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Rock in Rio 2026: day-by-day lineup, dates and a guide for traveling from abroad
Everything you need to know about Rock in Rio 2026 in Rio de Janeiro: each night’s lineup, the dates, the venue and how to get tickets if you’re traveling from abroad.
Published At 16:18 PM
Rock in Rio returns to Rio de Janeiro in 2026 and it's, without exaggeration, one of the biggest music festivals in the world. If you're thinking about traveling to Brazil in September, pairing the festival with a few days in Rio is a fantastic plan. Here's the day-by-day lineup, when and where it happens, how much tickets cost and how to buy them from abroad.
What Rock in Rio is and why 2026 is the opportunity
Rock in Rio is the festival that was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1985 and grew into a global brand, with editions also in Lisbon and Madrid. The Rio edition takes place every two years, so it's not an annual event: after 2026, the next Rio edition wouldn't be until 2028. That's why, if your trip lines up with September 2026, it's a window that doesn't come around often.
The 2026 edition brings together more than 40 international artists across seven nights, mixing established names in rock, pop and electronic music with major Brazilian acts.
When and where it is
Rock in Rio 2026 is seven nights over two weekends: September 4, 5, 6 and 7, and September 11, 12 and 13, 2026. Sunday, September 7 — Brazil's Independence Day holiday — features a special night headlined by Elton John alongside Gilberto Gil.
The festival takes place at the Cidade do Rock (City of Rock), inside the Olympic Park in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. It's a huge site with several stages running at the same time.
Day-by-day lineup
These are the nights with tickets available on FTA Tickets and some of their headliners (each night features many more artists):
Thursday, Sept 4 — Foo Fighters, Rise Against and The Hives
See tickets · Thursday, Sept 4
Friday, Sept 5 — Avenged Sevenfold, Bring Me the Horizon and Machine Gun Kelly
Saturday, Sept 6 — Calvin Harris, Black Eyed Peas and Nelly
See tickets · Saturday, Sept 6
Sunday, Sept 7 — Elton John, Gilberto Gil and Jon Batiste
Friday, Sept 11 — Stray Kids, Alok and Hwasa
Saturday, Sept 12 — Maroon 5, Demi Lovato and J Balvin
See tickets · Saturday, Sept 12
Sunday, Sept 13 — Twenty One Pilots, Halsey and Lola Young
Prices and ticket types
Prices vary by night, ticket type and availability, and they move as the date gets closer. The most useful thing is to check the current price for the night you're interested in on the ticket listing, where you'll see the options available for each day.
How to buy tickets from abroad
Buying tickets for an event in Brazil from another country can get complicated: local payment methods, the language, or not knowing how to receive your ticket. That's exactly what we solve: at FTA Tickets you can check availability for each Rock in Rio night and buy easily from wherever you are, with support in your language and secure delivery.
👉 See all available tickets for Rock in Rio 2026
(Prices may vary by night and location; check updated availability at the time of your purchase.)
A traveler's guide to Rio
The Cidade do Rock is in Barra da Tijuca, in the west of the city. It's worth arriving early and planning your transport: on festival nights there are usually special services, and ride-hailing apps work well, though with higher demand on the way out.
If you're staying several days, take the chance to combine the festival with the best of Rio: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, and if you're a football fan, a visit to the Maracanã.
Frequently asked questions
When is Rock in Rio 2026?
September 4, 5, 6 and 7 and September 11, 12 and 13, 2026, at the Cidade do Rock, Rio de Janeiro.
Is Rock in Rio held every year?
No. The Rio edition takes place every two years; after 2026, the next one wouldn't be until 2028.
Where is the festival?
At the Cidade do Rock, inside the Olympic Park in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro.
Can I buy tickets from abroad?
Yes. You can check availability for each night and buy online from your country, with support in your language.
