Which city hosted the first modern Olympic Games-inspired Rock in Rio festival in 1985?

Rio de Janeiro hosted the first Rock in Rio festival in 1985.

The inaugural event was held from January 11 to 20, 1985, in a purpose-built venue called the City of Rock. It was created by Brazilian entrepreneur Roberto Medina and featured major international and Brazilian acts, including Queen, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, and the B-52’s.

Rock in Rio was notable because large-scale international rock concerts were still relatively uncommon in Brazil. The festival attracted enormous crowds and helped establish Rio de Janeiro as a destination for major music events. Later editions took place in other cities, including Lisbon, Madrid, and Las Vegas, while the name continued to reference the festival’s Brazilian origin.

The event should not be confused with a single concert by the band Queen, even though Queen’s 1985 appearances became especially famous. Rock in Rio is a festival series, and Rio de Janeiro was both its birthplace and the location of its first edition.