Karol G Sparks Colombian Pride and Economic Boost with ‘Mañana Será Bonito Fest’ in Medellín
It’s official — Karol G’s “Mañana Será Bonito” tour is finally in Latin America. Before kicking off this new chapter that will take her to 15 cities, La Bichota brought a unique festival to her native Medellín. The Colombian star pulled out all the stops in a highly-anticipated event that spared no expense.
From the special preparations in the city to the surprise guests that included Becky G, Romeo Santos, and Peso Pluma, here’s everything you need to know about the fest that turned Medellín into the epicenter of Latin music for two days.
Mañana Será Bonito Fest brings joy and economic boost to Medellín
Karol G has been on an unstoppable roll in 2023. Following the success of her “Mañana Será Bonito” tour in the United States — where it became the highest-grossing tour of all time by a Latina — La Bichota set off to Latin America. The tour will arrive in Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. But before setting on the next trek, Karol G made a historic stop at the Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellín.
Easily rivaling any world-class music festival, the “Mañana Será Bonito Fest” involved mechanical attractions, immersive experiences, food courts, and an enviable lineup of stars. Although Karol G was the main act, the opening numbers included Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko, Soley, Jhay P, DJ Agudelo 888, Ñejo and Ryan Castro, Mar Mejia, and Nath.
Medellín Se Viste Bonito with Karol G
Karol G is at the forefront of a new generation of stars putting Medellín under the spotlight. Once upon a time haunted by stereotypes and a history of violence and pain, the city is now globally recognized for its music landscape.
As such, Medellín was decked up in pink, Karol G’s signature color, to welcome La Bichota and her fans. The imagery associated with the star — namely rainbows, mermaids, and the sun that appeared on the cover art of “Mañana Será Bonito” — adorned different corners of the city, including the metro and the airport terminal.
Metro de Medellín even launched a special card (Tarjeta Cívica) to commemorate Karol G’s homecoming festival. According to reports, the card sold out within four days, and purchases left a profit of 100 million COP (approximately $25K) for Metro de Medellín.
And the main event did not disappoint
With anticipation taking over the city, the “Mañana Será Bonito Fest” was a massive success. Karol G performed for over 80,000 people in the two-day concert at Estadio Atanasio Girardot. In 2021, La Bichota became the first female reggaeton artist to perform at the venue, so her return was significant.
Lighting the stadium on fire, Karol G performed some of the greatest hits in her discography, including “TQG,” “Amargura,” and “Mi Ex Tenía Razón.” While she filled the stage with her charisma and presence alone, La Bichota was committed to bringing a memorable show to Medellín and invited special guests to perform with her.
A star-studded guest list
The list of Latinx acts invited to share the stage with Karol G on the first night of “Mañana Será Bonito Fest” included rapper Young Miko, bachata icon Romeo Santos, “Mami” singer Becky G and “Una Noche en Medellín” rappers Ryan Castro and Cris MJ.
But the surprises didn’t stop there
Karol G brought DJ Tiësto, Peso Pluma, and Feid on stage the next night. La Bichota and Peso Pluma performed their collaboration “QLONA” live for the first time, causing a furor among fans. But the euphoria was at an all-time high when fellow Colombian singer Feid appeared to sing “FRIKI.” Videos of the performance quickly went viral online.
Beyond the stadium, all of Medellín could enjoy Karol G’s talent
Karol G’s “Mañana Será Bonito Fest” was a stimulating display of showmanship and music for fans of La Bichota. But Karol G went the extra mile to ensure her homecoming would also be a celebration for those who couldn’t make it to the stadium. Her two-day show was available for people to enjoy through screens in 23 spots across the Antioquia department.
The event also invigorated the city’s economy. According to reports, hotel occupancy surpassed 88% in Medellín, and profits ascended to 11 million U.S. dollars. Commerce unions, transportation spokespeople, and hotel representatives shared that the two-day event sparked an increase in operations and sales.
Guillermo Gómez, President of ACODRES (Colombian Association of the Gastronomic Industry), told Caracol TV that restaurants in Medellín reported an increase of 5% in sales, which is a positive result as the Colombian gastronomic industry expects December sales to contribute to this year’s balance.
Karol G overflows paisa pride
The Karol G phenomenon not only brought music and economy boosts to Medellín. On social media, several users have shared a renewed sense of pride for their city and country. “I love that artists love this little land so much. We paisas feel pure pride of where we come from, “a user wrote on X.
Karol is proud, too. Echoing the sentiment, the artist shared on Instagram, “I just fulfilled the biggest dream of my life: Making history in my own home. Colombia, I LOVE YOU!!!!”
