Shakira Lands in Madrid Ahead of 12-Night Residency at Pop-Up Macondo Park
Shakira arrived at Madrid's Adolfo Suarez airport ahead of 12 concerts at Macondo Park, a purpose-built venue in Villaverde with a 50,000-capacity stadium.
Colombian singer Shakira has arrived in Madrid ahead of a 12-night concert residency in the Spanish capital, drawing a large crowd of fans and press to Adolfo Suarez airport.
The artist was surrounded by supporters and photographers as she made her way through the terminal, and police were required to escort her through the building.
Among those welcoming her were dozens of performers from the Barranquilla Carnival, brought in to give the singer a taste of home during her stay in Spain.
The residency will run across 12 dates from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, October 11 at Macondo Park, a site created in Madrid's Villaverde district.
A pop-up arena named Shakira Stadium has been built for the shows, with a capacity of around 50,000. During the festivities, the wider park will host stands offering music, food and Latin American art.
Speaking on arrival, Shakira said she was returning with the aim of giving audiences her best, along with the best of Latin culture. "It makes me return with the hope of giving them the best of myself, of offering them not only the best of myself but also the best of our culture, our Latin culture, because I truly feel that we are one single Latin nation," she said.
She also reflected on the ties between Latin America and Spain, describing them as part of a shared cultural inheritance. "In the cultural DNA of Latin America and Latinos in general, that includes Spain. We have the antidote for that silent epidemic that is this digital age and the loneliness it brings with it," she said.
Fans at the airport recorded her remarks on their phones as the crowd gathered around her.