Sir Elton John delivered a 24-song set at Rock in Rio 2026 in Brazil on Monday 7 September 2026, performing for more than 100,000 fans despite thunderstorms and heavy rain affecting the city in the days leading up to the festival.
The British music legend moved his scheduled performance forward by 65 minutes, prompting speculation that the worsening weather could force him to cut his set short. Instead, John performed for two hours and 15 minutes, with the rain easing in time for the concert.
The 24-song performance was the longest set delivered by a headliner at this year’s festival so far. Billboard reported that Foo Fighters performed 19 songs, Avenged Sevenfold played 14, and Calvin Harris delivered a 21-song set.
Elton John explains why he returned to Brazil
John had originally completed his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in July 2023, but Brazil was not included on the tour itinerary.
The singer explained that he accepted Rock in Rio’s invitation partly because he wanted to return to a country he felt he had missed during his farewell tour.
“I felt a little mean about that,” he said. “I accepted Rock in Rio’s invitation to thank you once again for all the love you’ve shown me throughout my career.”
Tickets for the performance had sold out, with more than 100,000 people attending despite the difficult weather forecast.
Elton John opens Rock In Rio set with Funeral For A Friend
John opened the concert with “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”, immediately drawing a huge response from the Brazilian crowd.
The set continued with some of his most recognisable songs, including “Tiny Dancer”, “Sacrifice”, “Rocket Man”, “Candle in the Wind”, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”.
The audience sang along throughout the performance, turning the festival appearance into a major celebration of John’s catalogue.
John also dedicated “Crocodile Rock” to the Brazilian audience during the concert.
Elton John delivers full concert despite stormy weather
The performance came after three days of thunderstorms had battered the city, making the decision to move John’s set forward particularly significant.
Rather than shortening the show, John completed the full 24-song performance over more than two hours. The decision allowed thousands of fans to experience a complete Elton John concert despite the challenging conditions.
The Rock in Rio appearance also marked another major live performance from John following the conclusion of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in 2023.
For Brazilian fans, the festival set provided the opportunity to see the singer perform live in a country he had specifically wanted to revisit after being left off his final world tour itinerary.
