Bad Bunny Prepares to Make History in Spain

Iker Cortés

Madrid

Even Bad Bunny himself must have been surprised by the success of his 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS World Tour'. First, because from the three dates announced for our country - one in Barcelona, this Friday, at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, and two in Madrid, on May 30 and 31, 2026, at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano - it expanded to nine more - another one in Barcelona, on Saturday, and another eight in Madrid, on June 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, and 15. Second, because, perhaps overwhelmed by the excellent reception - over 600,000 tickets sold in just 24 hours - he rushed to lower expectations. "I'm not Taylor Swift," he stated in an interview with 'Variety' where, in light of Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour', he was asked if he planned a career-spanning tour offering shows of around three hours. "I want to make this clear so people don't get too excited. It won't be organized like that. It's pretty much a tour for 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS', with some older songs interspersed," he explained.

So, it's worth noting because the artist from Bayamón has just a few hours left before taking the stage at Lluís Companys. A few days ago, workers and cranes began setting up the main stage for the show and La Casita, the iconic salmon, pink, and yellow-toned structure, inspired by traditional Puerto Rican homes, which we saw during his 31-concert residency at the Coliseum of Puerto Rico, titled 'No me quiero ir de aquí', and in the dazzling performance he offered during this year's Super Bowl halftime show.

This structure serves as a second stage, where Benito Antonio Martín Ocasio delivers some of the most intimate, emotional, and close moments of the concert. Moreover, it has been the spot where musicians like Ricky Martin, Ñejo, or Karol G have performed, and celebrities such as Pedro Pascal or Penélope Cruz and athletes like LeBron James or Kylian Mbappé have been seen. The inclusion of this space has also allowed the artist to put new tickets on sale, a series of seats called Los Vecinos, priced over 200 euros, which are located right behind La Casita and allow being a few meters away from Bad Bunny when he performs his most intimate songs.

The album ranked number 1 on Spotify in its first week with 235 million streams, and seven of its songs are already among the artist's most popular

What was less predictable is that Pope Leo XIV would be visiting our country from June 6 to 12, just as Bad Bunny kicks off his tour

According to his own words, the bulk of the concert will navigate through the songs of 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS', the latest and successful album by the artist, which revolves around the nostalgia for Puerto Rico and the need to appreciate the present and value loved ones before it's too late. In it, the musician surrounds himself with excellent instrumentalists to mix reggaeton, Cuban salsa, Dominican dembow, and electronic music, a multitude of sounds with which he has once again won the favor of the public and critics.

Right after its release, the album ranked number 1 on Spotify in its first week with 235 million streams, but seven of its songs are already among the artist's most popular, led by 'DtMF', the one that names the album, which has already surpassed 1.860 billion streams on the platform, followed by the beautiful 'BAILE INoLVIDABLE', 'NUEVA YoL', 'EoO', or 'VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR'.

All of them will be part of a concert lasting about two hours where, undoubtedly, 'CAFé CON RON' will be served, the rhythm of 'WELTiTA' will be felt - in fact, Chuwi, the Puerto Rican band that rose to fame with this last track, is the opening act for Bad Bunny throughout his tour - and there will be moments for slower tempos with songs like 'LA MuDANZA' or 'LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii'. The Puerto Rican will not forget classics from his repertoire like 'Tití Me Preguntó', which has already surpassed 2.570 billion streams on Spotify, 'Callaíta', 'Ojitos lindos', 'Yo perreo sola', 'El apagón', or 'Me Porto Bonito'.

It's a bit more difficult to predict what surprises a musician who likes to play with guest artists will give. Since the tour starts in Barcelona, these days the name of Rosalía resonates strongly. The Catalan singer is free that week before resuming her 'LUX Tour'. Both released 'La noche de anoche' in 2020, a bachata that they have only performed live once, on 'Saturday Night Live'. What if the Barcelona date is a new opportunity?

The Coincidence with the Pope

Be that as it may, the lucky attendees can expect a great party, where they can sing and dance to lyrics where hedonism, sex, humor, love, and heartbreak go hand in hand. What was less predictable is that Pope Leo XIV would be visiting our country from June 6 to 12, just as Bad Bunny kicks off his tour.

However, there will be no counterprogramming in the strictest sense of the word, as the Santiago Bernabéu will host the great meeting of the pontiff with the diocesan community of Madrid on June 8, just one of the few days that Benito rests, although it may be that on June 6 some of the concert attendees might finally decide to go to Plaza de Lima, about ten kilometers from the Metropolitano, where the Pope will preside over the vigil of prayer with the youth.

Will there be a meeting between the artist and the supreme pontiff? The cardinal archbishop of Madrid and vice president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, José Cobo, does not rule it out. "Madrid has a lot to offer and it could be. I believe that as soon as he - referring to Benito - finds out he is here, if he wants to talk to the Pope, the Pope will surely receive him as he receives everyone," he explained this Thursday. However, Cobo assured that "surprises are surprises" and insisted that these types of meetings "are carried out very discreetly."

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