Rock in Rio

Rock in Rio is a biennial multi-day music festival held at the City of Rock (Cidade do Rock) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Founded in 1985 by Brazilian entrepreneur Roberto Medina, it is one of the largest music festivals in the world. The first edition drew 1.38 million people over ten days. The 2026 edition runs September 4 to 13 across seven nights split over two weekends, headlined by Foo Fighters, Elton John, Maroon 5, Calvin Harris, Stray Kids, and Avenged Sevenfold. Live Nation Entertainment acquired a majority stake in the festival in 2018.

How Rock in Rio Works

Rock in Rio takes place at the City of Rock, a purpose-built festival venue in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. The festival runs across seven nights over two weekends in September, with each night featuring a distinct headline bill. Gates open at 2:00 PM, last entry is at midnight, and programming runs until 2:00 AM.

Key operational details:

1. Stages and Programming: The festival features multiple stages, including the Palco Mundo (Main Stage) for international headliners and smaller stages for Brazilian and emerging acts. The 2026 lineup spans rock, pop, metal, electronic, and Brazilian music, with over 70 confirmed acts. The full lineup includes Foo Fighters, Elton John, Maroon 5, Calvin Harris, Black Eyed Peas, Twenty One Pilots, Demi Lovato, Halsey, Ne-Yo, J Balvin, Nelly, Bring Me the Horizon, Zara Larsson, Avenged Sevenfold, Rise Against, Jamiroquai, Fatboy Slim, Laufey, Meduza, Stray Kids, Alok, and Sepultura.
2. Ticketing: Tickets are sold exclusively through Ticketmaster Brasil. Each night is ticketed separately, with day passes for each headline bill. As of June 2026, tickets for September 6 (Calvin Harris and Black Eyed Peas) and September 12 (Maroon 5 and Demi Lovato) are sold out. Remaining dates still have tickets available.
3. Age and Access: Rock in Rio 2026 has a minimum age of 16. Entry is not permitted for anyone under 16, regardless of whether they are accompanied by an adult. The festival offers accessibility services, including accessible viewing platforms and shuttle services.
4. Global Expansion: Rock in Rio has expanded beyond Brazil with editions in Lisbon (since 2004), Madrid (2008 to 2012), and Las Vegas (2015). The Rio de Janeiro edition remains the flagship and the largest.

Real-World Example: Rock in Rio 2026

The 2026 edition runs September 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, and 13 at the City of Rock in Barra da Tijuca. The seven-night schedule is split across two weekends:

• September 4 (Friday): Foo Fighters, Rise Against, and Capital Inicial.
• September 5 (Saturday): Avenged Sevenfold, Bring Me the Horizon, and Bad Omens.
• September 6 (Sunday): Calvin Harris, Black Eyed Peas, and Ne-Yo. (Sold out)
• September 7 (Monday): Elton John, Gilberto Gil, and Jon Batiste. Elton John's only Brazilian show in 2026.
• September 11 (Friday): Stray Kids, Jamiroquai, and Alok.
• September 12 (Saturday): Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, and Mumford and Sons. (Sold out)
• September 13 (Sunday): Twenty One Pilots, Halsey, and J Balvin.

The September 7 night is the standout: Elton John's only Brazilian performance in 2026, sharing the Palco Mundo with Gilberto Gil. The festival has been part of Rio's identity since 1985, when the first edition drew over a million people in ten days.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Rock in Rio is the largest music festival in Latin America and one of the few global festivals that programs Brazilian and international emerging acts on the same stages. The festival's booking team actively seeks out Brazilian artists who are building streaming momentum and touring locally, alongside international acts who are breaking into the Latin American market. A Rock in Rio slot puts an artist in front of up to 100,000 people per night and generates significant Latin American press coverage.

The strategy for getting booked:

1. Build streaming momentum in Brazil. Rock in Rio's booking team tracks artists trending on Spotify Brazil and YouTube Music in the region.
2. Get support from Brazilian radio and press. Stations like Radio Mix FM and outlets like Rolling Stone Brazil have direct relationships with the festival.
3. Work with a Brazilian booking agent who has relationships with Live Nation Brazil, which co-promotes the festival. Most supporting slots are filled through agent submissions.
4. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your streaming growth in Brazil and Latin America, as festival bookers evaluate emerging acts based on regional streaming data.

Read our music festival strategy guide for a deeper dive on getting booked at major international festivals.

Related Resources

• Music Festivals Directory - Explore other major festivals in Latin America and beyond
• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming growth that attracts festival bookings
• Tour Revenue Calculator - Plan your Latin American festival tour budget
• Music Festival Strategy: Get Booked and Make It Count
• Official Rock in Rio Website