to record the moment.
“Good evening, Mexico! Thank you for being here with me tonight,” the artist said as she opened the show, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
The production included lighting effects, large screens and visual elements accompanying the musical performance. Throughout the concert, Shakira alternated between choreography, costume changes and moments of direct interaction with the audience.
At one point during the performance, the singer thanked the Mexican public for its support. “I always feel at home when I’m in Mexico. Thank you for so much love throughout the years,” she told the crowd.
One of the most talked-about moments of the night came near the end of the concert, when a large wolf-shaped structure appeared as part of the stage design, prompting applause and cheers from the audience.
The concert lasted more than 90 minutes and ended with thousands of people singing and applauding in the Zócalo. After the event, attendees gradually made their way out through the surrounding streets and nearby public transit stations.
Large-scale concerts in the Zócalo have become increasingly common in recent years and often attract hundreds of thousands of people.
“It’s incredible to see so many people gathered in one place for a concert,” said Ana Martínez, an attendee who traveled from Puebla for the event. “It was worth the trip.”
Shakira’s performance joins a growing list of massive concerts held in the Zócalo, one of the most iconic public spaces in Mexico City.
