Zara Larsson is set to perform at Rock in Rio 2026, returning to the Brazilian festival at a very different point in her career than her last appearance. Although she already had a string of international hits when she played the event in 2024, the Swedish singer is now experiencing a fresh surge of popularity fueled by her album "Midnight Sun."
Larsson, 28, has been building her music career since childhood. In 2008, at age 10, she won the second season of "Talang," the Swedish version of the "Got Talent" franchise. The performance made the young singer known in her home country years before she broke into international charts.
Signed to TEN Music Group, Larsson released the EP "Introducing" in 2013. The project included "Uncover," one of her first major hits, which topped the charts in Sweden and helped raise her profile beyond the country.
"Lush Life" opens the door to international stardom
In 2015, Larsson released "Lush Life," a song that became one of the biggest successes of her career. Around the same time, she released "Never Forget You," a collaboration with British producer MNEK. In 2016 came "Ain't My Fault." All three singles reached the UK top five, making that period her first major international breakthrough.
The effect showed up in public interest too. Google Trends data shows that 2016 marked one of the first major spikes in searches for the singer's name.
Larsson also expanded her reach through collaborations. One of the best known came in 2017, when she lent vocals to "Symphony" by British group Clean Bandit. The song reached number one on the UK singles chart.
The run of hits culminated in the release of her album "So Good" in March 2017, which brought together songs she had released in previous years alongside new tracks.
From there, Larsson kept releasing albums and exploring new sounds. "Poster Girl" arrived in 2021, while "Venus" followed in 2024. She also kept up a steady stream of collaborations, including a version of "WOW" with American singer Sabrina Carpenter.
"Midnight Sun" and the singer's colorful new era
After 2017, Larsson's success did not reach the same heights again until 2025.
With an aesthetic inspired by the 2000s, vibrant colors and nods to the pop sound that defined that decade, Larsson began a new phase that put her name back at the center of the music industry.
The track "Midnight Sun," released in June 2025, preceded the album of the same name, which arrived in September. The project combined nostalgic elements with a carefully built visual identity that carried through into her costumes, makeup and music videos. The title track gained momentum gradually and became one of the main drivers of her comeback.
The new era also gained traction through "Stateside," a collaboration with British singer PinkPantheress. The song reached number six on a Billboard chart in the United States and hit number one on Spotify's global chart.
"Midnight Sun" itself reached number 23 on a Billboard chart in the United States in May 2026, nearly a year after its release.
What's next
Zara Larsson is scheduled to perform at Rock in Rio 2026 alongside acts including Lola Young and Twenty One Pilots.
