Another wholemonth to enjoy in the Marvelous City! So, our tip is to make the most of October, especially since there are several commemorative dates. Check out what to do in October in Rio de Janeiro with the tips we’ve put together for you!
Matteo Bocelli returns to Brazil in 2026 for a series of intimate concerts celebrating the most memorable phase of his career, with plenty of romance, power, and authenticity.
At his performance at Vivo Rio this month, the experience goes far beyond a concert: it’s a musical journey of emotion and beauty that touches the hearts of everyone who listens.
Tickets are selling out fast—get yours now!
This month, Rio residents will be able to enjoy a lineup featuring big names in music, performing classical pieces by candlelight at iconic venues throughout Rio de Janeiro.
So, check out what’s coming up in October and choose your favorite Candlelight concert. There’s even a special Halloween edition!
You can find the full schedule here!
Mariene de Castro – Singer
Earlier this month, Mariene de Castro will present her new project, “Cantadeira,” for the first time on the Circo Voador stage, featuring a special guest appearance by Almério, traditional foods, and special decor on the big top.
The show is a return to his roots. A project that transforms the mud-brick house into a character, turning it into a sanctuary for memories, faith, love, and music—from the intimacy of the wood-burning stove to the collective power of the St. John’s bonfire.
On stage, the artist takes the audience on an emotional journey that celebrates traditional forró and the popular culture of the Northeast.
Rio Festival
This month also features another edition of the Rio Film Festival, the largest film festival in Latin America!
With an extensive lineup across various parts of the city, the Festival is a great opportunity to see the top film productions from Brazil and around the world, as well as to showcase incredible works by independent filmmakers.
In addition to film screenings, the Rio Festival also features seminars, workshops, panel discussions, and more!
For those who want to include culture and cinema in their October schedule (and beyond), the Suburban Audiovisual Festival returns to Rio de Janeiro at the Bangu Shopping Theater.
The free program is dedicated to filmmakers from the state’s suburbs and outlying areas, featuring a competitive showcase, a children’s showcase, workshops, and roundtable discussions.
Considered the largest international craft beer festival in Latin America, the event returns to Pier Mauá starting October 29.
With culinary curation by Pedro de Artagão, the event will also feature master brewer Garrett Oliver and an exclusive beer created in partnership with Brooklyn Brewery.
The event expects more than 50,000 visitors and will feature over 1,500 beer varieties from 250 breweries.
A very different experience this month: the Korean Flavors and Lights Festival debuts in Rio de Janeiro this October at Uptown Barra, featuring a setting illuminated by 2,000 lanterns, traditional cuisine, music, dance, workshops, and a crafts area.
The program is free and open to all ages.
Moto Brasil Festival
The Moto Brasil Festival (FMB) reaches its 14th edition this month with plenty of attractions and several new features!
The event is expected to draw more than 50,000 visitors over three days, featuring motorcycle exhibitions, test rides, rock concerts, extreme sports attractions, a kids’ area, a pet-friendly zone, and brand activations.
Among the confirmed highlights are the traditional Globe of Death with the Bala Family, wheelie demonstrations with Fany, the “Queen of the Hill,” and a 12-meter-high zip line available throughout the event!
Mario Cravo Neto: Under the Bahia Sun
Titled “Mario Cravo Neto: Under the Bahia Sun, ” this unprecedented exhibition opens this month at CAIXA Cultural Rio de Janeiro and features photographs, objects, videos, drawings, and watercolor paintings by artist Mario Cravo Neto.
Created between the late 1960s and the mid-1970s, these works depict the Bahian landscape of that same period and transport visitors to a Bahia whose provincial atmosphere is no longer evident today.
The Color Purple, the Musical
One of the most celebrated productions in Brazilian musical theater in recent years, “The Color Purple, the Musical” returns to Rio de Janeiro in October!
Based on the novel of the same name by Alice Walker, the story follows Celie (Suzana Santana), a Black woman who grows up in the southern United States during the first half of the 20th century, facing— from a very young age —a reality marked by violence, submission, and a lack of autonomy.
I doubt it
We live in a society that values stories of overcoming adversity, quick decisions, and unshakable confidence. But what if we don’t overcome it? What if we’re insecure? What if we stumble along the way?
These are the questions that drive the play “Duvido, ” which opens again this month at the Cia dos Atores headquarters in Lapa.
With text and performance by Marcéli Torquato and direction by Camila Nhary, this comedic monologue was born from the author’s desire to explore doubt as a creative force and to create a space where certainties are questioned.
By the pool, a man sitting
The play “A Man Sitting by the Pool” premieres at Teatro Ziembinski, running from October 2 to 25.
The play highlights the violence imposed by masculinity, with a script and direction by Diogo Liberano and performance and production by Gilberto Silva.
On stage, Gilberto Silva takes center stage in the play. However, rather than a linear narrative, the play is structured as an experience that demands the audience’s full attention, in which the connection between actor and audience sustains a journey that doesn’t seek to move forward, but inward.
