Sesc Verão 2026: Free events across Rio until Feb 8

Live shows and athlete-led workshops hit Rio as Sesc Verão 2026 brings free activities to units and partner venues through Feb 8.

Through February 8, Rio de Janeiro is hosting Sesc Verão 2026, the 8th edition of the Sesc RJ project. The program spans 25 cities across the state and delivers leisure, recreation, sports, and concerts to more than 50 public spaces and partner venues—ranging from beaches and plazas to parks, shopping centers, and Sesc units.

Backed by city halls and retail unions, the agenda focuses on summer-themed experiences and health promotion, with sports workshops featuring athletes from multiple disciplines.

The full Sesc Verão 2026 schedule will be published soon at: www.sescverao.com.br.

Sesc Verão 2026 in Rio: where to go

In Rio, the free programming spreads across Sesc units and key city venues, including ParkShopping Campo Grande, Sesc Tijuca, Sesc Ramos, Sesc Madureira I and II, and Biblioteca Euclides da Cunha (Sesc Cocotá) on Ilha do Governador, plus Sesc Fazendinha (Penha) and Retiro dos Artistas.

ParkShopping Campo Grande: music and sports

In Rio’s West Zone, ParkShoppingCampoGrande hosts live music at 7pm: Bloco Fogo e Paixão (Jan 24) and George Israel (Jan 25). Sports workshops start at 4pm: skateboarding with Nilo Peçanha (Jan 24) and footvolley with Anderson Águia (Jan 25).

On Jan 24 and 25, from 2pm to 6:30pm, families can enjoy aquatic inflatable attractions (Slide Radical, Tobogã com Piscina, and Muro de Escalada), electronic games (Air Game and Arena Gamer), a bubble workshop, a Kids Space (up to age 6), and educational games like “Jogo do Trânsito” and Jogo da Cidadania.

During the same hours, visitors can also join Planting in Small Spaces (techniques for planting, pruning, and maintaining ornamentals, veggies, and herbs) and experience the Sensorial Garden, a temporary space designed to explore the senses while encouraging environmental education, wellbeing, inclusion, and community interaction.

Biblioteca Euclides da Cunha: poetry and Carnival tales

On Ilha do Governador, Biblioteca Euclides da Cunha hosts “A Poesia Salva Vidas” on Jan 27, from 3pm to 5pm, led by artist Max Mendes. Dressed as the character Salva-vidas, he hands out paper boats with classic poems and reads them as a gift, creating a one-on-one exchange with the public.

On Feb 7, from 10:30am to 11:30am, the audience can watch the storytelling show “A Folia das Cores,” by Cia Histórias Pra Boi Dormir. The poetic, musical performance follows Seu Firmino—grumpy and anti-Carnival—until he’s won over by a boy who reveals the magic of play and dreaming, with marchinhas, colorful costumes, and characters like Rei Momo, Colombinas, and Pierrots.

Sesc Ramos: classes, mini-tournaments, open court

Sesc Ramos offers group classes including water aerobics (Jan 24, 25, 31; Feb 1; Feb 8 and 9, 10:30am), TeqBall (Jan 24 and 31; Feb 8, 10am), Power Flex (Jan 25, 9:10am), a racket-based sports circuit (Jan 25, 3pm–5pm), Pilates Day (Jan 24, 9:10am), and an indoor volleyball sports festival with the Sesc RJ Flamengo women’s team (Feb 1, 10am–12pm).

Recreation includes “Joga Junto” (Jan 24 and 31; Feb 7, 10am), “Espaço Brincar” (Jan 24 and 25; Jan 31 and Feb 1; Feb 7 and 8, 10am) for children up to age 6, “Esportes Aquáticos” (Jan 24, 25, 31 and Feb 9, 11:30am—only for retail workers and affiliated members), and “Brincadeiras Populares” (Feb 1, 2:30pm) with traditional games.

Mini-tournaments include table tennis (Jan 24, 3pm), dominoes (Jan 31, 3:30pm), and foosball/pebolim (Feb 1, 3pm). Sign-ups happen on-site, 30 minutes before each activity begins.

Kids activities also include board-game crafting (Jan 25, 2pm), a kite festival (Jan 31, 1:30pm), a treasure hunt (Jan 25, 10am–12pm), and “First Moves in Chess” (Jan 31, 1:30pm), a playful introduction to the game.

Open court time is available for futsal, volleyball, and basketball (Jan 24 and 31; Feb 7, from 1pm | Jan 25; Feb 1 and 9, from 10am). Scheduling may change due to other events in the gym. There’s also lap swimming (Jan 24, 25, 31; Feb 1, 7, 8, 9:10am–10:30am).

Sesc Madureira: capoeira, fights, and games

At Sesc Madureira, highlights include a Capoeira Circle (Jan 23, 6:30pm), futsal classes (Jan 24, 10am), Jump (Jan 30, 6:30pm), and Circuito Game Verão (Jan 31, 9:30am). Competitions include table tennis (Jan 24, 10am) and videogame (Jan 31, 10am), plus a kids area (ages 1–6) on Jan 24 and 31 at 9am.

Additional activities feature frescobol (Jan 25, 3pm), Hidroshow water aerobics for open swim participants (Jan 24, 10am), dance-based group classes for adults and kids (Jan 24, 10am and 3pm), TeqBall workshops (Jan 27, 3pm) and self-defense (Jan 22, 10am), open court volleyball and futsal (Jan 24 and 31, 9am), and judo and jiu-jitsu classes (Jan 23: kids at 5:30pm | adults at 6:30pm).

Sesc Tijuca: volleyball, freestyle, and water park

Sesc Tijuca features volleyball showcases with the Sesc Flamengo team (Jan 24) and freestyle with Fernando Pity (Feb 7), both at 10am. There’s also a Taekwondo experience with Brazil’s national team coach Diego Ribeiro (Jan 31, 10am), plus sports recreation, water activities, and open swim at the Aquatic Park (Feb 1–8, Saturdays and Sundays, 9am–5pm).

Sesc Verão 2026 statewide: cities and dates

Angra dos Reis: Praia do Anil, Praça de Skate, Praia Grande, Praia da Ribeirinha. Dates: Feb 7–8, 2026.

Barra Mansa: Sesc Barra Mansa. Period: January to February 2026.

Cabo Frio: Sesc Cabo Frio. Period: January to February 2026.

Cabo Frio: Praia do Forte. Dates: Jan 30–31, 2026.

Campos dos Goytacazes: Farol de São Thomé. Dates: Jan 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 | Feb 1, 6, 7, 8, 2026.

Campos dos Goytacazes: Sesc Campos. Period: January to February 2026.

Casimiro de Abreu: Praião – Barra de São João. Dates: Jan 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 | Feb 1, 2026.

Conceição de Macabu: Praça Central Bonifácio Tassara. Dates: Feb 6–8, 2026.

Duque de Caxias: Praça do Pacificador, Teatro Raul Cortez. Dates: Feb 6–7, 2026.

Duque de Caxias: Sesc Duque de Caxias. Period: January to February 2026.

Macaé: Praia Campista, Praia dos Cavaleiros. Period: Jan 24 to Feb 8, 2026.

Mangaratiba: Praia de Conceição de Jacareí. Dates: Jan 31 and Feb 1, 2026.

Maricá: Parque Nanci. Dates: Feb 6–8, 2026.

Niterói: Praia de Icaraí. Dates: Feb 7–8, 2026.

Niterói: Sesc Niterói. Period: January to February 2026.

Nova Friburgo: Sesc Nova Friburgo. Period: January to February 2026.

Nova Iguaçu: Sesc Nova Iguaçu. Period: January to February 2026.

Paraty: Praia do Jabaquara, Praia do Pontal. Dates: Jan 24–25, 2026.

Petrópolis: Centro Cultural Sesc Quitandinha, Hotel Parque Sesc Nogueira. Period: January to February 2026.

Quissamã: location TBD. Dates: Feb 7–8, 2026.

Rio das Ostras: Camping, Praia Costa Azul. Period: Jan 16 to Feb 8, 2026.

Rio de Janeiro: Park Shopping Campo Grande. Dates: Jan 17, 18, 24, 25, 2026.

Rio de Janeiro: Corrida de São Sebastião. Date: Jan 20, 2026.

Rio de Janeiro: Sesc Tijuca, Sesc Ramos, Sesc Madureira I and II, Sesc Cocotá – Biblioteca Euclides da Cunha (Ilha do Governador), Sesc Fazendinha (Penha), Retiro dos Artistas. Period: January to February 2026.

São Francisco do Itabapoana: Praia Santa Clara. Dates: Jan 24–25 | Feb 7–8, 2026.

São Gonçalo: Parque RJ (former Piscinão). Dates: Feb 6–8, 2026.

São Gonçalo: Sesc São Gonçalo. Period: January to February 2026.

São João da Barra: São João da Barra. Dates: Jan 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 | Feb 1, 7, 8, 2026.

São João da Barra: Sesc Grussaí, Praia, Reserva Caruara, Lagoa Iquipari, Balneário de Atafona. Period: January to February 2026.

São João de Meriti: Vila Olímpica São João. Dates: Jan 31 | Feb 1, 7, 8, 2026.

São João de Meriti: Sesc São João de Meriti. Period: January to February 2026.

Teresópolis: Parnaso. Dates: Jan 31 and Feb 1, 2026.

Teresópolis: Praça Olímpica. Dates: Feb 6–7, 2026.

Teresópolis: Sesc Teresópolis, Hotel Sesc Alpina. Period: January to February 2026.

Três Rios: Horto. Dates: Jan 24–25, 2026.

Três Rios: Beira Rio. Dates: Jan 31 and Feb 1, 2026.

Três Rios: Sesc Três Rios. Period: January to February 2026.

Valença: Praça Juscelino Kubitschek. Dates: TBD.

Service

Event: Sesc Verão 2026

When: through Feb 8, 2026 (dates and locations subject to change)

Cost: free programming

Info (full schedule): www.sescverao.com.br

Foto: Divulgação