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A concert poster claiming that world-famous Colombian pop star Shakira is performing in Kandy, Sri Lanka, on 22 August 2026 spread rapidly across social media, exciting fans who rushed to check if tickets were real. The poster listed Tickets.lk as the official ticketing partner and named the venue the “Kandy International Cricket Stadium”. While some recognised it as satire, many others were unsure, and requests for verification poured in. We investigated.
Social Media Posts:
A poster circulated on social media claiming that Shakira would perform at the “Kandy International Cricket Stadium” on 22 August 2026, with tickets available for purchase through Tickets.lk.
The post spread widely on WhatsApp and TikTok as well.
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Fact-Check :
If a globally recognised artist like Shakira were scheduled to perform in Sri Lanka, it would be confirmed by mainstream media, her official channels, and authorised ticketing partners. Our search found no confirmation from any credible source.
No Sri Lanka Date on Shakira’s Official Tour Schedule
Any scheduled Sri Lanka performance would appear on Shakira’s official tour page. Her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour” has performances in the United States in June and July 2026, followed by Europe and the Middle East from September onwards. No Sri Lanka date is listed anywhere on the schedule. The official tour page is available here.
Ticket Prices in the Poster Are Inconsistent with Real Shakira Concert Prices
The prices listed on the fake poster are far higher than those charged at actual Shakira concerts worldwide. The comparison is shown below.
| Ticket Category | Price on Fake Poster (LKR) | Real Official Price (USD / LKR approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| General Admission | Rs. 85,000 | $45–$150 (Rs. 13,500–Rs. 45,000) |
| Golden Circle / Floor | Rs. 250,000 | $150–$400 (Rs. 45,000–Rs. 120,000) |
| VIP Lounge / Premium | Rs. 750,000 | $400–$900 (Rs. 120,000–Rs. 270,000) |
| Diamond / Backstage Pass | Rs. 1,050,000 – Rs. 3,500,000 | $1,000–$4,000 (Rs. 300,000–Rs. 1,200,000) |
No official Shakira concert anywhere in the world charges over Rs 3.5 million (approximately USD 11,000) for a Diamond or Backstage Pass. The inflated figures in the fake poster are a further indicator that the poster is not genuine.
Tickets.lk Confirms the Poster as a Fake Fabrication
The poster names Tickets.lk as the official ticketing partner. We checked the Tickets.lk website directly. No event featuring Shakira in Sri Lanka is listed on the platform.
We contacted Tickets.lk directly. They confirmed that the social media post claiming Tickets.lk is the official ticketing partner for a Shakira concert in Kandy is completely false. They warned the public to be alert to fake pages using the Tickets.lk brand, fraudulent links that claimed to sell tickets, and individuals collecting money without authorisation.
Tickets.lk also published a statement on their official Facebook page confirming that the post is false. That statement is available here.
Shakira, Football, and FIFA 2026
Shakira has one of the longest and most celebrated connections between musicians and international football. She is best known to football fans for “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”, the official anthem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, which remains one of the most iconic World Cup songs ever recorded. She also performed at the halftime show of the 2024 Copa América Final.
One of the reasons the fake Sri Lanka concert poster gained traction so quickly is, in part, because Shakira is very much in the public eye for FIFA 2026 right now. She is confirmed to perform “Dai Dai” her new official song for the 2026 tournament, recorded with Nigerian artist Burna Boy, at the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June 2026, before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. She is also confirmed to co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show on 19 July 2026 at New York-New Jersey Stadium, alongside Madonna and BTS, in a show curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay. In short, Shakira is performing at FIFA 2026, but in the United States and Mexico, not in Sri Lanka. | ESPN
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Conclusion :
Our investigation confirms that the social media posts claiming Shakira is performing at a concert in Kandy, Sri Lanka, in August 2026 are false. Shakira’s official tour schedule lists no Sri Lanka date. The venue named on the poster does not exist. No event is listed on Tickets.lk. Ticket prices in the poster are inconsistent with actual international concert pricing. Tickets.lk has publicly confirmed the post is fake and warned the public against fraudulent activity using their brand name.
Title: No, Shakira Is Not Holding a Concert in Kandy, Sri Lanka ; The Viral Poster Is Fake
Fact Check By: B.P. Hansani
Result: False
