Madrid is preparing to become, for nearly a month, the world capital of Latin culture thanks to a project as extravagant as it is unprecedented: Macondo Park, a temporary venue designed around the Shakira Stadium at the Iberdrola Music complex in Villaverde. It will be the epicenter of the Colombian artist’s European residency, during which she will perform 12 concerts as part of her *Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour* between September and October, with a capacity for about 50,000 attendees per night and an estimated total of 600,000 people.
Macondo Park is designed not as a mere transit area, but as a small cultural city dedicated to Shakira’s universe and the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez.
The conceptual and architectural design is being handled by the international firm BIG—Bjarke Ingels Group, which has presented renderings of a venue filled with vegetation, vibrant colors, trees, palm trees, shaded areas, and colorful pathways leading to the various pavilions. The idea is for the audience not just to attend a concert, but to spend hours within an immersive environment that blends music, art, literature, cuisine, and interactive experiences.
On concert days, Macondo Park will be open from 12:00 p.m. to midnight, while Shakira’s concerts will take place during the prime-time slot, approximately from 8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Twelve dates, nearly 600,000 attendees
Shakira’s residency in Madrid will feature 12 concert nights that have already been announced:
- September: 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, and 27
- October: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11
Macondo Park will be organized around eight pavilions, each with its own identity, dedicated to a different facet of Shakira’s culture and creative universe:
- Shakira’s creative universe: a journey through her discography, iconic costumes, and memorabilia—a sort of pop museum of her career.
- Macondo: an immersive experience exploring magical realism and García Márquez’s literary town, featuring specific sets and narratives.
- Music: secondary stages, sound installations, and musical experiences beyond the main concert.
- Fashion and art: visual exhibitions, collaborations with Latin designers and artists, and pieces that blend aesthetics and discourse.
- Gastronomy: a culinary showcase featuring representative flavors from different Latin American countries.
- Film and audiovisuals: screenings, interactive content, and spaces dedicated to Shakira’s relationship with Latin culture and the screen.
- Children’s Culture – Macondito: a pavilion dedicated to children, which will also be open Monday through Thursday (when there are no concerts) for school visits.
- Interactive experience zone: participatory activities, dynamic experiences, and games for the general public.
These pavilions will come to life through programming, content, and experiences curated by Shakira herself under the “Es Latina” concept—the platform that brings the entire project together as a tribute to Latin American identity.
Fan zone, greenery, and VIP areas
In addition to the pavilions, the venue will feature Macondo Plaza, a central gathering space that will serve as the social heart of the temporary city, and a fan zone that will be active hours before the show, where the public can move between green spaces, rest areas, and entertainment zones.
There will also be two specific VIP areas: Espacio Garden and Espacio Terrace, designed as oases and terraces with prime views of the stage. Live Nation has announced that the VIP experiences will be priced “affordably” by the standards of major international events, with packages costing up to about 750 euros at most.
The combination of an open fan zone, a themed city, and VIP areas reinforces the idea that Macondo Park is not just a venue, but an ecosystem of entertainment and culture that caters to both the general public and those seeking to experience the residency “on another level.”