Linkin Park returns to Portugal after 12 years with sold-out Rock in Rio show and new vocalist Emily Armstrong

The long-awaited return

The concert, part of the "From Zero World Tour" that began in September 2024, marked Linkin Park's first appearance in Portugal since 2014, when they last played Rock in Rio with original vocalist Chester Bennington. Bennington died in 2017, and the band went on hiatus until 2024, when they announced a new lineup with vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain. Tickets for the June 21 show sold out in April, making it the fastest-selling day in the festival's Portuguese history, according to organizers.

We haven't heard about them for so long and now they're here in Portugal, it's unbelievable.

A setlist bridging eras

The nearly two-hour performance was structured in three acts and an encore, alternating classic hits with tracks from the 2024 album "From Zero". The show opened with "The Emptiness Machine", followed by "Lying from You" and "Crawling". Later, the band played "Overflow", "What I've Done", "Numb", and "Heavy is the Crown". The encore featured a legendary sequence: "Papercut", "In the End", and "Faint". Emily Armstrong also performed "Where'd You Go", a song from Mike Shinoda's Fort Minor project, which she said held personal meaning.

Emily Armstrong's reception

Fans interviewed by Portuguese media expressed support for the new vocalist, acknowledging that no one can replace Bennington but praising Armstrong's intensity and stage presence. One fan, Lucas Araújo, displayed a band tattoo and said, "There's no replacing Chester, but she's not there for that." Another, Pedro, added, "Nobody replaces Chester, but Emily does a good job and it's going to be a great concert." The crowd sang along loudly to classics like "Numb" and "In the End", while also embracing the new material.

It's my favorite band... There's no replacing Chester, but she's not there for that.

International draw and festival context

The second day of Rock in Rio Lisboa 2026 drew visitors from across Portugal and Spain. A family from Madrid traveled to Lisbon after failing to secure tickets for the band's show in Santiago de Compostela days earlier. Others came from Andalusia. The festival, held at Parque Tejo (also known as Parque Papa Francisco), continues on June 27 and 28 with headliners including Rod Stewart, Cypress Hill, 21 Savage, and Central Cee. Earlier on Sunday, The Pretty Reckless, fronted by Taylor Momsen, also drew a large crowd.