FEFOL 2026 lands in Rio on Jan 29–30 during the Folias de Reis gathering, with Mayor Geninho Zuliani set to meet Governor Cláudio Castro.
Olímpia, a tourist resort city in São Paulo state, will officially present the 62nd edition of the Festival do Folclore de Olímpia in Rio de Janeiro. By federal law, Olímpia holds the title of Brazil’s National Capital of Folklore. Over more than six decades, the festival has become a living platform for popular culture, education, and community pride.
FEFOL 2026 takes the spotlight in Rio
The FEFOL 2026 announcement will be made on January 29 and 30, 2026, during the 2nd Folias de Reis Meeting of the State of Rio de Janeiro. The event is promoted by Rio’s State Secretariat for Culture and the Creative Economy. Meanwhile, Olímpia’s delegation will also hold institutional meetings aimed at future partnerships.
The official invitation was addressed to Mayor Geninho Zuliani and Olímpia’s Secretary of Culture and Folklore Protection, Priscila Foresti. The agenda also includes a meeting between the mayor and Rio de Janeiro Governor Cláudio Castro. As a result, the launch signals cultural exchange while also strengthening tourism and the creative economy.
“By launching FEFOL 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, we reinforce a simple and powerful idea: Brazil recognizes itself through popular culture.”
Zuliani says the move deepens dialogue between the two states’ cultural policies. He argues that Olímpia has built a consistent, long-term approach to safeguarding folklore. Therefore, bringing the announcement to Rio helps expand visibility and coordination on a national scale.
Folias de Reis as a shared tradition
For Olímpia, Folias de Reis is a key January tradition and a natural bridge to Rio’s cultural landscape. At the Rio gathering, groups, masters, and public officials meet around the same priority. In other words, the celebration comes with a clear goal: protecting traditional knowledge while engaging with contemporary cultural policy.
Priscila Foresti emphasizes that taking the launch beyond São Paulo expands the festival’s reach among researchers, tradition-bearers, and community groups. She describes Folias de Reis as a “living heritage” in both Olímpia and Rio de Janeiro state. That presence, she says, strengthens a national network for safeguarding and circulation.
Festival dates set for August
After 61 editions, the Festival do Folclore de Olímpia has seen more than 160 thousand people move through the Recinto Prof. José Sant’anna over nine days. The event traditionally features parades, stage performances, and educational activities with groups from across Brazil. The Rio launch points toward the 2026 edition, scheduled for August 1–9, 2026.
By unveiling the new edition in Rio, Olímpia reinforces its role as a national hub for popular culture. At the same time, it connects inland Brazil with a major capital city and links tradition to public policy. This approach positions the festival not only as a host, but also as a partner in cultural cooperation.
Service information
Official launch: FEFOL 2026 (62nd Festival do Folclore de Olímpia)
Launch dates: January 29–30, 2026
City: Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil
During: 2nd Folias de Reis Meeting of the State of Rio de Janeiro
Presented by: State Secretariat for Culture and the Creative Economy (RJ)
Festival dates (in Olímpia): August 1–9, 2026
Festival venue (in Olímpia): Recinto Prof. José Sant’anna
Foto: Divulgação
