Elton John headlines Rock in Rio with historic performance and meeting with Gilberto Gil

The first weekend of Rock in Rio 2026 featured a historic performance by Elton John, who played a two-hour set for over 100,000 fans in Rio de Janeiro. The 79-year-old musician performed classics such as ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘Your Song,’ earning top marks from critics. During the festival, a viral moment occurred backstage when Elton John met Gilberto Gil, offering the Brazilian legend high praise, calling him a ‘wonderful man’ and a ‘brilliant man.’

Other notable festival highlights included Gilberto Gil’s performance on the Palco Mundo, which he suggested might be his final appearance at the event. Additionally, singer Laufey delivered a sophisticated set on the Palco Sunset. The festival also saw controversy when singer Anitta criticized participant Figueira from the reality show ‘Estrelas da Casa’ for crying on stage after forgetting song lyrics during a performance with Belo, stating that ‘the stage is not a place for victims.’