REVIEW: BAD BUNNY MAKES HIS AUSTRALIAN DEBUT IN SYDNEY ON HIS 'DEBÍ TIRAR MÁS FOTOS WORLD TOUR'

View our full gallery below!

Images: Vasili Papathanasopoulos ©

For an artist who has already conquered South America, North America and Europe, the arrival of Bad Bunny in Australia was long overdue. Taking over Sydney’s Engie Stadium last night, the performance marked not only his first-ever Australian tour, but a historic milestone: the first time a Latin American artist has headlined a stadium tour down under. The anticipation for him to finally arrive on our shores had been simmering for years, and when the lights dropped inside the stadium last night, it was clear this was not just another concert - it was a cultural moment.

From the outset, the atmosphere was jubilant, like one sprawling party. As chants of his name rang out, Bad Bunny aka Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio couldn’t help but smile, even as he tried to play it nonchalant. The opening section of his set on the main stage leaned into a traditional Latin American aesthetic, both musically and visually. A live band added a rich, nostalgic texture to the sound; the brass section was spectacular, punching through the stadium air with warmth and power, while the drums and bongos provided a heartbeat that felt organic and celebratory. Everyone was dancing, creating these pockets of love and shared experiences throughout the venue. The performance thrived on subtleties as much as spectacle, weaving high-impact moments with more restrained passages that allowed the groove to breathe. For WELTiTA, he invited the shows support act, Chuwi, on-stage which had the crowd overjoyed.

For the shows second act, the production shifted to ‘La Casita,’ transforming the cavernous stadium into what felt like one giant house party. The B-stage setup brought a sleek, modern edge, and the setlist leaned towards the musicians more R&B-infused songs. Cup in hand, there was a sensual undercurrent to this segment - a looseness that invited the audience to lean in closer. He stepped down into the crowd, high-fiving fans, shaking hands, and plucking one fan from the audience to join him and the Casita crew. The staging was cleverly designed so that multiple sections of the stadium experienced an up-close moment. It was also here that Sydney received a tour exclusive performance of UN PREVIEW, continuing the tradition of a surprise song at each show. Towards the end of his time at ‘La Casita,’ Bad Bunny’s vocals took on a silky, old-world smoothness - the kind of tone that could win over generations.

Returning to the main stage, the show dipped into a more-down tempo, contemporary realm. Dancers joined him for a series of genre-blurring tracks that fused reggaeton with more progressive, experimental edges, The choreography added a visual drama without overpowering the music. And then came the inevitable crescendo: closing numbers El apagón, DtMF and EoO sent the stadium into delirium, fireworks, lighting and flames accentuating each song with precision. 

Throughout the evening, Bad Bunny proved himself an endlessly engaging performer. He moved effortlessly between melodic phrasing and rap verses, showcasing his range as an artist. His singing voice carries a full, rounded tone - warm yet commanding - and live, it resonated with a striking depth. More than technical prowess though, it was his intention that stood out. He appeared deeply invested in giving the crowd everything he had, creating a space where fans felt safe to scream the words to his songs, dance, and let go.

The setlist itself was carefully curated to reflect the breadth of his catalogue, whilst spotlighting his latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos. Fan favourite tracks were strategically placed for maximum impact, promoting the loudest sing-a-longs Engie Stadium has ever heard, with newer material woven seamlessly into the shows emotional arc. It was less a greatest hits run-through, and more a narrative of where he has been and where he’s headed. 

Visually, the production was nothing short of astonishing. Beams and waves of light sliced through the stadium in hypnotic patterns, moving in sync with the set. Fireworks and bursts of flames were incorporated with intention, punctuating the songs instead of detracting from them. Video interludes added context, texture and humour; including an opening sequence featuring two Australian men hyping the crowd and leading a chant to get Bad Bunny on stage. Throughout the night, subtle touches of Australiana were woven into the visuals, reinforcing that this was a meeting point between cultures. 

At its heart, the Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour is a celebration of Latin American music and Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican roots. The passion embodied in the rhythms, the soul in the brass, the heartbeat of the drums, all transcend language. For his Australian debut, Bad Bunny didn’t simply perform; he connected. He turned a stadium into a dance-floor, a house party, and at times, something close to home. If the deafening reception in Sydney is anything to go by, this won’t be the last time Australia welcomes him back.