What Fans Did to Attend a Bad Bunny Show in Mexico City
The celebrated Puerto Rican musician, currently the most-streamed artist worldwide, is hosting eight performances in Mexico. Fans traveled from various corners of the globe, including the United States.
By James Wagner
Photographs by Luis Antonio Rojas
James Wagner and Luis Antonio Rojas reported from Bad Bunny’s concert in Mexico City. The photographer captured moments of fans inside and outside the stadium using an instant film camera.
Dec. 20, 2025
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Donovan Omar Cruz Reyes, along with his aunt and cousin, was the first to pitch their tent outside the venue of a Bad Bunny concert at 6 a.m. on Monday, aiming for a prime location near the stage when the doors opened. However, the concert itself was scheduled for 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
“Initially, I thought I might be the only one obsessed with him since I started following him before he became famous,” recounted Mr. Cruz Reyes, 24, who works in an auto-parts factory. He and his family had journeyed by bus from Guanajuato, Mexico, leaving at 2 a.m. to reach Mexico City. “But I soon realized that’s not true.”
Over half a million attendees from Mexico and around the world — including countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands — were anticipated to converge at GNP Seguros Stadium this week for Bad Bunny’s eight sold-out shows, which will conclude on Sunday.
The remarkable success of the genre-blending Puerto Rican star, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has transformed the landscape of pop music in the Spanish language. He has claimed the title of the most streamed artist globally four times since 2020, including this year.
Following a 30-show residency in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny commenced an eight-month global tour featuring his latest album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” honoring the traditional sounds of his homeland. Mexico City marks the longest leg of Bad Bunny’s tour in Latin America.
The Mexican promoter for his concerts noted that fans from 77 nations had bought tickets. It is estimated that around 30 percent of the audience is from the United States. Bad Bunny has expressed hesitance about performing on the U.S. mainland — aside from the forthcoming halftime show at the Super Bowl — due to concerns that his concerts could be targeted by President Trump’s immigration enforcement.
“I totally respect that,” commented Jocelyn Baltazar, 29, a Mexican American who traveled from California with her boyfriend, who doesn’t speak Spanish but appreciates the music’s energy. “I would prefer to see him here,” she continued.
Ms. Baltazar mentioned that it was also an excellent opportunity to experience Mexico City for the first time. A group of American college students from Utah shared similar sentiments.
“I attended school with many Mexicans, and they were all fans of Bad Bunny, so that was really my initial introduction. I just loved it,” remarked Callum Yocum, 22. “Listening to Bad Bunny has also assisted me in learning Spanish.”
Bad Bunny’s performances in Mexico City represent not just a significant cultural occurrence but also a noteworthy economic one. The Mexico City Chamber of Commerce projected that the concerts would generate approximately $180 million from ticket sales, food, beverages, and accommodations. Numerous vendors outside the stadium offered an array of Bad Bunny-themed merchandise, including shirts, hats, mugs, pens, notebooks, and towels late into one morning.
Brandon Rodríguez and Luis Guerrero, both engineering students, traveled from Monterrey, Mexico, for the concert on December 12. They bought their tickets months ago for $67 each. However, they received four additional tickets as gifts for a second concert after a member of Bad Bunny’s team spotted them patiently waiting outside the artist’s hotel in Mexico City.
Standing in front of the stadium on Monday afternoon with their bags in tow, they revealed they had exhausted their funds for accommodations on that night. Eventually, they sold the two extra tickets for $333 each, which allowed them to secure a room.
“I burst into tears when they gifted me the tickets,” shared Mr. Guerrero, 19. “I called my parents and told them, ‘I’m staying longer.’ They definitely scolded me, but I explained that I couldn’t leave.”
Prior to entering the stadium, Karen Varela, 28, paused to switch her footwear. She and her boyfriend, both dentists, had taken the day off for the concert. Due to her height at 5 foot 2, Ms. Varela traded her shoes for striking red six-inch heels. “My cousin came on Friday — she’s the same height — and was unable to see anything,” she remarked. “I was determined that wouldn’t happen to me.”
Unfortunately, not everyone managed to secure tickets. The events sold out within mere hours, leading over 150 fans to gather around the stadium to listen, sing, dance, and even tear up.
Inside the venue, near the main stage, was Delia Ferreiras, 38, a hotel manager visiting from her home country of the Dominican Republic. Although Bad Bunny performed in nearby Puerto Rico and twice in her nation the previous month, she noted that acquiring tickets to the shows in Mexico City proved easier.
The widespread appeal of his tour, she stated, demonstrates “the influence we hold as Latinos.” She connected with the Caribbean culture depicted in his music — the language, history, and traditions, including the one-story pink house Bad Bunny utilizes as a second stage.
However, he also catered to the local audience. During the show on Monday, Bad Bunny’s band merged a classic Mexican tune with one of his hits, and he donned a scarf representing the Mexican national soccer team, while his surprise guest performer was Grupo Frontera, a well-known band from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Mr. Cruz Reyes, having camped out, shared that sleep had eluded him the two nights preceding the concert on Tuesday. The early morning dampness drenched his tent, and he described the cold as “unbearable.” Yet, moments before the performance commenced, he declared it was “definitely” all worth it.
Published: 2025-12-22 05:16:00
source: www.nytimes.com
