Bad Bunny began a landmark residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on Friday night, marking the start of a 30-show run that sets a new precedent for live performance on the island. The series, titled No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí ("I Don’t Want to Leave From Here"), opened to a capacity crowd of 18,000 in San Juan with a performance that extended far beyond music, grounding itself in cultural history, community, and national identity.

The three-hour concert began with an educational prelude. Projected messages across large screens shared facts about Puerto Rico’s heritage, from its Taíno roots and African-influenced musical traditions to contemporary social and cultural realities. These included notes such as “Puerto Rico is an archipelago, not just an island” and “San Juan is one of the oldest cities in the Americas.”

When Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, finally took the stage around 9 p.m., he wore an ensemble inspired by indigenous Taíno aesthetics: a muted beige outfit with straw detailing, a trapper hat, and dark sunglasses. The set design mirrored Puerto Rico’s topography, with green hills and culturally significant motifs creating a backdrop that underscored the evening’s central theme, the island and its people at the center of the narrative.

The setlist ranged widely, featuring selections from his recent album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS including “KETU TeCRÉ” and “PIToRRO DE COCO,” alongside earlier hits like “El Apagón,” “Ni Bien Ni Mal,” and “La Santa.”

Throughout the show, Benito used his platform to recognize artists who shaped the genres he works within, including Tego Calderón, Ivy Queen, Daddy Yankee, and Don Omar. “This is all for you. For us,” he told the crowd during a mid-show pause, emphasizing a collective legacy over individual success, with a few standout moments included the artist wearing a cream suit in tribute to 1970s-era bandleaders, Benito referenced the legacy of figures such as Héctor Lavoe, Rubén Blades, and Willie Colón, and acknowledged the cultural influence of Puerto Ricans in the diaspora, particularly those who helped keep the genre alive in New York City.

In a lighter interlude, NBA players LeBron James and Draymond Green appeared on stage in a small-scale recreation of a Puerto Rican casita, a detail that underscored the show’s broader focus on home, familiarity, and cultural specificity rather than celebrity.

The economic and cultural impact of the residency is already significant. The Coliseo’s general manager, Jorge L. Pérez, called the event “a defining moment” for Puerto Rico’s entertainment sector in an interview with Billboard Español. More than 250,000 visitors are expected to attend over the course of the run, generating local revenue and positioning the island as a major destination for live music.

“It sends a clear message,” Pérez said. “Success doesn’t have to mean leaving Puerto Rico. This residency represents cultural importance, economic progress, and creative excellence, all from home.”

As the show closed near midnight, Benito stood with his team in front of a massive Puerto Rican flag, the stage bathed in light. The moment was understated but clear in intent, a final gesture of recognition to the island that raised him and the culture that continues to define his work.