As the clock struck eight, ENGIE Stadium descended into darkness. A shadow cut a lone figure on the stage. Then, in a flash, the floodlights burst into action illuminating the man in a suave, perfectly manicured, white suit to pure pandemonium from the audience. Bad Bunny had arrived in Australia.

There are few in the music world commanding attention the way Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is at the moment. His Super Bowl performance last month was one of the most talked about in recent history and catapulted the Puerto Rican superstar, who is already the second most listened to artist on Spotify, into a completely new audience and demographic. His two nights at ENGIE Stadium in Sydney, marking his debut Australian shows, were already nearly sold out, but his Super Bowl performance was the final kicker that moved the remaining tickets and created a hype that far exceeded supply.

Before the show, the aura of Bad Bunny was felt around the entire Olympic Park precinct, with Puerto Rican, Chilean, Uruguayan and Brazilian flags as far as the eye could see as concertgoers danced their way into the stadium. This very much felt like a celebration for the Latin American diaspora in Australia, who had been waiting years for Benito to come to the Harbour City and they were finally revelling in the moment.

Before Bad Bunny took to the stage, the audience were treated to a set from Puerto Rican jazz band Chuwi, who delighted with their gorgeous and harmonious stylings. The band were cohesive and a great curtain raiser, with lead singer Lorén Aldarondo Torres’s vocals being particularly exquisite. It was a great start to the night, with most of the audience being present early, with the band clearly taking in the moment. 

When Bad Bunny took to the stage, the atmosphere was electric as the capacity crowd at ENGIE Stadium went absolutely wild. ENGIE Stadium is not the greatest venue for music, but it mattered not for this performance, as it allowed for a huge mosh pit on the cricket and horse racing field which engulfed the Puerto Rican and gave him a huge base of noise and support to work with.

When he was revealed to the audience, Bad Bunny stood there for over a minute with a presence of which parallels could only be drawn to the late Freddie Mercury. Few can command a stage with only their aura, but the Puerto Rican is one of them.

He commenced the show with “La Mudanza”, an upbeat song that had the crowd on their feet from the beginning, before moving into a salsa version of “Callaíta”, flanked by a Latin brass big band. The musicality on show was very high from the outset and the band gave a fantastic texture to the performance, really illuminating Bad Bunny’s vocals. He switched between a reggaeton style of singing and Latin trap throughout the concert, and this worked quite well as he showed off great range as a vocalist and a strong flow in his rap.

His performance of “Weltita” with Chuwi was an early highlight before the lights went down and the crowd was up again for “Baile Inolvidable” and “NuevaYol”. When on the main stage, it was also striking how strong the cinematography supporting the show was as it felt like the audience were extras in a movie, which is a rare occurrence for concerts and it added to the very special occasion of the performance. It was clear with the cinematography and the fireworks that filled the air throughout the whole show (as well as the cameras that everyone was given upon entry which flashed throughout the night) that this was a production where no expense was spared and that was something quite special for everyone in the audience. This was not just a concert. This was a cultural phenomenon and a party, where the message was wholeheartedly about love and not division. 

After this, Bad Bunny moved to his famous casita to perform a large chunk of the set. On the casita, he spent a significant amount of time interacting with his fans. The passion that his fans shared with him clearly resonated, as he spent a good amount of time with each person he interacted with, signing autographs and hearing their stories. It was a wonderful moment of connection and was felt by everyone in the audience, even though it was only a few he interacted with directly. It very much gave the sense that this is a man who cares about the impact of his music and how much it matters to those in attendance.

On the casita, Bad Bunny performed some of his biggest hits, including “Velda” and “Tití Me Preguntó”, which had the whole crowd singing along. He moved around the casita quite a bit, spending a lot of that portion of the set on top of it, which was great because it meant that even those in the far reaches of the stadium still had the opportunity to see him up close. Through the casita set, it really felt as though Bad Bunny was bringing Puerto Rico to Australia, which was very much in keeping with his mission. 

After “Yo Perreo Sola” and the James Bond tinged “Monaco”, Bad Bunny performed his exclusive song of the night, “Un Ratito”, before moving back to the main stage for a final flurry of hits, including his collaboration with J Balvin, “La Canción”, “Kloufrens” and “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”. The whole crowd was up and dancing before he ended with “EoO”, which was a great closer for the night.

Ultimately, this did not just feel like a concert. It felt like a cultural event and it felt like a party. This was a concert that felt special and very much like a celebration for the Latin American community and all those who connect with Bad Bunny’s music and his message. While a lot of the audience spoke Spanish, many did not, and it mattered not for this concert, with everyone on their feet for the duration and having an absolute blast.

Having reviewed over 200 shows in Sydney in recent years, I can safely say that, notwithstanding my rudimentary knowledge of Spanish, this was one of the most enjoyable concert experiences of any that I have covered. Bad Bunny brought the energy, he brought the passion and he brought the excitement. There was a fervour around this show and he lived up to every bit of the hype. Without wanting to sound hyperbolic, this felt like a seminal cultural moment, one that meant so much for so many in the audience and one that Australia very much needed. A night that no-one in the audience will ever forget. 

Rating: ★★★★★

Bad Bunny – ENGIE Stadium – 1 March 2026