Celebration time ends with bang in Madonna concert for the ages

An estimated 1.6 million people packed Brazil's Copacabana beach for a free Madonna concert, braving the heat to see the end of her "Celebration" world tour.

The sand and oceanfront boulevard around Rio de Janeiro's famed beach were filled for several blocks.

Many had been there for hours or even days to get a good spot, while richer fans anchored in dozens of boats and others enjoyed the concert from beachfront apartments.

Firefighters sprayed water before the concert, when temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius, for fans gathered near the stage, and free drinking water was distributed.

Madonna, 65, sang songs such as Like a Prayer, Vogue and Express Yourself for over two hours from 10.45 pm on Saturday as she wound up the greatest hits tour that started late last year.

"Rio, here we are, in the most beautiful place in the world, with the ocean, the mountains, Jesus," she told the crowd, referring to the huge mountaintop Christ the Redeemer statue.

Brazilian pop artists Anitta and Pabllo Vittar, as well as younger musicians from samba schools, participated in the show. More than 3,000 police officers were deployed around the concert area, where the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart have also drawn million-strong crowds.