Justin Bieber is one of the biggest pop stars in the world. He rose to fame in the late 2000s as a teenager and has since released multiple hit albums and embarked on massive world tours. His concerts routinely sell out stadiums and draw tens of thousands of screaming fans. But of all his concerts over the years, which one stands out as the biggest?
Justin Bieber’s Career
Justin Bieber was discovered in 2008 after posting homemade videos of himself singing on YouTube. He was soon signed to a record deal with Island Records at just 13 years old. His debut single “One Time” was released in 2009 and became an international hit, going platinum in multiple countries. Bieber quickly followed up with his debut EP My World and then his first full-length album My World 2.0 in 2010. The album was a major success, producing the hit singles “Baby” and “Somebody to Love.”
Bieber skyrocketed to superstardom and became one of the most popular teen idols in music. He released his second studio album Under the Mistletoe in 2011, followed by his third album Believe in 2012. Believe sold over 5 million copies worldwide and firmly cemented Bieber as a global pop phenomenon. He followed up with Purpose in 2015 and Changes in 2020. Bieber has won numerous awards over the years, including a Grammy for Best Dance Recording for “Where Are Ü Now” in 2016. He has overall sold over 150 million records worldwide.
Bieber’s Massive World Tours
In tandem with his album releases, Bieber has embarked on a number of massive world concert tours over the years:
- My World Tour (2010-2011) – 137 shows
- Believe Tour (2012-2013) – 141 shows
- Purpose World Tour (2016-2017) – 140 shows
- Justice World Tour (2022-2023) – Ongoing
These tours have taken Bieber across six continents and over 40 countries. His shows routinely sell out arenas and stadiums, often breaking attendance records. The Purpose World Tour grossed over $250 million and was one of the highest grossing tours of 2016-2017. Bieber’s concerts are known for their lavish productions, costume changes, and on-stage theatrics.
Bieber’s Biggest Concert: British Summertime Hyde Park
So based on total attendance, which of Bieber’s concerts was the absolute biggest? That honor goes to his show at British Summertime Hyde Park in London on July 2, 2017. This concert was part of his massive Purpose World Tour and remains his most attended single show to date.
About British Summertime Hyde Park
British Summertime Hyde Park is a series of annual music events held over two weekends in June/July in London’s famous Hyde Park. Some of the biggest artists in music perform here, with concerts held on multiple stages spread across the massive park grounds. Major acts like The Rolling Stones, Celine Dion, and Barbra Streisand have headlined in the past.
Bieber’s Record-Breaking Show
On July 2, 2017, Justin Bieber took the main Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park as part of the Purpose World Tour. The show sold out months in advance, with over 140,000 tickets sold according to organizers. This shattered the previous attendance record held by The Rolling Stones for their 2013 Hyde Park show.
When the final counts were tallied, Bieber’s concert attendance was announced at 150,000 people. This makes it the single largest show of his career so far based on attendance numbers.
Setlist and Show Details
Bieber pulled out all the stops for the massive British crowd. Here’s a look at the full setlist from the show:
Song | Album |
---|---|
Mark My Words | Purpose |
Where Are Ü Now | Purpose |
I’ll Show You | Purpose |
Boyfriend | Believe |
Love Yourself | Purpose |
Cold Water | Single |
Let Me Love You | Single |
Despacito (Remix) | Single |
Company | Purpose |
No Sense | Purpose |
Hold Tight | Purpose |
As Long As You Love Me | Believe |
Children | Purpose |
Purpose | Purpose |
All That Matters | Journals |
What Do You Mean? | Purpose |
Baby | My World 2.0 |
He performed his hits from across his catalog, including older songs like “Boyfriend” and “As Long As You Love Me” as well as recent smashes like “Purpose” and “Let Me Love You.” Bieber also brought out special guest DJ Khaled to perform their collaboration “I’m the One.”
The show featured Bieber’s high-energy dance choreography and stage production with multiple costume changes, pyrotechnics, and video interludes. At one point he flew over the crowd suspended on a harness. The concert ended with a rousing performance of his breakout smash “Baby.”
Crowd Size and Reception
In addition to the record-setting attendance numbers, Bieber’s Hyde Park show was also a big hit with critics and fans:
- The Independent called it a “pitch-perfect pop spectacle” and said Bieber commanded the massive crowd with ease.
- MTV UK said it was Bieber’s “most accomplished live show to date” and praised the seamless choreography.
- Fans loved the mix of old and new songs and said Bieber’s voice sounded amazing live.
- Many noticed how much Bieber enjoyed performing the show and connecting with the enthusiastic crowd.
So in terms of pure attendance size, this concert remains Bieber’s biggest ever. The enormous crowd of over 150,000 fans far exceeds any of his other shows over his decade-plus career. It demonstrated how he has grown into one of the most popular touring acts in the world.
Other Notable Big Concerts
While his 2017 Hyde Park show takes the top spot attendance-wise, here are some of Bieber’s other most notable large concerts over the years:
Mexico City, Mexico – March 9, 2012
During the Believe Tour, Bieber performed to a crowd of 210,000 people in Mexico City’s Foro Sol stadium. This outdoor concert broke an attendance record previously held by The Rolling Stones and remains one of Bieber’s biggest shows of his career.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – October 4, 2013
On this stop during his massive Believe Tour, Bieber performed on Copacabana Beach to an estimated crowd of 130,000 people. The beachside concert was free to the public and became a highlight of the tour.
Tel Aviv, Israel – April 14, 2011
During a promotional tour stop early in his career, Bieber performed a concert in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park that was attended by 50,000 fans. The concert became controversial as some said it clashed with Israeli Independence Day.
Bogota, Colombia – April 10, 2017
On the Latin America leg of the Purpose Tour, Bieber played Estadio El Campín in the Colombian capital city. The stadium concert was attended by 45,000 people and broke the venue’s past attendance record.
So while these shows all had huge crowds, none topped the 150,000 that Bieber drew to his epic Hyde Park appearance. That concert represented the apex of Bieber Fever and still stands as his biggest show six years later.
Justin Bieber’s Concert Legacy
With his record-breaking concerts and millions of albums sold, Justin Bieber has cemented himself as one of the most popular male pop stars of his generation. He has evolved from a teen idol into a respected artist with one of the top grossing tours in music. His concert shows are known for their lavish productions, impeccable choreography, and Bieber’s undeniable star power on stage.
While other artists may eventually top the attendance record he set at British Summertime Hyde Park, that show remains a testament to the loyalty and passion of Bieber’s fanbase. It exemplified his ability to not just sell out arenas, but to fill entire stadiums and parks with adoring fans. Even with controversy occasionally swirling around him, Bieber has retained a dedicated global fanbase – the “Beliebers” – who continue flocking to his shows year after year.
So for putting on the most-attended concert of his career and entertaining over 150,000 delighted fans, Justin Bieber’s 2017 show at Hyde Park stands out as his biggest concert to date. It demonstrated how far his stardom has come since the days of busking on the streets of Ontario as a child. And at just 29 years old in 2023, more record-breaking stadium shows surely lie ahead in Bieber’s future as he continues growing his already massive concert legacy for years to come.
Conclusion
Justin Bieber has performed countless concerts all over the world since bursting onto the scene in 2009. But his July 2, 2017 show at British Summertime Hyde Park stands out as his biggest concert based on attendance. The outdoor London stadium show drew a record-shattering crowd of 150,000 fans for one epic night of Bieber classics, special guests, flashy production, and nonstop dancing. This concert demonstrated Bieber’s immense popularity and cemented his status as one of the world’s biggest pop stars. While he has had other concerts with huge attendance figures, none have matched the sheer size of his audience at Hyde Park. It remains a crowning achievement of his record-breaking concert career thus far and proof that Bieber Fever was still going strong in the mid-2010s. If he continues selling out stadiums in the future, Bieber may yet top this concert and make history again by drawing an even larger crowd of Beliebers.