Shakira announces Madrid residency to celebrate Latin identity

Colombian singer Shakira is launching a 12-date concert residency in Madrid, Spain, running from September 18 to October 11. The performances will take place at the Iberdrola Music complex, which can accommodate up to 50,000 spectators per night. More than 600,000 tickets have already been sold for the series.

In an op-ed for El País, Shakira explained that the residency is intended as a celebration of Latin identity in response to the persecution and fear experienced by Latino communities worldwide. She noted that she chose Madrid because Spanish culture embraces and celebrates Latin American immigration through shared language, history, and customs.

The project extends beyond music to include a 30-hectare cultural space inspired by the fictional town of Macondo from Gabriel García Márquez’s ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’. This area will feature over 100 artists showcasing literature, dance, fashion, gastronomy, cinema, and art, aiming to foster connection in an era of digital isolation.