After being closed for more than a decade—marked by extensive construction, delays, and postponements—the new Museum of Image and Sound on the Copacabana waterfront has now (partially) opened its doors. But even though the building isn’t fully open yet, you can still visit the MIS and learn a little more about the museum’s history. Find out more details here!
The country’s first audiovisual museum
The Museum of Image and Sound was inaugurated on September 3, 1965, by then-Governor Carlos Lacerda, as part of the celebrations marking the city’s 400th anniversary.
Considered the country’s first audiovisual museum, the MIS was founded with the goal of preserving and disseminating Brazil’s audio and visual heritage. Since Rio de Janeiro was Brazil’s capital at the time, it was also important to reaffirm its role as the nation’s great cultural epicenter.
The museum’s historic headquarters is located in a neoclassical building in the Praça XV area. The building was designated a historic landmark in 1989 and still retains its original architectural elegance today .
Currently, the institution is divided between two locations: one at Praça XV and the other in Lapa, both in downtown Rio de Janeiro. The collection, comprising 37 collections and more than 350,000 items, houses true treasures, such as Augusto Malta’s photographic collection and private collections belonging to figures like Jacob do Bandolim and Elizeth Cardoso.
In addition, prints, records, films, sheet music, and three-dimensional objects—such as clothing, plaques, medals, trophies, and musical instruments—are also part of the collection.
Thus, the MIS continues to serve as an important research center on popular music, radio, cinema, and photography for historians, students, and lovers of Rio de Janeiro culture!
The new Museum of Image and Sound in Copacabana: what to do
In 2009, a new MIS headquarters was announced, this time in Copacabana, in the South Zone. The building was scheduled to open in late 2014.
Many years have passed, with several delays during construction, but the new MIS finally opened—partially—its doors in 2026. And what can you already visit there?
The exhibition “MIS: Architecture in the Spotlight” marks the final phase of construction of the Museum of Image and Sound in Copacabana. The exhibition is divided into five sections, each offering a behind-the-scenes look at the museum—from the selection of the design to the technical challenges involved in bringing this architecturally unique building to life .
Currently, tours are limited to the Lower Atlantic and Mezzanine levels, with no access to the museum’s other floors or the terrace. Additionally, all tours are guided and by appointment only. Therefore, it’s important to check ticket availability on the official website or MIS’s social media channels.
In addition to new temporary and permanent exhibitions, the new museum plans to open spaces dedicated to research, educational areas, and a cinema-theater. Furthermore, the project also includes an auditorium, a gift shop, a café, a restaurant with a panoramic view, a nightclub, and an observation deck.
📍Avenida Atlântica, 3432 – Copacabana
