Florianópolis runs on a festival calendar shaped by seasons, saints, and surf. Summer brings massive Carnival street parties and New Year’s Eve beach celebrations. Winter pivots to religious festivals, traditional June feasts, and the surf competition season. Spring and autumn fill in with food festivals, sports events, and cultural celebrations. Here is what to plan around, month by month. See our Florianopolis weather by month for more information.
Summer Events and Festivals in Florianópolis (December to March)
Réveillon (New Year’s Eve) , December 31
The biggest party of the year takes over the entire island but concentrates at three main locations. Beira-Mar Norte in Centro holds the official city fireworks display at midnight with live music starting at 8pm, drawing 200,000+ people. Praia Brava hosts an upscale beach party with DJs and paid VIP areas. Jurerê Internacional’s beach clubs (P12, Café de la Musique) run all-night events with tickets from R$300 to R$1,500. Book accommodations 6+ months ahead if you want to stay anywhere near these locations. Traffic locks up the island from 6pm onward. Most restaurants serve special prix-fixe dinners (R$200 to R$500 per person).
Carnival , February or March (dates vary)
Florianópolis Carnival is distinct from Rio’s samba school parades. Here it is about street blocos (mobile street parties) that draw 20,000 to 50,000 revelers. The biggest blocos: Bloco dos Sujos (Saturday before Carnival in Centro, 50,000+ people, everyone dresses in white), Berbigão do Boca (Lagoa da Conceição, samba-focused), and Bloco da Lagoa (family-friendly, Sunday). The official dates for 2027 are February 13 to 16. Hotels book out 3 to 4 months ahead. If you want Carnival energy without Centro’s crushing crowds, the blocos in Lagoa da Conceição and Praia Brava are more manageable. The city provides portable toilets and security but bring your own water and cash, ATMs run out early.
Planeta Atlântida , Early February
This massive one-day music festival at the P12 complex in Jurerê draws 20,000+ people for a lineup of Brazilian pop, electronic, and sertanejo acts. Past headliners include Anitta, Alok, and Jorge & Mateus. Tickets cost R$200 to R$600 depending on the area (pista, camarote, or VIP). Usually held the first Saturday of February. Tickets go on sale in November and sell out within weeks. The festival runs from 4pm to 4am with shuttle buses from designated pickup points around the island (R$40 round-trip).
Autumn Events and Festivals in Florianópolis (March to May)
Ironman Brazil , Late May
Florianópolis has hosted Ironman Brazil since 2001, with the race centered in Jurerê Internacional. The full Ironman course: 3.8km swim off Jurerê Beach, 180km bike through the northern part of the island, and a 42.2km marathon run along the waterfront. About 2,000 athletes compete annually. Spectating is free and the finish line atmosphere on Avenida dos Búzios from 4pm to midnight is electric. Accommodation in Jurerê books out months ahead. If you are not racing, the best spectating spot is the swim start (7am) at Jurerê Beach or the finish line from 4pm onward. The event brings a noticeable hotel price spike across the northern beaches for about 5 days.
Winter Events and Festivals in Florianópolis (June to August)
Festa Junina , Throughout June
Traditional São João festivals run throughout June across the island, celebrating rural Brazilian culture with bonfires, quadrilha (folk dancing), and traditional food. The largest celebration happens at the Centro de Tradições Gaúchas (CTG) in Lagoa da Conceição, typically the second or third weekend of June. Expect pinhão (roasted pine nuts), quentão (hot spiced cachaça with ginger and cinnamon), canjica (sweet corn porridge), and pé-de-moleque (peanut brittle). Entry is usually free or R$10 to R$20. Dress warmly, these are outdoor evening events and June nights drop to 13°C. Local schools and community centers host smaller versions every weekend, check the city’s cultural calendar at pmf.sc.gov.br for up-to-date listings.
WCT Surfing Events , June through August
While the World Surf League’s Championship Tour does not hold a permanent event in Florianópolis, the WSL Qualifying Series runs several competitions at Joaquina Beach between June and August. The QS 5000 Joaquina Pro typically falls in July and attracts international surf talent. Spectating is free from the beach or the dunes above. The event window runs over 10 days with the best swell days chosen for competition. Check worldsurfleague.com for exact dates as they are determined by swell conditions. Local hero and former WSL champion Adriano de Souza (Mineirinho) sometimes competes.
Spring Events and Festivals in Florianópolis (September to November)
Oktoberfest Blumenau , Mid-October
While not technically in Florianópolis, Blumenau’s Oktoberfest (2 hours by car, in the Itajaí Valley) is the second-largest Oktoberfest in the world after Munich and a major draw for visitors who combine it with a Florianópolis beach stay. The 19-day festival runs from approximately October 8 to 26, featuring German-Brazilian beer, food, music, and folk dancing in a purpose-built pavilion complex. Daily tickets cost R$50 to R$100. The drive from Florianópolis takes 2 hours via BR-101. Buses run from the Rita Maria bus station in Centro (R$60 each way, 3 hours). Book Florianópolis hotels 2 to 3 months ahead if your dates overlap with Oktoberfest weekends.
Fenaostra (National Oyster Festival) , October
Held at the Centro de Eventos in Centro, Fenaostra celebrates Florianópolis’ oyster culture with 4 days of tastings, cooking demonstrations, live music, and oyster-shucking competitions. Local producers serve oysters prepared every imaginable way. Entry costs R$10 to R$20 and individual oyster dishes run R$25 to R$45. The festival typically falls in the second or third week of October. Attracts 50,000 visitors over the 4 days. A must if you are on the island during October.
Maratona de Florianópolis , November
The Florianópolis Marathon runs a scenic coastal course from the Ponte Hercílio Luz to Beira-Mar Norte, with distances of 5km, 10km, 21km, and 42km. About 10,000 runners participate. The route crosses the iconic Hercílio Luz Bridge, closed to vehicle traffic for the race. Usually held the first or second Sunday of November. Registration costs R$150 to R$300 depending on distance and opens in July. The bridge-closure photo is the main draw for runners , it is the only day of the year the bridge is pedestrian-only. Also check our best time to visit Florianopolis for more details. Also check our things to do in Florianopolis for more details. Also check our best beaches in Florianopolis for more details. Also check our where to stay in Florianopolis for more details. Also check our Florianopolis travel tips for more details.
