The Biggest Concerts In History (Largest EVER Concert)

Written by David Sandy in Acoustic Guitar

acoustic guitar | Sandy Music Lab

Concerts have been an integral part of the music industry since the 1960s, and over the years, some of the biggest events in music history have taken place in front of massive crowds. From legendary rock bands to pop icons, the world’s biggest concerts have attracted millions of fans and generated billions of dollars in revenue.

Some of the biggest concerts in history include the 1985 Live Aid concert, which featured performances by numerous iconic artists and raised over $125 million for famine relief in Africa. Another significant concert was the 1991 Monsters of Rock festival in Moscow, which attracted over a million people and marked a significant moment in the end of the Cold War.

In this post, we will take a look at some of the biggest concerts in history and explore the impact they had on music and culture.

If you want to find out what my recommended guitar gear is, then here is what I recommend on Amazon:

Table Of Contents show

Biggest Concert Ever (Largest)

The biggest concert ever recorded was held in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and featured performances by numerous Brazilian and international artists, including Rod Stewart, Guns N’ Roses, and Neil Young. The event, known as the Rod Stewart concert, attracted an estimated 3.5 million people and was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest concert ever held.

Biggest Concerts In History

  1. Live Aid (1985): The Live Aid concert, organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, was held on July 13, 1985, and featured performances by numerous iconic artists, including Queen, U2, and David Bowie. The concert was held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia and raised over $125 million for famine relief in Africa.
  2. Monsters of Rock (1991): The Monsters of Rock festival was held on September 28, 1991, in Moscow, Russia, and featured performances by numerous heavy metal bands, including AC/DC, Metallica, and Pantera. The event attracted over a million people and marked a significant moment in the end of the Cold War.
  3. Isle of Wight Festival (1970): The Isle of Wight Festival was held from August 26-31, 1970, and featured performances by numerous legendary rock bands, including The Who, Jimi Hendrix, and The Doors. The festival attracted an estimated 600,000 people, making it one of the largest concerts in history at the time.
  4. Summer Jam at Watkins Glen (1973): The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen was held on July 28, 1973, and featured performances by The Grateful Dead, The Band, and The Allman Brothers Band. The event attracted an estimated 600,000 people, making it one of the largest concerts in history at the time.
  5. Woodstock (1969): The Woodstock festival, held on August 15-18, 1969, in Bethel, New York, featured performances by numerous iconic artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who. The event attracted an estimated 400,000 people and is considered a defining moment in the counterculture movement of the 1960s.

Biggest Concert Attendance

The biggest concert attendance in history was the Rod Stewart concert held in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event attracted an estimated 3.5 million people, making it the largest concert ever held. The concert was free and was held on Copacabana Beach as part of the New Year’s celebrations in Rio de Janeiro.

Biggest Concert Tours Ever

  1. U2 360° Tour (2009-2011): The U2 360° Tour is the highest-grossing concert tour in history, having generated over $736 million in ticket sales. The tour spanned three years and featured 110 shows in 30 countries, with a total attendance of over 7 million people.
  2. The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang Tour (2005-2007): The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang Tour is the second-highest-grossing concert tour in history, having generated over $558 million in ticket sales. The tour spanned two years and featured 147 shows in 32 countries, with a total attendance of over 4.6 million people.
  3. Ed Sheeran Divide Tour (2017-2019): The Ed Sheeran Divide Tour is the third-highest-grossing concert tour in history, having generated over $429 million in ticket sales. The tour spanned two years and featured 255 shows in 43 countries, with a total attendance of over 8.9 million people.
  4. Guns N’ Roses Not in This Lifetime… Tour (2016-2019): The Guns N’ Roses Not in This Lifetime… Tour is the fourth-highest-grossing concert tour in history, having generated over $563 million in ticket sales. The tour spanned three years and featured 160 shows in 41 countries, with a total attendance of over 5.5 million people.
  5. Coldplay A Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016-2017): The Coldplay A Head Full of Dreams Tour is the fifth-highest-grossing concert tour in history, having generated over $523 million in ticket sales. The tour spanned two years and featured 114 shows in 76 cities, with a total attendance of over 5.4 million people.

Biggest Concert Stadium In The World

The Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, located in Pyongyang, North Korea, is currently the biggest concert stadium in the world, with a seating capacity of 114,000 people. The stadium was originally built for sporting events but has since been used for concerts and other large-scale performances.

Other notable large concert stadiums include Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan (USA), which has a seating capacity of 107,601, and Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania (USA), which has a seating capacity of 106,572.

Biggest Concert Venue in the US

The biggest concert venue in the US is the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which has a seating capacity of up to 100,000 people for concerts. The stadium, which is home to the Dallas Cowboys football team, has hosted numerous concerts and music festivals over the years, including performances by Beyoncé, U2, and Taylor Swift. Other notable large concert venues in the US include MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which has a seating capacity of 82,500, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, which has a seating capacity of 90,888.

Biggest Concert Venue in Australia

The biggest concert venue in Australia is the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), located in Melbourne, Victoria. The MCG has a seating capacity of 100,024 people and has hosted numerous concerts by artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, and U2. The stadium is primarily used for cricket and Australian rules football, but also hosts other large-scale events, including music festivals and cultural events. Other notable large concert venues in Australia include the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales (seating capacity of 83,500) and the Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia (seating capacity of 60,000).

Biggest Concert Venue in Germany

The biggest concert venue in Germany is the Olympiastadion in Berlin, with a seating capacity of up to 74,475 people for concerts. The stadium, which was built for the 1936 Summer Olympics, has hosted numerous concerts by major artists, including The Rolling Stones, U2, and Coldplay. Other notable large concert venues in Germany include the Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt (seating capacity of up to 60,000), and the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen (seating capacity of up to 54,740).

Biggest Concert Venue in the UK (United Kingdom)

The biggest concert venue in the UK is the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, with a seating capacity of up to 74,500 people for concerts. The stadium, which is primarily used for rugby union, has also hosted numerous concerts by major artists, including Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay. Other notable large concert venues in the UK include Wembley Stadium in London (seating capacity of up to 90,000), and Manchester Arena in Manchester (seating capacity of up to 21,000).

Biggest Concert Venue in Canada

The biggest concert venue in Canada is the Rogers Centre, located in Toronto, Ontario. The venue has a seating capacity of up to 55,000 people for concerts and has hosted numerous concerts by major artists, including The Rolling Stones, U2, and Taylor Swift. The Rogers Centre is primarily used as a sports stadium, hosting events such as baseball games and Canadian football, but also hosts concerts and other large-scale events throughout the year. Other notable large concert venues in Canada include the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec (seating capacity of up to 21,000), and the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta (seating capacity of up to 19,000).

Biggest Concert Promoters

  1. Live Nation Entertainment: Live Nation Entertainment is the largest concert promoter in the world, with operations in over 40 countries. The company promotes thousands of concerts and events each year, with a roster of artists that includes some of the biggest names in music.
  2. AEG Presents: AEG Presents is the second-largest concert promoter in the world, with operations in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company promotes concerts and events across a wide range of genres, including pop, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music.
  3. CTS Eventim: CTS Eventim is a German-based company that operates in over 20 countries and is one of the largest ticketing and live entertainment companies in Europe. The company promotes concerts, festivals, and other live events across a wide range of genres.
  4. Dainty Group: Dainty Group is a leading concert promoter based in Australia, with operations in Asia and Europe as well. The company promotes concerts and events across a wide range of genres, including rock, pop, and classical music.
  5. FKP Scorpio: FKP Scorpio is a German-based company that operates in Europe and is one of the largest concert promoters in the region. The company promotes concerts and festivals across a wide range of genres, including rock, pop, and electronic music.

What is the largest attended concert of all time?

The largest attended concert of all time was the Rod Stewart concert held in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event attracted an estimated 3.5 million people, making it the largest concert ever held. The concert was free and was held on Copacabana Beach as part of the New Year’s celebrations in Rio de Janeiro.

If you want to find out what my recommended guitar gear is, then here is what I recommend on Amazon:

Related Posts:

David Sandy

Hey there! My name is David Sandy and I'm the founder of Sandy Music Lab. I've been playing guitar for several years now and created this site to be able to share and explore music with others.
Check out my recommended guitar gear!
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Romans 10:9-10

Recent Posts