Rio is revving again – on the beach, on stage and in the boardroom. After 1.6 million fans packed Copacabana for Madonna in 2024, the city doubled down: 2025’s beach mega-shows (Lady Gaga drew an estimated 2.1 million) injected tens of millions into the visitor economy and reminded the world why Rio ranks #11 for Nightlife and #11 for Theaters & Concerts. International air access has also been improved ahead of Brazil’s 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where Rio’s Maracanã is a confirmed venue. The city’s smoldering culture is finally getting global press with Copacabana’s 1938 Roxy returned as the Roxy Dinner Show – Art Deco reborn with a four-hour, live-music spectacle – while the long-stalled Museum of Image and Sound on the beachfront is targeting completion in early 2026. The Museum of Tomorrow, centerpiece of Porto Maravilha, is rolling out its 10-year anniversary program into 2025, reinforcing Rio’s #21 Museums finish. Urban reinvention at Gasômetro’s new stadium and leisure district builds momentum for a waterfront already humming with restaurants, arts spaces and the #14 Shopping. For families, Tijuca National Park’s trails and beaches help the global beach city with rainforest at the doorstep, ranks #12 for Nature & Parks.