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Belem’s event calendar revolves around two poles: the massive religious pilgrimage of Cirio de Nazare in October, and the June festivals (Festas Juninas) that bring Amazonian food and music to city squares. Between these anchors, the city hosts Carnival blocos, an Amazon opera festival, and a growing food festival scene. Most events are free and open to the public.
Belem Events and Festivals: Cirio de Nazare (Second Sunday of October)
Cirio de Nazare is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, drawing approximately 2 million people to Belem for a weekend of processions honoring Our Lady of Nazareth (Nossa Senhora de Nazare). The main event is the Sunday morning procession carrying a small wooden image of the Virgin from the Se Cathedral in Cidade Velha to the Basilica of Nazare, a distance of 3.6km. Pilgrims hold a 400-meter rope attached to the berlinda (the carriage bearing the image). The procession begins at 6am and takes 5 to 6 hours to reach the basilica.
Cirio is actually a multi-day festival. The Friday before the main Sunday features the Trasladacao, an evening transfer of the image from the basilica to the cathedral via a boat procession and a road procession. Saturday includes the Romaria Fluvial (river pilgrimage) with hundreds of decorated boats on Guajara Bay and the Romaria Rodoviaria (motorcycle pilgrimage). The festival officially opens with a large mass on the Thursday evening preceding Cirio Sunday. If you attend, position yourself near the Se Cathedral for the start, at Praca da Republica for the midpoint, or at the Basilica of Nazare for the arrival. Book hotels by June for Cirio dates. The 2026 date is October 11 (subject to church confirmation).
Belem Events and Festivals: Carnival (February or March)
Belem’s Carnival is a street-level affair distinct from the samba school parades of Rio and Sao Paulo. The city’s blocos (street bands) play carimbo, tecnobrega, and guitarrada, traditional rhythms from Para state. Key blocos include Bloco da Pracinha in Batista Campos, the gay-friendly Bloco do Mexicao, and the traditional Banda do Barao in Cidade Velha. The pre-Carnival weekend (the Saturday and Sunday before the official Carnival dates) features the largest street parties. Most blocos are free and start around 4pm, running until midnight or later. Rain is almost guaranteed given February’s 418mm average, but the parties continue regardless. Wear clothes you do not mind getting wet and leave valuables at your hotel.
Belem Events and Festivals: Festas Juninas (June)
Throughout June, Belem celebrates Festas Juninas with quadrilha dances, traditional food stalls, and bonfires. The Amazonian twist on these nationwide June festivals is the food: tacaca (a hot sour soup made with tucupi, jambu, and dried shrimp) and manicoba (a stew of ground manioc leaves slow-cooked for 7 days with pork) appear alongside standard festa junina fare like canjica and pe de moleque. The largest public celebrations happen at Praca da Republica, the Mangal das Garcas park, and in the Nazare neighborhood. June 24 (St. John’s Day) and June 29 (St. Peter’s Day) are the peak dates. This is one of the best times to try Amazonian festival food in Belem.
Belem Events and Festivals: Festival de Opera do Theatro da Paz (September)
The Theatro da Paz hosts an annual opera festival each September, running for roughly 3 weeks. Productions range from Brazilian works by Carlos Gomes to standard repertoire (Verdi, Puccini). Tickets cost R$10 to R$60 (US$2 to US$12), making it one of the most affordable opera festivals in the world. Performances typically run Thursday through Sunday evenings. The theater itself, a rubber-boom neoclassical gem, is worth the visit even without a performance. Book tickets through the theater’s website (theatrodapaz.com.br) as the festival approaches. September weather is cooperative (121mm rain, 7.1 hours sun), making evening walks to and from the theater pleasant. Check our weather by month for more. Check our best time to visit for more. Check our things to do in Belem for more. Check our neighborhoods guide for more. Check our where to stay for more. Check our travel tips for more.
Belem Events and Festivals: Other Annual Events
- Reveillon (New Year’s Eve, December 31): Fireworks over Guajara Bay viewed from Estacao das Docas. Live music, food stalls, and crowds of 200,000-plus. Free. Arrive by 8pm if you want a good viewing spot.
- Arraial do Pavulagem (weekends in June and July): A musical cortege combining ciranda, boi-bumba, and carimbo traditions. Participants wear straw hats with colored ribbons. The parade starts at Praca da Republica and winds through the city center.
- Amazon Beer Festival (usually August): Craft beer showcase at Estacao das Docas featuring Amazonian ingredients like bacuri, cupuacu, and priprioca root in beer recipes. 3-day event with live music.
- Belem Gastronomic Festival (usually November): Restaurants across the city offer prix-fixe menus highlighting Amazonian ingredients and traditional dishes. Check local listings for specific dates as the event varies year to year.
