In several Brazilian cities, there will be special programming to celebrate the arrival of the new year. Big parties, showsfireworks, religious services and rituals are being prepared to welcome 2026.
THE Brazil Agency brings together the main free attractions to celebrate New Year’s Eve in some of the Brazilian capitals.
Rio de Janeiro
The turn of the year in the city of Rio de Janeiro, considered the biggest New Year’s Eve of the planetwill have multiple stages. There will be three stages on Copacabana Beach. On the main stage, singers Gilberto Gil, Ney Matogrosso, Belo, Alcione, João Gomes, Iza, DJ Alok and the Beija-Flor drums will perform.
In total, 13 stages will be spread across the cityin locations such as Leme, Flamengo, Madureira and Ilha do Governador, with more than 70 attractions.
São Paulo
In São Paulo, the program on Avenida Paulista will feature 14 hours of music with the largest silent fireworks display, lasting 15 minutes. The artistic highlights go to Ana Castela, the duo Maiara & Maraísa, Simone Mendes, João Gomes, and the closing with the singer Latino.
At the beginning, there will be religious presentations by Father Marcelo Rossi and Frei Gilson. Avenida Paulista will open to the public at 1pm this Thursday, with the official program of musical performances starting at 1:30pm. Find out more here.
Belo Horizonte
In its fourth edition, the Virada da Liberdade party, in Belo Horizonte, will have an open-air scenographic stage framing the Palácio da Liberdade, a special show with drones, the traditional fireworks display and a tribute to the singer and composer Lô Borges, who died in November, aged 73.
This year, Virada da Liberdade is conceived around the theme “Faith in Tomorrow”. The state government’s initiative aims to value artists from Minas Gerais and promote diverse and free programming, reaching audiences of all ages.
The event will bring together names from Brazilian music, such as Biquíni, Lagum, Aline Calixto, Juarez Moreira and Pé de Sonho.
Brasilia
The arrival of 2026 in the Federal District (DF) will have a diverse program, with large free events organized by the local government, in addition to private parties.
The DF Secretariat for Culture and Creative Economy details that official events take place mainly in two points in the center of Brasília: on the Esplanada dos Ministérios and Praça dos Orixás (Prainha), on the south shore of Lake Paranoá.
The public will have free public transport (bus and metro) from 6pm this Wednesday (31st) until the end of Thursday (January 1st).
For the party New Year’s Evethe Esplanada dos Ministérios stage welcomes, from 6pm today, artists Samuel Rocha, Israel and Rodolffo, Carlinhos Brown and country singer Lauana Prado. She will count down to the new year. The fireworks display will last 12 minutes.
On January 1st, it’s Adriana Samartine’s turn, the duo Pedro Paulo & Matheus and Belluco, Murilo Huff, Ana Castela and Calcinha Preta to liven up the party.
Praça dos Orixás has had programming for New Year’s Eve focused on cultural diversity and religious rituals since Tuesday (30), when there were performances by singer Dhi Ribeiro and samba de roda groups, such as Pé de Porteira, Nossa Galera.
This Wednesday, the program continues with Sambrasília, Uel, Afro-Brazilian Rituals, Makumbá with Kika Ribeiro, Asé Dudu and Grupo Cultural Obará. The pyrotechnic display at Praça dos Orixás is expected to last eight minutes.
Goiás
The government of Goiás will bring free music and entertainment to cities in different regions of the state through the Festival do Bem – New Year’s Eve Edition. The artists will perform in the cities of Inhumas, Ipameri, Itauçu, Rio Quente, São Luís de Montes Belos and São Simão. See the full schedule at website of the state government.
Savior
In the capital of Bahia, the Virada Salvador Festival celebrates the New Year’s Eve in five days, from Saturday (27) to Thursday (31) on two stages, at the Arena O Canto da Cidade, in the Boca do Rio neighborhood. Entry is free.
For those who cannot attend in person, the Virada Salvador Festival is broadcast live on Official channel of Salvador City Hall on YouTube.
The culmination of the new year’s celebrations will be shows by Ivete Sangalo, Jorge & Mateus, Manu Bahtidão, Mari Fernandez, Timbalada and Xanddy Harmonia.
In total, Salvador will have fireworks displays in more than 20 locations around the city. Check out the locations:
- Barra Lighthouse;
- Red River;
- Amaralina;
- Garden of Allah;
- Boca do Rio (two points);
- Landings;
- Itapuã;
- Bon voyage;
- Ribeira;
- Santo Antônio Além do Carmo;
- Cajazeiras X;
- Periperi;
- São Tomé de Paripe;
- Pernambués;
- Bom Jesus dos Passos Island;
- Itamoabo (Maré Island);
- Santana (Maré Island);
- Praia Grande (Maré Island);
- Bananeiras (Ilha de Maré);
- Botelho (Maré Island);
- Paramana (Frades Island).
João Pessoa
In João Pessoa, the show The main event will feature the Minas Gerais band Jota Quest and artists from the region, such as Pimenta Nativa, Mano Walter, Juzé and Pagode do Meu Agrado.
The stage is already set up at the height of the Bust of Tamandaré and the The organizers’ expectation is to bring together more than half a million people.
The city hall announced the event will have eight minutes of fireworks, with a ton of fireworks without a bang. The measure respects the law that establishes care for pets, children, elderly people and those sensitive to noise.
Strength
The countdown to the New Year’s Eve de Fortaleza will take place again at Aterro da Praia de Iracema, which will have three stages, two days of partying, more than 20 artists and bands. The city hall also set up decentralized stages to serve the population in other neighborhoods of the capital of Ceará.
The opening of the city’s 300th anniversary celebrations will feature, on the 31st, performances by Seu Jorge (on New Year’s Eve), Claudia Leitte, Matuê, Wesley Safadão, Paralamas do Sucesso and Taty Girl.
Check it out here the schedules of shows.
Reef
Virada Recife 2026, organized by the city hall of the capital of Pernambuco, transforms Praia do Pina into a stage with shows of national and local artists for three days.
On the last day of the year, the shows will start at 7pm. Matheus & Kauan, Alceu Valença, Lipe Lucena and Matheus Moraes take to the stage on the waterfront. The countdown is by Wesley Safadão.
Saint Louis
New Year’s Eve at the seaside is the highlight of New Year’s Eve from São Luís. The event with free musical programming is promoted by the Maranhão State Department of Culture (Secma) and is scheduled to take place from 5pm today. At 9pm, singer Xand Avião delivers the forró repertoire. From 11:30 pm onwards, singer Avine Vinny commands the stage in the minutes leading up to New Year’s Eve.
After the arrival of 2026 and the fireworks show, the program continues at 1:30 am with show by Jhonny Boy. The closing is scheduled for 3:30 am, with a performance by Rey Vaqueiro.
Bethlehem
The capital of Pará will have lots of music at Vira Pará, a free event for the population. From 8pm on December 31st, the Mangueirão Stadium parking gates will be open to welcome the public.
The scheduled attractions are Joelma and Gaby Amarantos from Pará, as well as Nattan, Natanzinho Lima, Carol Lyne and the Carabao sound system.
The countdown to New Year’s Eve will be done by Joelma.
Manaus
New Year’s Eve Manaus 2026 – The Nossa Gente meeting had its structure set up in the Ponta Negra tourist complex, in the west zone of the capital of Manaus.
Ponta Negra Beach has been closed for swimming since 2pm on Tuesday (30), as a preventive measure adopted during major events to avoid accidents in the water, such as drownings.
To increase the population’s access to the city’s end-of-year celebration, the city hall set up stages in Parque Amazonino Mendes, on Alameda Alphaville, between the north and east zones; and in the Educandos neighborhood (Amarelinho), in the south zone.
The national attractions are the duo Bruno & Marrone and the singer Klessinha. The city council claims to have hired more than 100 local artists in the last few days of the year, with the aim of strengthening the creative economy and expanding opportunities in the Amazonian cultural sector.
Florianópolis
The city will have the traditional cascade of lights on the Hercílio Luz Bridge, which takes thousands of tourists and residents annually to the famous tourist spot in the capital of Santa Catarina.
The spectacle will be added to the expanded fireworks display along the bay that connects the mainland to the island. Altogether, the show of lights on the nine ferries scattered along the coast should last up to 15 minutes.
Dilsinho is a confirmed musical attraction for New Year’s Eve 2026 at Beira-Mar Continental. The program will feature other local artists. On stage in Beira-Mar Norte, the group Raça Negra will be the main attraction of the night of celebration.
Porto Alegre
The city hall of the capital of Rio Grande do Sul organized New Year’s Eve with free programming at Parque Harmonia and Orla do Guaíba (section 1), with DJs and local bands.
In addition to show fireworks, the attractions for the public promise to please different musical tastes. Names ranging from Renato Borghetti, Di Ferrero, Seguidor F, to Escola Imperadores do Samba, Samba 90 Graus and Pagode do Dorinho.
Find out more at website created for the festival.
The event will be broadcast live on official channel of Porto Alegre city hall on YouTube.
Transport and security
For New Year’s Eve 2026, several Brazilian cities have prepared operations that go beyond the stages. With the aim of ensuring that millions of spectators enjoy the event with peace of mind, plans are underway that integrate security and mass transport logistics.
Almost all of the capitals mentioned will have a special metro/bus scheme (some with zero fares), starting this Wednesday afternoon.
In large concentrations, such as Copacabana (RJ) and Avenida Paulista (SP), access will not be free as on normal days.
In many locations, search points (control barriers) are planned at the main entrances to the avenues where there will be crowds. Local authorities can make use of dmetal detectors and facial recognition cameras.
In several celebrations throughout Brazil, entry with glass bottles, sharp objects and private fireworks is strictly prohibited.
Military police and municipal guards will act with reinforcement from drones and observation towers connected in real time to Command and Control centers.
One tip is to avoid taking valuables, jewelry, watches or large amounts of cash. For those who travel to places with a large concentration of people, it is recommended to always keep your cell phone in your front pockets or money boxes.
In case of lost or stolen devices, the main tool for quickly blocking cell phones is the Celular Seguro app. Find out more about the initiative here.
