Rock in Rio 2026 sets Sept 7 with Jon Batiste and Laufey, pairing them with Elton John, Gilberto Gil and exclusive one-off collaborations in Rio
Landing on a holiday weekend, September 7 at Cidade do Rock is designed as a high-end listening day—where legends, breakout voices and festival-only concepts share the same narrative. The bill moves across jazz, soul, bossa nova, pop, samba and MPB, with programming split between the main Palco Mundo and the Palco Sunset.
Elton John tops the date as headliner. Gilberto Gil brings Brazilian musical history to the forefront, while two freshly honored names at the 2026 Grammy Awards expand the day’s international pull.
Rock in Rio 2026 on Palco Mundo
Jon Batiste—singer, composer and pianist—makes his Cidade do Rock debut on Palco Mundo. An eight-time Grammy winner with Oscar and Emmy recognition, he won the 2026 Grammy for Best American Roots Album for BIG MONEY.
Known for moving fluidly through jazz, soul, R&B, pop, blues, classical and film music, Batiste reached a career peak with “We Are” (2021), which won Album of the Year. He followed with “World Music Radio” (2023), “Beethoven Blues” (2024) and “BIG MONEY” (2025).
Opening Palco Mundo, Brazilian pop star Luísa Sonza brings a festival-original show that revisits her biggest hits while nodding to bossa nova. She’s joined by Roberto Menescal, composer, guitarist and producer, described in the release as the leading living icon of bossa nova from his generation, at 88 years old and with a 72-year career.
Rock in Rio 2026 on Palco Sunset
Closing Palco Sunset as its headliner, Laufey plays Rock in Rio for the first time and ends the stage’s program for the night. She won the 2026 Grammy—her second career win—for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album with “A Matter of Time”.
Raised between Reykjavík and Washington, D.C., with early piano and cello training and studies at Berklee College of Music, Laufey built a jazz- and classical-leaning pop language. The release highlights milestones including 5 billion global streams, 25 million social followers and sold-out venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Radio City Music Hall and London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Also on Sunset, Péricles unveils a festival-exclusive show dedicated to Motown, backed by a band assembled especially by Rock in Rio. Roupa Nova, meanwhile, brings a Rock in Rio Originals performance featuring Guilherme Arantes, connecting multiple eras of Brazilian radio classics in one set.
“Motown em uma palavra para mim é revolução. Eu vou poder ter a chance de no palco do Rock in Rio retratar esse momento especial da música negra norte-americana, que mudou toda uma geração depois disso. A gente vai fazer um apanhado de grandes sucessos da Motown e o público vai poder curtir com a gente Stevie Wonder, por exemplo, e muito mais. Vem curtir com a gente no Rock in Rio 2026!”, finaliza Péricles.
What’s new in 2026
Rock in Rio 2026 runs at Cidade do Rock inside Rio de Janeiro’s Parque Olímpico on September 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11, 12, 13. Names already announced include Avenged Sevenfold, Stray Kids, Maroon 5, Bring Me The Horizon, Demi Lovato, Jamiroquai, Mumford & Sons and João Gomes e Orquestra Brasileira—alongside Elton John and Gilberto Gil.
Palco Mundo will feature an all-new stage design, with its entire front structure covered by 2,400 m² of high-definition LED panels, effectively turning the façade into one massive visual surface. The aerial show The Flight also returns, with synchronized acrobatics, a dedicated soundtrack and 756 daytime firework launches.
For fans who missed the Rock in Rio Card, the organizers say an additional official on-sale is planned for 2026, with the date to be announced.
Service
Event: Rock in Rio 2026
Featured date: September 7, 2026 (Elton John, Gilberto Gil, Jon Batiste, Luísa Sonza feat. Roberto Menescal; Laufey; Péricles sings Motown; Roupa Nova feat. Guilherme Arantes)
Festival dates: September 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11, 12, 13, 2026
Venue: Cidade do Rock, Parque Olímpico do Rio de Janeiro
Tickets: an additional official on-sale is planned for 2026, date TBD (Rock in Rio Card sold out, per organizers)
Photo: Disclosure
