World Record in Croatia: Thompson Concert Draws 500,000

On Saturday, 5 July 2025, Croatia witnessed a historic cultural and musical milestone as nationalist rock singer Marko Perković—known widely as Thompson—performed before an estimated 504,000 fans at Zagreb’s Hippodrome. The concert, confirmed by organizers and Croatian media, now holds the world record for the largest single-artist paid concert in history.

Weeks of planning culminated in an unprecedented spectacle. With more than 281,000 tickets sold in the first round alone, final numbers passed the half-million mark, making it not only Croatia’s most attended ticketed event ever, but a global outlier in live performance history. For comparison, it eclipsed previous paid-attendance giants like Vasco Rossi’s 220,000-ticket Modena show in 2017 and Tina Turner’s 180,000-attendee Rio concert in 1988.

The logistical demands were monumental. The main stage, imported from Dubai, stood as tall as a 12-story building and stretched 1,500 square meters. It was outfitted with 1,100 lighting units, 2,100 LED screens, and fiery pyrotechnics. In a stunning technological flourish, a drone show involving 1,000 units lit up the sky with religious imagery such as crosses, angels, and rosary beads, adding a spiritual overtone to the nationalist fervor.

“Drones paint Sky Motives as Thompson took the stage at Zagreb Hippodrome.” © 2025 Truthlytics. All rights reserved.

Safety and infrastructure support matched the scale of the event. Over 6,500 police officers were deployed alongside more than 3,000 private security personnel. Helicopters hovered, snipers observed from rooftops, and a fully equipped field hospital with 400 beds was established. Crowd care included 2,500 portable toilets, 5,000 bartenders, and the distribution of over two million water bottles. Emergency medical services responded to 245 cases, mostly for heat exhaustion and intoxication, while 123 individuals were detained—primarily for using pyrotechnics.

Zagreb’s hospitality sector experienced a windfall. Hotels across the city reported full occupancy, and public transport systems were stretched to capacity. From early morning, thousands of fans—many draped in Croatian flags—poured into the city, creating scenes of patriotic celebration. According to reports, entire squares and neighborhoods became spontaneous fan zones.

The concert began just after 9 p.m. with Thompson opening with “Ustani iz sjene,” followed by signature songs like “Bojna Čavoglave,” “Lijepa li si,” and “Moj Ivane.” The energy was intense and deeply emotional. For many attendees, the event was more than a concert—it was a reaffirmation of national identity. “Thompson is a patriot. He does not insult anyone. He loves everybody,” one fan told Croatian reporters.

“Concertgoers brandished Croatian flags as Thompson took the stage at Zagreb Hippodrome.” © 2025 Truthlytics. All rights reserved.

However, the event was not without controversy. As footage emerged of Thompson and segments of the crowd performing the WWII-era “Za dom spremni” Ustasha salute—a symbol associated with Croatia’s fascist past—critics erupted. Former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor condemned the use of public resources to facilitate what she described as a glorification of historical extremism. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and ex-president Boris Tadić issued strong rebukes, framing the concert as a state-endorsed celebration of genocide. Croatian courts have previously allowed the use of the salute in artistic performance contexts, though civil society remains sharply divided on the issue.

Despite these tensions, for many within Croatia and across its diaspora, the event was a source of pride. Its organization was hailed as flawless by many observers, and the crowd’s size, discipline, and energy stunned even seasoned concertgoers. The use of a specialized mobile app allowed fans to navigate the venue and receive updates without internet access—an innovation praised for managing such a massive gathering.

In the end, Thompson’s Zagreb concert was more than a record-breaking show. It was a mirror reflecting Croatia’s cultural currents—both its unity and its divides. While celebrated by many as a national triumph, it also reopened deep questions about history, memory, and the role of music in shaping collective identity.