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Maceió runs its festival calendar on the beachfront and in the historic Jaraguá district, with the biggest events landing in January, February and June. Because the city sits near the equator, most festivals happen outdoors. These are the main events and their dates.
Maceió Events and Festivals: January to March
Festival Verão Massayó (January)
This free summer music festival runs over several weekends in January on the Pajuçara waterfront. The 2026 edition brought national sertanejo, forró and pop acts to a stage set up on the beach, drawing crowds of over 100,000. Exact dates and lineups are announced by the city in late December, and entry is free. January is also one of the sunniest months, per the Maceió weather by month data.
Carnival (February or early March)
Maceió’s Carnival is smaller than Rio’s but runs the same dates, from the Friday before Ash Wednesday to Shrove Tuesday. The main parade route follows Avenida Sílvio Carlos Viana along the beachfront from Ponta Verde toward Jaraguá, with electric trios and blocos starting in the late afternoon. Stands and camarotes (boxes) sell tickets from R$150 to R$500 per day, while following the blocos in the street is free.
Maceió Events and Festivals: June to August
São João Massayó (June 21 to 29)
The city’s largest festival is its June festival, São João Massayó, held June 21 to 29 across two stages: the Jaraguá polo and the Benedito Bentes polo. The program mixes forró and quadrilha dance groups with national headliners, plus dozens of food stalls selling corn dishes, canjica and quentão. Entry is free, and the 2025 edition ran 9 nights. June is also the wettest month, so the best time to visit Maceió guide explains how to plan around the rain.
Festa de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres (August 27)
August 27 is the feast day of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, Maceió’s patron saint. The celebration centers on the Catedral Metropolitana in the Centro district, with a morning mass and a procession through the surrounding streets. Local commerce often closes for the day, and it is the city’s oldest religious festival.
Maceió Events and Festivals: Food and Culture
Festival do Sururu (dates vary)
Sururu, a tiny mussel harvested from Mundaú Lagoon, is the ingredient that defines Maceió cooking. A festival celebrating it, usually held in the Levada or Vergel do Lago district, brings together dozens of stalls serving sururu de capote (stew), fried sururu and caldinho. Dates shift year to year, typically between October and December.
Alagoas Film and Cultural Circuit (year round)
The Teatro Deodoro, a restored 1905 theater in the Centro district, runs a year round program of plays, concerts and the annual Alagoas film circuit. Check the schedule at the box office on Rua do Sol. For where to base yourself during the festivals, see the where to stay in Maceió guide, and for sightseeing between events, the things to do in Maceió list.
The districts hosting these events are mapped in the best neighborhoods in Maceió guide, and arrival details are in the Maceió travel tips article.
