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Angra dos Reis‘s calendar is anchored by two big water events, the Festa de São Pedro dos Pescadores in June and New Year’s Eve on the bay, plus Carnival and a handful of smaller religious and music festivals. Many dates follow the Catholic calendar, so a few shift slightly from year to year. Match your visit using the best time to visit guide.
Angra dos Reis Events and Festivals: The Big Water Celebrations
Festa de São Pedro dos Pescadores (June 29)
The Festa de São Pedro dos Pescadores, held around June 29, is the city’s signature event. Fishermen decorate their boats and join a maritime procession across the bay in honor of Saint Peter, the patron of fishermen, followed by music, food stalls, and fireworks along the waterfront. It draws visitors from across the state and is the best single day to see Angra’s fishing culture. Boats gather in the morning and the main procession runs through the afternoon, in the dry season that the weather by month guide shows is the clearest time of year.
Reveillon (New Year’s Eve, December 31)
New Year’s Eve in Angra dos Reis is a bay-wide party, with hundreds of boats anchored offshore for fireworks and music at midnight. The waterfront and Praia do Anil fill with people in white, and many schooner companies sell party-boat tickets weeks ahead, usually R$150 to 300 per person with drinks included. Book lodging and any boat ticket early, since the town sells out. See the where to stay guide for hotels near the action.
Carnival (February or March)
Carnival in Angra dos Reis is smaller and more local than Rio’s, built around street blocos, parades along the waterfront, and boat parties rather than the Sambadrome. The exact dates move with the church calendar, falling in February or March. Hotels are full and prices peak, but the atmosphere is relaxed compared to the capital, and the things to do list still works around the daytime beach and boat schedule. The travel tips guide covers getting around once the streets close for the parades.
Angra dos Reis Events and Festivals: Religious and Music Festivals
Festa do Divino Espírito Santo
The Festa do Divino Espírito Santo is a Portuguese-rooted celebration held in May or June, seven weeks after Easter, with processions, decorated altars, and a feast. It is one of the town’s oldest traditions and takes place mainly in the historic center. The dates shift each year, so check locally before planning around it.
Angra Jazz Festival
The Angra Jazz Festival runs over several days in May, with free and ticketed performances by Brazilian and international jazz acts at venues around the center and the waterfront. It coincides with the start of the dry season, so it pairs well with the beaches and islands before or after the shows. The lineup is announced a month or two ahead on the city’s tourism pages.
Festa de Nossa Senhora da Conceição (December 8)
The Festa de Nossa Senhora da Conceição on December 8 honors the patron saint of Angra dos Reis, whose church in the historic center dates to 1626 and is among the oldest in Brazil. It features a religious procession, mass, and a community fair. It is a quieter, local event that is easy to combine with the early-summer beach weather.
