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The party started long before the first note was played. By 5 p.m., waves of orange, pink and sparkling sequins had taken over the area surrounding State Farm Stadium, where cowboy boots, wide-brimmed hats and Latin American flags signaled that Karol G’s night was already underway.
With hours still to go before the Colombian superstar took the stage, fans were already in full celebration mode.
The photo booths set up inside the stadium quickly became one of the night's biggest attractions. Some fans waited in line for more than an hour to capture a souvenir photo, while others showed off outfits carefully planned for the occasion: tropical dresses and shirts, pink and orange ensembles, cowboy hats, boots and, of course,
plenty of sequins.
Then, at 8:20 p.m., the wait was over.
Karol G took the stage to the beat of "Latina Foreva” and “Un Gatito Me Llamó.” It took only minutes for her to trigger one of the evening’s loudest cheers when she tweaked a lyric to sing, “Sorry, no puedo porque hoy estoy en Phoenix” ("Sorry, I can’t, because today I’m in Phoenix").
The crowd’s reaction was immediate.
The Colombian star followed with a blend of “OKI DOKI” and “Tá OK” before addressing her fans for the first time.
“Hey, Phoenix! Wow! Look at the energy in this packed place. We came here to have una 'chimba' (an amazing time), right? I don’t know about you, but we came here to dance, cry, sing and celebrate,” she said.
And she delivered.
For the next two hours, much of the crowd remained on its feet, singing along, dancing and following every move of the Colombian performer as she turned the stadium into one massive party.
Karol G marvels at Phoenix fans’ outfits
“QLONA” kept the 'perreo' going before Karol G paused to acknowledge something that had clearly caught her attention: her fans’ outfits.
“Seriously, the outfits are incredible. The way you all prepare for these shows amazes me every time,” she told the crowd. “I’m always blown away by all the sparkles, the orange outfits, some of you dressed in blue. Let’s sing this one together.”
Then she sang “S91.”
Afterward, Karol G disappeared from the stage, giving the massive screens center stage as they set up one of the night’s most theatrical and colorful segments.
Actor Edward James Olmos appeared on screen with a message delivered in Spanglish, celebrating Latino pride and culture while introducing the next chapter of the show: Tropicoqueta.
The Colombian returned completely transformed. She emerged wearing an oversized red-and-orange feathered headdress, a matching top and skirt, and red boots accented with yellow details. Her dancers completed the vibrant scene in colorful costumes and feather fans.
Then, a giant scarlet macaw rose from the center of the stage, its wings stretching out in shades of yellow, blue and green. Karol G climbed aboard the towering bird to perform “Papasito,” turning the stadium into a dazzling spectacle of color and movement.
The musical journey through Latin America was just beginning.
Mexico takes center stage
“Amiga Mía” brought a touch of bachata to the set before Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles took the stage to perform the iconic “El Son de la Negra” while Karol G slipped away for another costume change.
She returned for “Ese Hombre Es Malo,” now wearing a glittering red bolero jacket and matching bow, leaning fully into the Mexican-inspired segment of the show.
“Mexico, thank you,” she told the crowd. “I owe so much to your culture, which has connected with me since I was a little girl. Tonight, I want us to celebrate this beautiful tradition.”
Karol G then sang part of the song a cappella, letting the audience carry the melody before launching into “MAMIII.”
Following another quick exit, she reappeared in blue sequin pants and a white shirt with matching blue sleeves emblazoned with the phrase “Single But Not Available,” a nod to “Te Llevas To” from her latest album, No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto.
“Let’s see if Phoenix knows this one,” she challenged.
Moments later, “Ahí,” her collaboration with Drake, filled the stadium. The crowd answered by singing every word and dancing along.
But the show soon returned to its tropical roots.
“Hey, Phoenix, if you know this one, sing it as loud as you can so everyone can hear you,” she said before launching into the cumbia track “Alguien Que Te Amaba,” this time sporting a black cowboy hat.
“We’re all together here, having an incredible night,” she added later.
The celebration continued with “Si Lo Ven,” “El Barco” and “Verano Rosa.”
Fans join Karol G on stage
One of the night’s most memorable moments came when Karol G decided the stage would no longer be hers alone.
The Colombian superstar invited several fans onstage during “BbY WOW,” turning them into part of the show’s choreography.
Fans from Mexico, El Salvador, and Panama sang, danced, and celebrated alongside her as giant screens lit up with a message that read: “PHOENIX, ustedes son Bby WOW.”
The crowd responded with thunderous cheers, embracing a moment that felt less like a performance and more like a shared celebration.
After another brief exit, Karol G returned in a sparkling gold sequin top and matching shorts, perched atop three oversized golden conga drums as she performed “Ivonny Bonita.”
The high-energy segment continued with “Pineapple,” followed by a hit-filled medley featuring “A Su Boca La Amo,” “GATÚBELA” and “Rompe La Dompe.”
By then, the party atmosphere inside State Farm Stadium had reached full force, with thousands of fans singing, dancing and matching Karol G’s energy song after song.
Karol G Brings the Show to the Crowd
For a few minutes, the distance between superstar and audience disappeared.
As she performed “AMARGURA,” Karol G made her way along the runway, stopping to interact with fans, pose for photos and soak in the energy of the crowd.
The intimate connection continued during “Tu Perfume,” giving fans some of the closest moments of the night.
Then the fire and sequins gave way to water.
The main stage screens began displaying images of waterfalls as the action shifted to the secondary stage, transformed into a massive blue-lit rock formation surrounded by water.
There, the Colombian singer performed “Dile Luna.”
Shortly afterward, her dancers entered carrying silver water jugs and began splashing her as they danced to the rhythm of “Bandida Entrenada” and “OJOS FERRARI.”
Throughout the night, the concert was as much a feast for the eyes as it was for the ears. Fireworks, towering flames, dazzling light displays and cascading water effects accompanied different songs, while the massive stage transformed from one act to the next. The main set, built around a towering rocky wall and a pyramid-like structure at its center, constantly evolved through projections, colors and special effects.
The concert became a feast for the senses throughout the night. Fireworks, bursts of flame, light displays and water effects accompanied different songs, while the massive screens and the main stage, built around a towering rocky wall with a pyramid-like staircase at its center, transformed with each segment of the show.
At times there was fire; at others, waterfalls, messages, vibrant colors on the screens and dancers splashing water on Karol G. Together, it all became part of a massive production designed to keep the audience engaged for more than two hours.
‘Roots always travel in the heart’
Another message from Edward James Olmos signaled the beginning of the show's final chapter.
“Even when we go far away, the heart longs for home. Sometimes the little things are what bring us back. A song, a flavor, a photograph. And suddenly, you’re home again,” the actor said.
“And if the morning star (Lucero) has reminded us of anything tonight, it’s that you can travel all over the world, but your roots always travel right here, in your heart,” he continued.
The message was then followed by an invitation for fans to raise their flags and celebrate where they come from, the sounds they grew up with and the traditions that helped shape their identities.
“Let’s celebrate and let Latin America be heard,” Olmos concluded.
Karol G emerged to the sound of “El Pescador,” accompanied by her dancers and dressed entirely in red: a one-sleeve top, low-rise wide-leg pants with a long train and a red headscarf.
Then, “Bichota” began.
Latin America fills State Farm Stadium with flags
Then came one of the most emotional moments of the night.
“It’s time to take out your flags and let them fly, fly, fly with pride, Phoenix,” the Colombian singer told the crowd.
From the stage, she began identifying the countries represented throughout the stadium.
“I see flags tonight from El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and, of course, from my home: Colombia!”
Flags soon began waving throughout the stands, turning State Farm Stadium into a giant mosaic of Latin America.
Karol G then removed the long train from her outfit and launched into “Tusa,” another of the night’s loudest singalongs.
She still found time to organize a cheering contest between the left and right sides of the stadium, making sure not to forget fans seated in the upper levels.
Then came “Coleccionando Heridas,” which was once again sung back word for word by the crowd.
But one of the most anticipated moments of the night was still to come.
‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’ has the entire stadium singing
The first notes were all it took.
“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” turned State Farm Stadium into one giant chorus as thousands of fans sang and danced along to one of Karol G’s biggest hits, taking the tropical celebration in Glendale to another level.
After more than two hours of music, choreography, costume changes and a journey through the sounds of Latin America, it was finally time to say goodbye.
At 10:37 p.m., Karol G closed the night with “Provenza.”
The same artist who had promised at the beginning of the show that Phoenix would dance, cry, sing and celebrate was now bringing the journey to an end.
Karol G thanked her fans one last time before slowly descending beneath the center of the stage.
A celebration across generations
When the lights came on, another thing became clear: Karol G’s appeal spans generations.
Among the thousands in attendance were young girls, teenagers and adults. Entire families made their way out of the stands still wearing cowboy hats, boots, sequins, tropical outfits and flags draped over their shoulders.
Most fans interviewed after the show agreed they had witnessed a memorable performance and left the stadium satisfied.
Some, however, had been hoping for one more surprise: a special guest, as had happened at other stops on the tour.
In Glendale, that moment never came. But it also never felt necessary.
“I loved it! The colors, the vibe and the energy were excellent. The only thing missing was a special guest, since other cities got one,” said Goodyear resident Zoila Rodriguez.
Rather than bringing out a surprise performer, Karol G put the spotlight on her own fans, inviting them onto the stage, interacting with them throughout the night and turning the stands into a mosaic of Latin American flags.
Outside, shortly after 11 p.m., the sequins, hats and flags began to disperse across Glendale.
Inside, an empty stage remained.
And among those leaving the stadium lingered the feeling that they had just experienced a massive Latin celebration.
Contact reporter Nadia Cantú via email at nadia.cantu@lavozarizona.com or on X at@Nadia_Cantu.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Karol G turns State Farm Stadium into a dazzling celebration
