Sepultura’s penultimate show, plus debuts by Rise Against, The Hives, mgk and Bad Omens, complete Rock in Rio 2026’s rock-focused opening.
Rock in Rio 2026 will devote September 4 and 5 to the genre that helped define the festival. As a result, the event’s opening stretch will bring first-timers to Cidade do Rock, one-off collaborations and a major farewell moment for Brazilian metal.
Rock in Rio 2026 on the World Stage
On September 4, the World Stage adds Rise Against, The Hives and Nova Twins. Rise Against will make its festival debut before Foo Fighters, bringing the urgency of melodic hardcore and songs from 2025’s Ricochet.
Earlier that day, Swedish act The Hives will make its first Rock in Rio appearance with the explosive garage rock that broke through with Veni Vidi Vicious. Opening the stage, British duo Nova Twins will play Brazil for the first time after Mercury Prize and BRIT Award recognition, backed by 2025 album Parasites & Butterflies.
Rock in Rio 2026 on September 5
On September 5, the World Stage will host mgk and Sepultura, alongside previously announced sets by Bring Me The Horizon and Avenged Sevenfold. Making his first Rock in Rio appearance, mgk arrives after a pop-punk run that took off with Tickets to My Downfall, continued with Mainstream Sellout and expanded in 2025 with Lost Americana.
Sepultura will open the stage with an exclusive set built only around songs from the Derrick Green era. The performance will be the band’s second-to-last show before its final stop in São Paulo and its farewell to the festival after landmark moments, including collaborations with Tambours du Bronx and Zé Ramalho and appearances in Lisbon, Las Vegas and Madrid.
Rock in Rio 2026 on the Sunset Stage, September 4
On the Sunset Stage, September 4 will close with Capital Inicial featuring Dado Villa-Lobos. The set will honor Renato Russo 30 years after his death, mix Capital Inicial staples with Legião Urbana classics and mark the band’s 11th Rock in Rio appearance during its electric Música Urbana tour and after the recent EP Movimento.
Earlier, British band Hot Milk will make its festival debut with songs from second album Corporation P.O.P. That same night, Detonautas featuring Biquini will bring two full bands onstage, while Di Ferrero opens the schedule with a set that revisits both his solo work and NX Zero favorites.
Rock in Rio 2026 on the Sunset Stage, September 5
On September 5, women-led energy and modern heaviness will stand out on the Sunset Stage. Headliner Bad Omens will make its Rock in Rio debut after turning The Death of Peace of Mind into a breakthrough era, with RIAA gold certification, more than 2.7 billion global streams and singles such as “Just Pretend,” “Specter,” “Dying To Love” and “Left For Good.”
American artist Poppy will also debut at the festival after GRAMMY nominations for “BLOODMONEY” and “Suffocate,” her collaboration with Knocked Loose, and arrives behind album Negative Spaces. On the same bill, Black Pantera featuring Nervosa promises a one-off meeting, while Malvada featuring Day Limns opens the day with another original show created for this edition.
The Black Pantera and Nervosa pairing brings together two major forces in today’s metal scene. Black Pantera won the 2025 APCA award for “TRADUÇÃO,” from PERPÉTUO, while Nervosa expanded its global reach with Jailbreak and cemented its place in women-fronted thrash metal. Malvada arrives after releasing its second album through Frontiers Records, and Day Limns remains one of the most distinctive voices of Brazil’s new generation.
More names already announced
Rock in Rio 2026 will take place at Cidade do Rock, in Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Park, on September 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13. During the first weekend, September 4 will feature Foo Fighters as the World Stage headliner, while September 5 will close with Avenged Sevenfold and also include Bring Me The Horizon.
On the September 7 holiday, the World Stage will host Elton John, Gilberto Gil, Jon Batiste and Luísa Sonza featuring Roberto Menescal. The Sunset Stage bill for that date includes Laufey, Péricles sings Motown, Roupa Nova featuring Guilherme Arantes and Vanessa da Mata featuring Rubel, while New Dance Order will host Fatboy Slim.
During the second weekend, September 11 already has Stray Kids, Alok, HWASA and NEXZ on the World Stage. The Sunset Stage lineup for that date includes Jamiroquai, PJ Morton, Os Garotin featuring Duquesa and Jota.pê featuring Luedji Luna and Zaynara; on September 12, the World Stage brings Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, J Balvin and Pedro Sampaio, while the Sunset Stage adds Mumford & Sons, João Gomes with Orquestra Brasileira, Gilsons featuring Daniela Mercury and Olodum, and Criolo, Amaro Freitas and Dino D’Santiago.
Festival updates
Beyond the lineup, the festival announced major visual upgrades. The World Stage will get a brand-new design and, for the first time, its full front structure will be covered with 2,400 square meters of ultra-high-definition LED panels, turning the stage into one massive visual screen.
New Dance Order will also return with a new scenic design measuring 56.50 meters wide and 22.5 meters high, plus 502 square meters of LED panels. Meanwhile, Gourmet Square will be curated by chef Pedro Siqueira, recognized among the world’s 100 best pizzaiolos by The Best Pizza Awards 2025, and will feature the cuisine of Sìsì in one of the area’s restaurants.
Another confirmed attraction is the return of aerial show The Flight, one of the most requested experiences by fans. The production promises synchronized acrobatics, a dedicated soundtrack and 756 daytime fireworks. For fans who missed out on the Rock in Rio Card, the festival said a new official sale will take place in 2026, with the date still to be announced.
Service
Event: Rock in Rio 2026.
Dates: September 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13, 2026.
Venue: Cidade do Rock, Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro.
Rock-focused World Stage days: September 4 with Foo Fighters, Rise Against, The Hives and Nova Twins; September 5 with Avenged Sevenfold, Bring Me The Horizon, mgk and Sepultura.
Rock-focused Sunset Stage days: September 4 with Capital Inicial featuring Dado Villa-Lobos, Hot Milk, Detonautas featuring Biquini and Di Ferrero; September 5 with Bad Omens, Poppy, Black Pantera featuring Nervosa and Malvada featuring Day Limns.
Tickets: new official sale in 2026, date to be announced.
Photo: Press handout
