Elton John returned to Brazil on Monday, September 7, for a 24-song performance at Rock in Rio, delivering a two-hour-and-15-minute set in front of more than 100,000 fans at the Cidade do Rock in Rio de Janeiro. The appearance marked his first concert in Brazil since 2017 and came after the country was left off his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
John moved his scheduled performance 65 minutes earlier, taking the stage at 11 p.m. The adjustment allowed him to perform a full-length concert despite thunderstorms that had affected the festival during the preceding days. His 24-song set was longer than the performances delivered by the other headliners during Rock in Rio’s opening stretch, with Foo Fighters performing 19 songs, Avenged Sevenfold 14 and Calvin Harris 21.
The singer explained that returning to Brazil was partly about making up for the country being omitted from his farewell tour. He said he felt bad that Brazil had been left out and accepted Rock in Rio’s invitation as an opportunity to thank Brazilian audiences for their support throughout his career.
The performance opened with “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding,” followed by songs spanning several decades of John’s catalog. The set included “Tiny Dancer,” “Sacrifice,” “Honky Cat,” “Rocket Man,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Sad Songs (Say So Much),” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “Crocodile Rock.”
“Skyline Pigeon,” which has particular popularity in Brazil, was also included in the performance. John additionally performed “Cold Heart,” his collaboration with Dua Lipa, using the electronic arrangement associated with the 2021 hit. A video appearance by Dua Lipa was incorporated into the performance.
John was accompanied by longtime members of his touring band, including guitarist Davey Johnstone and drummer Nigel Olsson, along with Ray Cooper, John Mahon, Kim Bullard and Matt Bissonette. Johnstone has performed with the singer since 1971, while Olsson has been a recurring member of his band across multiple periods of his career.
The sold-out concert drew more than 100,000 people, with the audience singing along throughout the set. The performance was also broadcast by Brazilian television network Globo, making it the only Rock in Rio 2026 show to receive that treatment.
The night concluded with “Your Song,” bringing the 24-song performance to a close. Although the appearance was surrounded by discussion about John’s retirement from major touring and the possibility of a farewell to Brazilian audiences, Rock in Rio officially presented the concert as a special return rather than an announced final performance in the country.
Rock in Rio 2026 continues with its final three nights from September 11 through September 13. The remaining headliners include Stray Kids, Maroon 5 and Twenty One Pilots, with the festival continuing at Cidade do Rock after its opening four-day run.
