The Rock in Rio organization revealed, this Wednesday, July 16, the grandeur of the Cidade do Rock structure, which is being completed in Barra da Tijuca, in Rio de Janeiro. The festival prepares an innovative space with the capacity to receive more than 100 thousand people per day, promising an immersive experience with advanced technologies and diverse thematic areas.
Details of the Cidade do Rock structure in numbers
The event, which will take place in September, will have a 385 thousand square meter complex, equipped with 5 thousand square meters of LED panels to display impactful visual content. To serve the public, 1,314 bathrooms will be available. Assembling the infrastructure required the use of 120 kilometers of electrical cables and 65.8 tons of materials. Additionally, 90,000 square meters of synthetic grass were laid, and 168 drinking fountains were installed throughout the space to ensure visitors’ hydration.
A festival with large numbers and strong economic impact
The 2026 edition of Rock in Rio expects to bring together more than 1,300 artists, distributed across 190 shows, with 45 international attractions. The shows will take place on the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th and 13th of September. In addition to entertainment, the festival stands out as an economic engine for Rio de Janeiro. According to a study by Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), the event is expected to inject R$3.3 billion into the local economy and generate around 34 thousand jobs.
Rock in Rio’s marketing director, Ana Deccache, highlighted the magnitude of the operation, comparing it to a “temporary city”. “Considering that we receive 100,000 fans a day and 30,000 people working, there are 130,000 people passing through this city every day,” stated Deccache, emphasizing that this structure is larger than the population of most Brazilian municipalities. This volume of people and resources mobilized demonstrates the role of the festival not only as a cultural event, but as a great catalyst for opportunities and movement for the region.
Main stages gain innovations and greater size
The festival’s main stages have been improved for this edition. The World Stage, the heart of Rock in Rio, will be 107 meters wide, with 2,400 square meters of LED panels — practically the same amount of LEDs as the entire Cidade do Rock in the previous edition —, 200 amplifiers and 24 meters of stage coverage.
The Sunset Stage also grew, reaching 93 meters wide, 27.5 meters high and 24 meters wide. The innovations promise to provide an even more immersive visual and sound experience for the public who will accompany the artists in each of these iconic structures.
Other thematic areas with news for the public
- New Dance Order:stage dedicated to electronic music, 56.5 meters wide, 22.5 meters high and 502 m² of LED.
- Favela Space:an environment that celebrates the culture of the communities, 75 meters wide, 12 meters high and with a scenography that simulates 60 houses.
- Supernova:area 30 meters wide, 12 meters high and unique scenography, formed by 60 gears.
- Global Village:a 6,000 m² space that will transport visitors to different continents, inspired by global cities.
Festival’s commitment to sustainability
Sustainability continues to be a fundamental pillar for Rock in Rio 2026. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to neutralizing 100% of carbon emissions generated in Cidade do Rock, an initiative developed in partnership with the company Axia Emergia. The festival has maintained the ISO 20121 international certification since 2013, a recognition of sustainable event management, and continues to seek new environmental practices for each edition, reinforcing its socio-environmental responsibility.
