the 7 day festival, started nearly 40 years ago at the end of the military dictatorship, and represented the beginning of a new era of openness in the cultural and public life of rio and the country as a whole.

spread out across two weekends at the stadium and olympic site, it featured international superstars such as beyoncé, justin timberlake, alicia keys, bon jovi and bruce springsteen as well as brazilian favorites maria rita, zeca baleiro, kimbra + olodum, and sepultura.

the event goes beyond the gathering of great bands and spectators, as a huge emphasis is put on spreading the word about sustainability and environmental responsibility.

the festival was born in brazil and has taken place in the cities of rio de janeiro, lisbon, and madrid since its birth in 1985.