- Bia Bedran, on 04/12, with magician Siskini.
- Event: Soberaninho.
- Bia Bedran, on 04/12, with magician Siskini.
- Event: Soberaninho.
Event Info
With a free festival, workshops and school programs, Soberaninho brings Brazilian music and the arts to children in Petrópolis through June 2026.
The project is part of Temporada Soberano 2026 and starts in April with a daytime program designed for children and families. Throughout the season, it creates a playful dialogue between Brazilian music and eight artistic languages, including theater, dance, circus, poetry and visual arts.
Beyond the free performances at Espaço Soberano, the initiative also reaches the public school system through Soberaninho at School. The program will bring music, theater and educational workshops to municipal schools in Petrópolis.
The festival is sponsored by GE Aerospace through Rio de Janeiro state cultural incentive law, together with the State Government of Rio de Janeiro and the Secretariat for Culture and Creative Economy.
“A Temporada 2026 do Soberano marca um novo capítulo em nossa história, reafirmando nosso compromisso com a cultura e a educação. O Soberaninho é a materialização do nosso desejo de semear a arte desde a infância, proporcionando acesso e experiências transformadoras para as futuras gerações”, afirma Sérgio Saraceni, diretor musical do projeto.
Soberaninho builds a free festival for families
The free Soberaninho program at Espaço Soberano is designed as a full sensory experience. Guest artists expand the concerts with appearances by clowns, dancers, a magician, a visual artist, jugglers, a mime and a storyteller.
The opening takes place on April 12 at 11 a.m. with Bia Bedran and magician Siskini. Then, on April 19, Léo Gandelman takes the stage with his band and dancers Deborah Steinsnaider and Alexandre Bhering.
Next, on April 26, Cláudio Nucci performs alongside jugglers Guilherme Avelino and Talita Costa of Malabaguita, plus clowns Antonio Valladares and Julia Fernandes. The show blends music with circus language.
On May 3, Marcelo Caldi shares the stage with oral poet Edmilson Santini. Later, on May 17, Juliana Pinheiro and Marcelo Coutinho present Os Bichos Cantam, featuring songs from classics such as Arca de Noé and Saltimbancos, with storyteller Cristina Ferreira, author of the book É o dito, Bicho!.
On May 24, Mãos à Ópera brings together soprano Daniella Carvalho and pianist Vitor Philomeno, with special participation from clown Letícia Medella. The idea is to introduce opera to children in an accessible and playful way.
In June, the lineup continues with Meninas Cantoras de Petrópolis on June 7, featuring Dori Caymmi on voice and guitar and mime Renato Bego. The festival closes on June 14 with Roberto Menescal and Sofia Gilberto, granddaughter of João Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto, joined by caricaturist Renato Alarcão.
Soberaninho at School expands cultural access
The educational arm of the project will take 12 free attractions to municipal schools in Petrópolis. These include eight musical performances with Canarinhos de Petrópolis and four children’s theater shows with puppet groups from Papavento and Marionetes da Cia dos Inventos.
The music program will introduce children to five centuries of Brazilian music history. Meanwhile, the theater presentations recover elements of Brazilian popular culture for early childhood education students.
Choir conductor Marco Aurélio Lischt will also train about 80 teacher multipliers in elementary education. With that educational material, the expectation is to indirectly reach around 4,000 students. The initiative is carried out in partnership with Petrópolis’ Department of Education.
“O Soberaninho articula arte, educação e impacto social ao oferecer gratuitamente às crianças uma experiência ativa com a música brasileira. O projeto amplia o acesso cultural e fortalece a formação de público desde a infância, dentro e fora das escolas” explica Pablo Castellar, idealizador do projeto.
Free workshops deepen the Soberaninho proposal
The project will also offer 20 free workshops and classes for children and young people. The goal is to encourage artistic practice and highlight the cultural heritage of Rio de Janeiro state.
There will be eight music masterclasses for students from social projects, music schools and city orchestras. In addition, 12 workshops will serve elementary and early childhood students, covering puppetry, marionettes, mime, juggling, circus, magic, dance, visual arts, poetry and literature.
Free festival lineup
Event Info