On Friday evening, Shakira stepped onto the stage of the Madrid stadium that bears her name, launching a 12-show residency that marks her first extended return to Spanish stages in years. The concert, which began at 20:49 local time, drew 50,000 fans and spanned 25 songs over two hours.
The setlist opened with 'La fuerte', her collaboration with Bizarrap from her latest album, followed by 'Girl like me' and a medley of 'Las de la intuición' and 'Estoy aquí', her first international hit. Early in the show, she addressed the audience directly: "Good evening, Madrid, I can't believe I'm here." She then alluded to her well-publicised personal struggles, saying, "You'll be thinking, the face I left with and the face I've come back with," and added that "there is nothing like a she-wolf being reunited with her pack."
The reggaeton-heavy first half included 'Te felicito' with Rauw Alejandro, 'TDG' with Karol G, 'Don't Bother', and 'Can't Remember to Forget You' with Rihanna. Costume changes and projections of water and fire accompanied tracks like 'Copa vacía', 'La bicicleta', and 'La tortura'. The first hour closed with 'Hips Don't Lie' and 'Chantaje'.
The second half opened with 'Loca' and a personal confession from the singer: "When a family breaks apart, as mine did, you feel as if you have lost your compass, until you realise that you can get through it and start to see single life as an opportunity." She followed with 'Soltera', performed beneath a giant S on stage.
Shakira also revisited her early career with 'Ojos así', 'Pies descalzos', and 'Antología'. She told the crowd, "The most important years of my life I lived here, in Spain. It was here that I became a mother. You saw me arrive, fall, get back up and return. Thank you for walking with me for more than 30 years."
Near the end, 'Waka Waka' rang out, now also an anthem for the 2026 World Cup, and the concert closed with 'BZRP Music Sessions #53' amid confetti and fireworks.
Macondo Park: a temporary cultural hub
The venue, named Macondo Park in tribute to Gabriel García Márquez's fictional town from One Hundred Years of Solitude, opened its doors at around 17:00 on Friday, albeit with a 90-minute delay. The space, carpeted with coloured artificial grass, comprises eight pavilions dedicated to different facets of Hispano-American culture under the Es Latina project.
Before Shakira's performance, Guitarricadelafuente, Maro, Virtual Diva, and Santos Bravos played on one of the venue's stages, all declaring themselves admirers of the Colombian star.
The tour is named after her 2024 album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, her twelfth studio record, which deals with her break-up with former footballer Gerard Piqué. Macondo Park will close on 11 October after the final of the 12 scheduled concerts in Madrid.
Shakira's return to Spain comes amid a broader cultural moment for the country, which has seen Spain's Oscar entry for 2027 selected from a film by Los Javis. The residency also highlights the ongoing appeal of large-scale live events in the Spanish capital, even as the city grapples with housing affordability challenges that affect many residents.
