Rio de Janeiro will host the ninth edition of the Mimo Festival on September 19 and 20, bringing free concerts and DJ sets by Brazilian and international artists to the Circo Voador venue in the Lapa neighbourhood.
The festival is part of Rio's Art Week and runs across two days with eight shows and DJ sets, plus 14 films screened as part of a parallel cinema programme.
Saturday's Lineup
On Saturday, September 19, the Circo Voador stage will host Tiken Jah Fakoly, the Ivorian artist described as one of the great voices of reggae worldwide. The bill also includes Fernanda Abreu, marking 30 years since the release of her album "Da Lata," and Gabriela Leite, winner of the 2026 Brazilian Music Award in the Best Classical Release category.
The night closes with American DJ Reborn, the official DJ for Ms. Lauryn Hill, in a set spanning hip-hop, soul, funk and sounds from the African diaspora.
Sunday's Bill
On Sunday, September 20, Portuguese rapper Capicua will host Brazilian rapper Emicida as a special guest, renewing a long-running artistic partnership on the Mimo stage.
The Sunday programme also features Tinariwen, the Grammy-winning Tuareg collective from Mali, and an instrumental pairing between Brazilian pianist Bianca Gismonti and Portuguese guitarist Manuel de Oliveira.
A Festival With a Long History
Mimo has now held 66 editions across 16 cities in Brazil and Europe, drawing a combined audience of 2.1 million people. Organisers say the audience does not just watch the shows but takes part in building an atmosphere of exchange and celebration.
Mimo Cinema Festival
The same weekend also brings the Mimo Cinema Festival, held at the historic Cine Santa Teresa, the first cinema built in its neighbourhood and one of the last remaining street cinemas in Rio de Janeiro. The cinema programme spans 14 documentary films from across Brazil, screened in sessions on both days.
Entry and Schedule
Both the music festival and the cinema festival are free to attend, admission is on a first-come, first-served basis, and both are subject to venue capacity.
The music schedule for Saturday, September 19, runs as follows: DJ Machintal at 8pm, Gabriela Leite at 8:30pm, Fernanda Abreu at 9:30pm, Tiken Jah Fakoly at 11:30pm and DJ Reborn at 1am.
On Sunday, September 20: DJ Machintal at 6pm, Bianca Gismonti and Manuel de Oliveira at 6:30pm, Capicua with special guest Emicida at 8pm, and Tinariwen at 10pm.
Mimo Festival takes place on September 19 and 20, from 8pm, at Circo Voador, Rua dos Arcos, Lapa, Rio de Janeiro. Entry is free, first come first served and subject to capacity.
