Spanish streaming sensation Ibai Llanos just pulled off the impossible. His “La Velada del Año” (The Evening of the Year) event at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium didn’t just break all records—it shattered them. With over 3.5 million live online viewers and a packed stadium of 85,000 fans, Ibai proved he’s not just a big deal in Spain, but he’s the undisputed number one on Twitch.
It got even better when Hollywood superstar Will Smith showed up out of nowhere, speaking Spanish like a pro. He performed some of his classic songs and made the crowd go crazy at the Real Madrid’s home stadium.
Smith’s performance acted as a sort of half-time show to entertain viewers between the boxing matches. Ibai’s La Velada is a fight night in which the most famous Spanish speaking streamers face each other in the ring. Imagine your favorite YouTubers duking it out in the ring, then catching your breath with tunes from David Bisbal and Bizarrap. Yesterday, Ibai really showed the Twitch world how it’s done.
Ibai didn’t just organize an event, he created a cultural phenomenon. It was the fourth time that streamers gather for the annual happening. One fan, clearly mind-blown, commented, “Ibai with a quick reminder that he’s the biggest streamer on the planet.” They are not wrong.
But let’s talk about Will Smith for a second. His appearance wasn’t just a surprise: It was a statement. Despite recent controversies, Smith showed he’s still got that star power. “Claiming Will Smith is ‘falling off’ because he’s diversifying into different mediums is just dumb. The guy is still killing it financially.” One commenter explained.
The event also highlighted the growing influence of Spanish-speaking content creators. Ibai’s ability to pull off something of this scale proves that the streaming world isn’t just an English-language game anymore. It’s a reminder that talent and creativity can break language barriers and unite millions.
What’s next for Ibai? If he can fill one of the world’s largest stadiums and bring in Hollywood A-listers, the sky’s the limit. It will be exciting to see if some of the big English-speaking streamers will pull off something similar. Many fans would love to see a big live event, but they know also that the English streaming community might currently have too many segments to make a push into pop culture.
