Processão dos Navegantes (Jan 1). Decorated boats sail across the Baia de Ilha Grande.
△ Lavagem do Bonfim (Jan). Salvador’s second most popular festival (after Carnaval), blending Catholicism and Candomblé.
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△ Carnaval (early Feb). The country’s biggest party, celebrated with parades and dancing.
Yemanjá (Feb 2). In Salvador decorated boats carry gifts to the Candomblé Goddess of the Sea.
Festa Nacional da Uva (Feb/Mar in even-numbered years). Grape festival, including a celebration of wine produced by Brazil’s Italian immigrants.
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△ The Brazilian Grand Prix (late Mar/early Apr). The Formula 1 car race held at São Paulo’s Interlagos circuit attracts a mix of Paulistano celebs and petrolheads.
São Paulo Biennial (mid-Mar in even-numbered years). This festival features works by leading artists from across Brazil and abroad.
Semana Santa (Mar/Apr). Religious celebration in Nova Jerusalém and Minas Gerais.
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Dia do Indio (Apr 19). A nationwide day in honor of Brazil’s indigenous peoples, with educational events, music, dance, and art workshops.
△ Hot-Air Balloon Festival (Easter week). A spectacular annual hot-air balloon event that has been held in Torres since 1989.
Festa Nacional da Maçã (Apr/May). São Joaquim’s national apple festival offers exhibitions of farm produce and livestock, as well as folk dancing, pop concerts, and parades on horseback.
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△ Festival Bananada (mid-May). A week-long festival that showcases rising musical talent.
Festa do Bembé do Mercado (mid-May). A festival of traditional Bahian music and dance set up to mark the abolition of slavery in 1888.
Festa do Divino Espírito Santo (May/Jun, 50 days after Easter Sunday). Based on the Pentecostal Advent of the Holy Spirit.
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△ São Paulo Pride (early Jun). Running since 1997, this is one of the biggest such events in the world.
Festa Junina (weekends throughout Jun). A Catholic festival commemorating the birth of saints Anthony (13 Jun), John (24 Jun), and Peter (29 Jun).
Bumba Meu Boi (late Jun). A hugely popular festival based on a northern Brazilian legend about a bull.
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Festival de Inverno (Jul 1–30). Held in Campos do Jordão, this is Latin America’s most prestigious festival of classical music and jazz.
△ Festival Literaria Internacional de Paraty (mid-Jul). A major international literary festival, held in the historic port town of Paraty.
Festival Internacional da Dança (2nd fortnight). Huge dance festival in Joinville, Santa Catarina.
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Festa da Nossa Senhora das Neves (Aug 5). Ten days of street celebrations in João Pessoa, marking the feast day of the city’s patron saint.
△ Festa do Peão de Boiadeiro (3rd Thu). The world’s largest rodeo event, receiving almost a million visitors over ten days.
Festival Gastronômico (late Aug). A ten-day food festival in Tiradentes, inspired by the rich and meaty cuisine of Minas Gerais.
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Festa Internacional de Pesca Sportiva (2nd fortnight, but sometimes held in July). This catch-and-release angling event in Cáceres is Brazil’s biggest fishing tournament.
XXXPERIENCE (late Sep). A huge São Paulo electronica and house music dance festival.
△ Rock in Rio (late Sep/early Oct). A massive rock festival, held in the Sambódromo.
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Oktoberfest (mid-Oct). The world-famous celebration of German beer, music, and way of life.
São Paulo International Cinema Show (mid-Oct). View more than 300 films hosted across the city.
△ Cirio de Nazaré (2nd Sun). One of the world’s largest festivities honoring the Virgin Mary.
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△ Padre Cícero Pilgrimage (Nov 2). Every year, up to two million pilgrims flock to the statue of patron saint Padre Cícero in Paraíba, considered one of the most important religious sites in Latin America.
Feira Nacional de Artesanato (late Nov/early Dec). A major crafts fair with products from all across Brazil, held in Belo Horizonte.
Natal Luz (late Oct–early Jan). Christmas starts early in Gramado at this 60-day, family-focused festival.
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△ Reveillon (Dec 31). Live music by global popstars and an incredible firework display as Copacabana hosts the world’s wildest beach party.
Yemanjá (Dec 31). Hundreds of devotees dressed in white take to the sea in Rio, symbolically jumping over seven waves to get closer to the Candomblé Goddess of the Sea and present offerings.