The 71st Festa do Peão de Barretos drew a record arena crowd of over 100,000 people on Saturday for shows by Gusttavo Lima and Leonardo.
Organizers of the Brazilian country music festival said nearly one million visitors attended the 11-day event in the interior of São Paulo state, which hosted a total of 150 live performances.
Saturday night marked the climax of the festival with headline appearances by singer Leonardo, sertanejo duo João Bosco & Vinícius, and solo star Gusttavo Lima, who kept the crowd entertained until Sunday morning.
During his performance, Leonardo paid tribute to his late brother Leandro while singing the hit track "Não Aprendi a Dizer Adeus". Leonardo originally performed alongside Leandro as a famous sertanejo duo until Leandro passed away in 1998.
Duo João Bosco & Vinícius used their mainstage appearance on Saturday to record a live DVD. The pair are recognized as early pioneers of sertanejo universitário, a commercial style of Brazilian country music.
Gusttavo Lima delivered a marathon five-hour set, remaining on stage until 9 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, to close out the concert series.
Lima had not played at Barretos since 2022. With his return in 2026, he became the only artist in the festival's history to serve as its official ambassador three times.
The Festa do Peão de Barretos, held annually in the municipality of Barretos, is the largest rodeo and country music event in Latin America. It combines professional bull riding competitions with large-scale musical performances.
Star performances and festival highlights
A wide variety of musical acts performed across the 2026 festival. Organizers welcomed featured artists including Ana Castela, electronic music producer Alok, singer Belo, Gustavo Mioto, veteran duo Zezé Di Camargo & Luciano, and Chitãozinho & Xororó.
The star lineup showcased both traditional sertanejo legends and contemporary pop, samba, and electronic artists. Sertanejo music, which originated in rural Brazil, remains the country's most popular broadcast and concert genre.
Plans announced for Barretos 2027
Following the conclusion of the 2026 event on Saturday, August 29, organizers announced that the next edition of the festival will take place from August 19 to August 29, 2027.
Musical duo Chitãozinho & Xororó have been confirmed as ambassadors for the 2027 festival, taking on the role for the second time. The brothers have staged more than 40 performances over the festival's 70-plus history.
The official theme chosen for the 2027 festival is "Evidências", named after the landmark 1990 song recorded by Chitãozinho & Xororó that became one of the most recognized anthems in Brazilian music history.
Organizers said they expect the 2027 ambassadors to design a special concert program featuring guest performers and tributes across both weekends of the upcoming festival.
