From The Rio Times · Lachlan Williams · · 3m
Rio October Events Guide
Rio's October 2026: Festival do Rio, bossa nova, and Tom Zé's 90th birthday.
In brief
Rio's October 2026: Festival do Rio, bossa nova, and Tom Zé's 90th birthday. Rio de Janeiro hosts its 28th Festival do Rio from October 1-11, five weeks of bossa nova in Leblon, and Tom Zé performs at Circo Voador two days before his 90th birthday. Originally reported by The Rio Times.
October 1-11: Festival do Rio
The city’s 28th Festival do Rio runs from October 1 to 11, with Brazilian and international films, retrospectives, and free outdoor screenings across cinemas from Copacabana to Niterói.
“The city’s own festival is the one that matters most to people who live here: eleven days of Brazilian and international premieres, retrospectives and free outdoor screenings, with the industry market RioMarket running 1 to 10 October alongside it.”
Leblon Bossa Nova Sessions
Teatro Café Pequeno in Leblon hosts eighteen bossa nova concerts over five weeks from October 2 to 8 November, featuring artists like Maurício Einhorn and Victor Biglione.
“Eighteen concerts over five weekends in the neighbourhood where the genre was born.”
Tom Zé at Circo Voador
Tom Zé plays the Circo Voador on October 9, two days before his ninetieth birthday, with tickets priced from R$80, 100.
“The great eccentric of the tropicália generation plays the Lapa tent on 9 October and turns ninety on the 11th.”
AC/DC Tribute at Qualistage
AC/DC UK plays a tribute band at Qualistage on October 10, with tickets priced from the venue.
“A tribute band that plays the classics of AC/DC, one of the biggest rock bands in the world.”
Jorge Vercillo at Qualistage
Jorge Vercillo performs at Qualistage on October 10, revisiting different moments of his career.
“The singer-songwriter brings a tour that revisits different moments of his career, which makes it a fair introduction to his catalogue.”
Elymar Santos Anniversary
Elymar Santos celebrates forty years of career at Qualistage on October 11 with the show 'Estrela Luminosa'.
“The singer celebrates forty years of career with the show 'Estrela Luminosa', a Sunday-night anniversary concert.”
Children’s Day on October 12
Monday 12 October is a national holiday, Nossa Senhora Aparecida, celebrated as Children’s Day, with many venues and museums adjusting hours.
“Monday 12 October is a national holiday, Nossa Senhora Aparecida, celebrated as Children’s Day, so plan around closed shops and full cinemas.”
A Cor Púrpura Musical
A Cor Púrpura returns for a short run at Teatro Multiplan in Barra from October 14 to 25, with English-speaking audiences able to follow the story.
“Fourteen performances only of the Brazilian production of the Alice Walker musical, with Suzana Santana again as Celie and Tadeu Aguiar directing.”
Ira! 20th Anniversary
Ira! marks twenty years of Acústico MTV at the Circo Voador on October 16, with close to a million copies sold.
“São Paulo’s long-running rock band marks twenty years of its acoustic live record, close to a million copies sold, under the Arcos da Lapa.”
Victor & Leo Tour
Victor & Leo perform their 'Essência' tour at Qualistage on October 16, playing songs that marked the genre and several generations of Brazilians.
“The sertanejo brothers play songs that marked the genre and several generations of Brazilians, in a tour called 'Essência'.”
Ana Carolina 25th Anniversary
Ana Carolina marks twenty-five years of career with the '25 Anas' tour at Qualistage on October 17.
“The singer-songwriter marks twenty-five years of career with the tour '25 Anas'.”
Vanessa da Mata at Vivo Rio
Vanessa da Mata performs at Vivo Rio on October 18, one of Brazil’s defining pop voices of the last two decades.
“One of the defining voices of Brazilian pop of the last two decades, in the big auditorium inside the Flamengo park.”
John Pizzarelli at Vivo Rio
John Pizzarelli plays at Vivo Rio on October 23, with a songbook between Nat King Cole and bossa nova.
“The American jazz guitarist and singer, a regular visitor to Brazil, with the songbook between Nat King Cole and bossa nova.”
Black Pantera Tour
Black Pantera opens their Brazil tour at the Circo Voador on October 24, with hard, political rock from Minas Gerais.
“The trio from Uberaba, Rock Artist of the Year 2025, starts its Continental tour in Rio. Hard, political rock from the interior of Minas Gerais.”
Oswaldo Montenegro at Qualistage
Oswaldo Montenegro performs at Qualistage on October 24, with a melodic catalogue that half of Brazil grew up on.
“The songwriter and filmmaker with the melodic catalogue that half of Brazil grew up on.”
Free CCBB Events
Vik Muniz’s exhibition ends at CCBB on October 12, and Soy Loco por Ti runs free until October 19.
“Vik Muniz, last days at Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, ending on the holiday Monday.”
Amazônicas Exhibition
Amazônicas, Poéticas Femininas runs free until November 16, featuring women artists from North Brazil with Afro-indigenous ancestry.
“Women artists from the North of Brazil, curated by Sissa Aneleh, with Afro-indigenous ancestry at the centre and virtual- and augmented-reality elements.”
Café, Almoço, Jantar
Café, Almoço, Jantar runs at Casa de Cultura Laura Alvim from October 10 to 25, following one family through 1987, 1994 and 2018.
“A comedy of manners that follows one family through 1987, 1994 and 2018, three breakfast, lunch and dinner scenes in a boarding house.”
Bukowski Rock-Blues
Rock-blues at Bar Bukowski runs every Saturday from midnight to 5am, with R$39.90 at the door and free entry for guests on the list after 1am.
“The Saturday-night residency continues through October: the Charles Zanol Trio from midnight, with Pedro Leão on guitar and Dawton Mendes on drums and cajón.”
Jazz Room Tribute
The Jazz Room runs a Sinatra and Armstrong tribute at Teatro Rival Petrobras from October 10 to 31, priced from R$100.
“The Rival’s long-running tribute evening, the American songbook with a live band in the Art Deco theatre off Cinelândia.”
The bottom line
Rio de Janeiro hosts its 28th Festival do Rio from October 1-11, five weeks of bossa nova in Leblon, and Tom Zé performs at Circo Voador two days before his 90th birthday.
