Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known globally as Bad Bunny, made his Portuguese debut with two sold-out nights at Lisbon's Estádio da Luz on 9 and 10 May 2025. The concerts, part of his DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS world tour, drew 120,000 fans dressed in vibrant colours, transforming the stadium into a tropical dance floor under unseasonably warm May temperatures.
The 32-year-old Puerto Rican artist, winner of three Grammys and 11 Latin Grammys, performed around 30 songs each night, mostly from his sixth album Debí Tirar Más Fotos (DTMF). Released in January 2025, DTMF became the first entirely Spanish-language album to win the Grammy for Album of the Year, cementing Bad Bunny's global influence.
More Than Music: A Political Stage
Bad Bunny used his platform to address Puerto Rico's history and ongoing struggles. The concert opened with LA MUDANZA, a track that recounts his family's forced relocation and references the 1970 Vieques uprisings against US military occupation, as well as the Gag Law that criminalized displaying the Puerto Rican flag. The song's video interweaves black-and-white footage of protests against the US naval base at Roosevelt Roads, which was decommissioned in 2004 but reactivated by the Trump administration in mid-2025 under the pretext of counter-narcotics operations.
Other songs tackled contemporary issues: El Apagón evokes Hurricane Maria's devastation and the corruption that followed, leading to chronic blackouts; TURiSTA critiques overtourism and gentrification driving mass emigration; NUEVAYoL and DTMF reflect the diaspora's struggle to maintain identity. Notably, LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii, which warns of cultural assimilation, was not performed in Lisbon.
Gustavo Garcia-Lopez, a Puerto Rican researcher at the University of Coimbra, attended the first concert and noted: “I think Portuguese fans, even though they know the songs, especially the reggaeton ones, are not very familiar with the political history and with the events that have been unfolding in Puerto Rico, and I believe now is the time to start talking about those issues.”
Fans interviewed by Euronews at the venue showed varying awareness. Rosa admitted: “I know he's Puerto Rican, I know DTMF, 'NUEVAYoL' and 'BAILE INoLVIDABLE'... I know very little about Puerto Rico's history.” Patrícia, who travelled from Mozambique, said: “I know his songs and I like them a lot... he's very humane, he does a lot for his country.” Carolina added: “I really like his latest album, DTMF, and I know he talks a lot about Puerto Rico's history... He's someone who speaks a lot about the resilience of Puerto Rican people.”
The second night featured a special segment with a guest singer and an homage to Portuguese rock band Xutos & Pontapés. Bad Bunny addressed the crowd in Spanish: “Tonight it is happening again. Yesterday was crazy. I tell the whole city, the second night is almost always better.” He also shared a message of love: “As long as we are alive, let us love as much as possible.”
Bad Bunny's Lisbon shows follow his Barcelona stop, part of a tour that has sparked ticket speculation issues in Portugal, with six arrests reported. The concerts also highlight Lisbon's growing appeal as a cultural hub, recently topping global expat livability rankings.
Through his music and performances, Bad Bunny continues to amplify Puerto Rico's voice on European stages, blending entertainment with a call for awareness and solidarity.
