Bad Bunny Begins Puerto Rico Residency, Skips U.S. Tour Dates

Puerto Rico is experiencing what locals call “Bad Bunny mania” as the global music icon begins his long-anticipated residency at Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, is performing 30 sold-out shows, with the first nine reserved exclusively for Puerto Rican residents. The concerts are seen not just as entertainment, but as a cultural and political statement emphasizing Puerto Rican pride, resilience, and self-reliance.

“Benito is speaking personally to Puerto Ricans first and foremost,” said Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, historian of Puerto Rico. Local businesses are embracing the excitement, with themed menus and special merchandise selling out across the island.

The concerts showcase songs from Bad Bunny’s latest album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” which highlights themes like gentrification, colonialism, and the Puerto Rican diaspora. Tracks such as “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii” address fears of cultural and physical displacement, while “Nuevayol” celebrates Puerto Rican contributions in places like New York.

Following the residency, Bad Bunny will embark on a world tour that notably excludes the United States. Experts like Javier J. Hernández Acosta, dean at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, suggest this is a deliberate choice aimed at affirming Puerto Rico’s identity.

Asked why he wouldn’t tour the U.S., Bad Bunny told Variety, “It’s unnecessary,” indicating American fans have already had ample chances to see him perform.

For many on the island, the residency offers more than music. It’s a moment to gather, reflect, and celebrate Puerto Rican culture after years of challenges, from economic struggles to natural disasters.

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