More than two million people packed Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach to watch Lady Gaga perform a free concert — the biggest show of her career so far, according to city officials.

The concert, funded by the city government, was part of a campaign to boost the local economy. Officials estimate the event could bring in around $100 million (about £75 million) in economic activity for Rio.

Held on Saturday, the performance was part of Lady Gaga’s global tour promoting her eighth studio album, Mayhem, which features songs like Abracadabra and Die With a Smile. It also marked her return to Brazil after more than a decade — her last performance there was in 2012.

Dedicated fans, known as her “Little Monsters,” began lining up early in the morning and waited in long queues to secure spots on the beach.

Security at the event was tight. Around 5,000 police officers were deployed, and attendees had to pass through metal detectors. Authorities also used drones and facial recognition technology to ensure safety.

Lady Gaga joins a growing list of global stars who’ve performed for free in Rio. Just last year, Madonna also drew a massive crowd for a city-sponsored concert at the same venue.

"You waited for me, you waited for more than 10 years for me," an emotional Lady Gaga told the crowds as she unfurled a Brazilian flag.

"Brazil, I'm ready. I'm going to give it my all."

Lady Gaga thrilled fans by wearing Brazil-inspired outfits during parts of her performance, including costumes that paid tribute to the national football team.

The energy on Copacabana Beach was electric as thousands of fans sang along to her biggest hits like Alejandro, Poker Face, and Abracadabra. Many waved rainbow-colored fans and watched the show on giant screens set up along the beach.

People came from all over Brazil to be part of the historic event. One fan, 28-year-old Luan Messias, shared that he took an overnight bus from Itanhaém, a city in the neighboring state of São Paulo, just to attend the concert.

cheer on Gaga

Alisha Duarte, 22, told AFP news agency she started queuing at 0740 in the morning. "Lady Gaga is worth it! It's going to get super crowded, but we'll survive," she said.

Another fan, Paulo Oliveira, explained why people were so excited about the concert. She "tells us that we can be who we are, that we can be different and that being different is cool," he told Reuters.

It's going to be an "unforgettable show", concert attendee Lai Borges told Reuters on her way in. "It's going to be emotional and I'm going to cry a lot," she said.

As the event drew to a close, Lady Gaga told the audience - in a reference to the nickname for Lady Gaga fans - "we are monsters and monsters never die," and she brought the concert to a close with Bad Romance, perhaps her most famous song.