At Belmond Copacabana Palace on April 13, the MICHELIN Guide 2026 ceremony brings together Brazil’s finest cuisine, Atlantic Forest scenery, and live music.
With Copacabana’s legendary seafront as its backdrop, the MICHELIN Guide Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo 2026 ceremony is set to be one of the most remarkable nights in Brazilian gastronomy. The event takes place on April 13 at the Belmond Copacabana Palace, in partnership with the City of Rio de Janeiro, and will be streamed live on YouTube.
The evening draws its visual identity from Rio’s iconic landscape: the lush green mountains, the living cultural heritage of the Atlantic Forest, and the Botanical Garden, a symbol of the city’s harmony with nature. The décor will balance the hotel’s timeless elegance with the vibrant energy of Rio’s tropical surroundings.
A Menu That Travels Across Brazil
The dinner menu carries a dual signature: Chef Nello Cassese, holder of one MICHELIN Star and head of the Ristorante Hotel Cipriani, and Chef Wellington Barcellos, the hotel’s banquet chef. Together, they crafted a culinary journey rooted in Rio de Janeiro’s rich and diverse history.
“Rio and São Paulo are cities that welcome people from every corner of Brazil. That’s why I wanted the menu to showcase traditional dishes from all of Brazilian cuisine — and still bring something new. It’s an adventure!” — Chef Nello Cassese
Ingredients are sourced from small-scale producers connected to Sebrae’s Chefs de Origem Program and from domestic seafood supplier Frescatto, representing every stretch of Brazil’s coastline. The wines are provided by Chandon Excellence Brut Safra 2021, produced in Garibaldi, southern Brazil.
From Snacks to Desserts: A Taste of Every Region
Passed bites include goat cheese and vegetable tartlets, octopus croquettes, tuna canapés with hearts of palm and cashew, and pork canapés with cassava and rapadura sugar. Inside the hotel’s grand halls, guests will find a live station serving curraleiro pé-duro beef barbecue, a breed native to northeastern Brazil. True to Rio’s street culture, waiters will circulate with iced mate, natural sandwiches, and shrimp skewers — while a Bahian vendor sets up a traditional tray with cocadas, acarajé, and baião de dois.
Desserts are the creation of pastry chef Diana Moreira, offering a tour through Brazil’s sweet traditions: mini Romeu e Julieta éclairs, 100% chocolate mousse with cocoa biscuit, mini paçoca, curau, mini carrot cake with chocolate, caipirinha mousse, mini beijinho, cupuaçu and milk chocolate tartlets, cumaru ice cream, and a playful Rio-style surprise — toasted bread with café com leite, Copacabana Palace style.
Jazz, Samba, and Nathalia Dill on the Stars’ Stage
The evening’s soundtrack comes from Quartetinho, a group that blends jazz and samba in a style perfectly suited to the night’s spirit. Acclaimed actress Nathalia Dill will take the stage as Master of Ceremonies, bringing charm and poise to the celebration.
The live stream begins at 7 PM (Brasília time) on April 13 on the MICHELIN Guide’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMICHELINGuide/streams
Event Info
- Event: MICHELIN Guide Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo 2026 Ceremony
- Date: April 13, 2026
- Time: 7 PM (Brasília time)
- Venue: Belmond Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMICHELINGuide/streams
