Elton John and Gilberto Gil share Palco Mundo at Rock in Rio in a unique performance in the country
Rock in Rio announced this Tuesday (25) the presence of The organizers confirmed that this will be the artist’s only date at Brasil during the tour.
The press conference took place at Bondinho Pão of Açúcar, at Rio of Janeiro. Além of the main show, the festival prepares a tribute to bossa nova in several spaces.
Zé Ricardo, artistic vice-president of the event, reinforced the celebratory nature of the edition. The program highlights elements of Rio culture on different stages.
Historic partnership on the main stage
Elton John returns to Rock in Rio after 11 years of his last stint. The joint presentation with Gilberto Gil marks the meeting of two world music icons.
The show is scheduled for the first weekend of the festival. The date coincides with the September 7th holiday.
Homage to bossa nova gains prominence
The festival reserves specific spaces to celebrate 60 years of the genre. Artistas representatives of the style should occupy the Sunset stage on dates not yet announced.
Wanda Sá made a presentation during the official announcement. The singer performed classics that reinforced the atmosphere of the planned tribute.
The curatorship seeks to connect generations through programming. Bossa nova appears as a central element of the 2026 edition’s identity.
2026 edition details
The organization maintains the traditional two-weekend format. The official dates cover the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 11th, 12th, 13th of September.
- Stage Mundo receives large international and national attractions
- Stage Sunset prioritizes meetings and musical tributes
- Space Favela gains structure expansion
- New Dance Order maintains focus on electronic music
Ticket sales begin in 2026, with a date yet to be confirmed.
Structure maintains consolidated standard
Cidade of Rock occupies 300 thousand square meters in Zona Oeste of Rio. The site has undergone continuous improvements since the 2024 edition.
The food areas and brand activations follow the model adopted in recent editions. The daily capacity remains at 100 thousand people.
Programming remains under construction
Other names should be revealed in the coming weeks. The curator works on attractions that reinforce Brazilian musical diversity.
The 2026 edition marks the festival’s 41st anniversary. The organization plans news in sustainability and technology for the public.
The expectation is to repeat the attendance of over 700 thousand people recorded in 2024. Preparations are already underway behind the scenes.
