Rock in Rio 2028: planning your trip to the festival

At a glance

Rock in Rio 2028 dates

The official site says only “Setembro de 2028”. Exact days and the line-up are still to come, and we will update this page once the organizers publish them. If you are already thinking about the trip, tell us now and we will write to you when dates and sales are announced.

For a sense of scale: the 2026 edition ran over two weekends, September 4 to 7 and 11 to 13. The organizers counted more than 700,000 people and 190 shows, with 49% of the audience coming from outside Rio de Janeiro state and visitors from 89 countries. The first Rock in Rio was in 1985. Other dates for your trip: events calendar.

Cidade do Rock

The festival grounds are called Cidade do Rock (“city of rock”). Since the 2017 edition they have been set up in the Parque Olímpico, in Barra Olímpica in the west of Rio. From Copacabana or Ipanema you go by metro to Jardim Oceânico and switch to the festival BRT there.

How tickets worked in 2026

Sales rules for 2028 are not out yet, so this is how the last edition worked.

The Rock in Rio Card was a ticket for one festival day chosen later in “Meus Pedidos” in your Ticketmaster account. The organizer warned that Cards were limited and availability could change with demand.

Tickets were digital only:

• You linked the ticket to the Quentro app using the same email as your Ticketmaster account.
• Screenshots and printouts were not accepted at the gate.
• You could transfer a ticket to someone else in the app; that person could not pass it on again.
• Comfort Zone tickets, an area close to the main stage, needed the holder’s details and a facial biometric registration to unlock the QR code.

We buy only from the official seller at face value. A ticket bought on social media may simply never open in the app.

Getting to Rock in Rio

Metro and BRT

In 2026 Jardim Oceânico metro station stayed open 24 hours on festival days. The BRT Expresso Rock in Rio ran from Jardim Oceânico, Alvorada and Paulo da Portela; tickets were sold only in the Jaé app, the QR code arrived a week before and worked only on the chosen date. On arrival you got a wristband that guaranteed the ride back.

Primeira Classe buses

The festival’s own coaches drove non-stop to a separate entrance. In 2026 they left from 20 points in Rio and Greater Rio and more than 18 cities in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais states. You chose a departure between 11:00 and 19:00; the return ran on demand without booking.

Car and taxi

There is no parking. In 2026 the city closed the whole of Avenida Embaixador Abelardo Bueno and nearby streets from 14:00 to 05:00 on every festival day and told visitors to use public transport. A driver can take you to the metro or a bus pickup point and collect you there at night.

What you can bring

From the 2026 rules: no umbrellas (raincoats are fine), no large bags or backpacks, no professional cameras with removable lenses, no glass or metal bottles. Allowed: water in a clear plastic bottle up to 500 ml with a cap, up to five food items per person, and power banks no bigger than a phone.

Where to stay

For several festival days, Barra da Tijuca near Jardim Oceânico station keeps you close to the BRT. If you want beaches and the city too, stay in Copacabana or Ipanema and ride the metro. With half the audience coming from other states, book accommodation as soon as the days are announced. Neighborhoods compared: where to stay in Rio.

Staying safe in the crowd

The US State Department keeps Brazil at Level 2, “Exercise increased caution” (August 31, 2026). The UK FCDO (updated September 29, 2026) advises staying aware of your surroundings at large celebrations and booking taxis through official apps. Carry only a document, a phone and one card, agree on a meeting point with your group and plan the night ride back in advance. Emergency numbers: 190, 192, 193. More: Rio safety tips.

What to tell us in your request

• How many people and which festival days interest you
• Ticket type you have in mind: single day, Card, Comfort Zone
• How many days you want in Rio before and after
• Preferred area to stay: Barra or Copacabana and Ipanema
• Arrival airport and flight times, if you have them
• Anything else on the trip: city tour, day trip, beach days

We buy tickets only from the official seller at face value, book a stay that fits the festival route, arrange an airport transfer and rides to the transport hub, and plan days without concerts with a guide who speaks your language. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm.