Brazil · MUSIC
Key Facts
- —How big Saturday alone brings seven concerts and more than 10 hours of music, from midday to 9pm.
- —Where it happens All shows are in two open-air town-centre venues, Praça do Artesão and Boulevard Araucária.
- —The catch The festival is two days only; there is no Sunday programme, despite the last weekend of August.
- —Who it hits Visitors from São Paulo, about a two-hour drive away, can attend without tickets or booking.
- —What comes next The festival starts Friday evening; the full Saturday line-up runs until 9pm with Banda Black Rio.
The fourth edition of the free mountain jazz festival brings two days of instrumental music to the Serra da Mantiqueira. With more than 10 hours of concerts on Saturday alone.
Jazz na Serra, the free festival in Santo Antônio do Pinhal. Returns for its fourth edition on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August 2026.
The mountain town in the Serra da Mantiqueira, about two hours from São Paulo, turns its centre into an open-air stage.
What Is Jazz na Serra?
Jazz na Serra means Jazz in the Mountains, a name that fits its setting in the Serra da Mantiqueira range. In short, this range divides São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.
It is a cool-climate holiday area popular with people from São Paulo. Meanwhile, the festival takes place in Santo Antônio do Pinhal, a small mountain town.
It is in the Vale do Paraíba region, next to the better-known resort of Campos do Jordão. G1 Vale do Paraíba, the regional arm of the Globo news site, confirmed the dates on Saturday 22 August 2026.
The festival’s fourth edition is scheduled for late August 2026. However, the exact dates are Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August, as confirmed by G1.
When Does Jazz na Serra Run?
Jazz na Serra 2026 runs on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August only. Although Brazilian coverage calls this the last weekend of August, the calendar confirms 28 August is a Friday.
29 August is a Saturday. There is no Sunday programme, even though 30 August is the last Sunday of the month.
So plan for a two-day festival, not a three-day one. The festival runs Friday and Saturday only, not Sunday.
As a result, visitors should plan for two days of music, not three.
Where the Music Happens
In fact, all concerts take place in two public spaces in the town centre. These are the Praça do Artesão, or Artisan’s Square, and the Boulevard Araucária, or Araucária Boulevard.
G1 reported that the programme includes free shows in both spaces. Therefore, the araucária is the Paraná pine, the flat-topped conifer.
It is the emblem of the Serra da Mantiqueira and gives the boulevard its name. A praça is a town square, so both venues are open-air and public.
Both venues are in the town centre, but no street address is published. Therefore, visitors should look for the main square and the boulevard.
Free Entry and No Booking
Entry to every performance is free, as Folha de S. Paulo noted on 7 August 2026.
Veja São Paulo described it as an instrumental music festival that occupies squares and avenues with free live performances. Because the shows are in public squares, there are no tickets, no wristbands, and no registration or booking channel.
Just show up and enjoy. Since entry is free, there is no ticket to buy or reserve.
However, arriving early is wise to find a good spot.
Friday Line-Up at the Praça do Artesão
The festival opens on Friday 28 August at 7.30pm with Giu Nogueira Quarteto at the Praça do Artesão. At 9pm, Michael Pipoquinha Quarteto takes the same stage.
G1 confirmed these two concerts, and Veja São Paulo listed the identical times and venue. A quarteto is a quartet, so expect four-piece ensembles.
The Friday line-up features two quartets, starting at 7.30pm. Meanwhile, the second act begins at 9pm, so plan accordingly.
Saturday’s Seven Concerts
Saturday 29 August brings seven concerts, starting at midday with Grande Banda do Sertão at the Praça do Artesão. The day runs until 9pm with Banda Black Rio, also at the Praça do Artesão.
In addition, the schedule alternates between the two venues. Eloá Gonçalves Trio is at 1.30pm and DejaVu Session – Especial Jazz Brasil at 4.30pm at the Boulevard Araucária.
Jota P Quinteto is at 3pm and Juliane Gamboa at 6pm at the Praça do Artesão. Banda Mantiqueira plays at 7.30pm at the Boulevard Araucária.
Saturday’s schedule is packed with seven performances across both venues. Therefore, visitors can move between the two stages throughout the day.
More Than 10 Hours of Music
G1 reported that Saturday alone offers more than 10 hours of music, with seven performances from midday to 9pm. That makes the second day the heart of the festival.
By contrast, Friday has just two concerts, so the weekend builds to a full day of sound. The seven-concert count and the 10-hour figure both belong to Saturday.
The Saturday programme alone exceeds 10 hours of music. In addition, this makes the second day the festival’s main event.
Who Curates Jazz na Serra
The artistic curation is by Joabe Reis, an award-winning trombonist who selects the Brazilian instrumental names. Cultura UOL reported on a new edition curated by Reis with concerts in public squares.
The festival’s creator is the producer Pedro Pimenta. Even so, In&Out Jazz, a Spanish jazz site, quoted Pimenta in December 2025.
Therefore, the idea is not to hold a festival that could take place anywhere. Just putting the Jazz na Serra brand on it.
In addition, it’s almost inevitable that it will happen again, and we’ve already started thinking about ways to do that. The curator Joabe Reis selects the Brazilian instrumental acts.
However, the creator Pedro Pimenta confirmed the 2026 edition will happen.
Getting There and Planning Your Visit
By car from São Paulo, the drive takes about two hours via the Rodovia Ayrton Senna and Rodovia Carvalho Pinto. Then take the Rodovia Floriano Rodrigues Pinheiro (SP-123) towards Campos do Jordão.
Follow the signposted turn-off to Santo Antônio do Pinhal. By bus, an intercity coach runs from São Paulo’s Terminal Rodoviário Tietê to Campos do Jordão.
After that, connect on to Santo Antônio do Pinhal. However, there is no official festival shuttle or dedicated bus, so visitors without a car depend on this ordinary coach route.
For the latest details, the town’s tourism page directs readers to the festival’s official Instagram account. As of Monday 24 August 2026, the festival has not yet started, so there is still time to plan your visit.
The drive from São Paulo takes about two hours by car. By coach, travel to Campos do Jordão from Terminal Tietê and change there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jazz na Serra really free?
Yes, every concert at Jazz na Serra is free, as confirmed by Folha de S. Paulo and Veja São Paulo.
What are the dates for Jazz na Serra 2026?
Jazz na Serra 2026 runs on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August 2026. Plan for two days rather than a full weekend.
Where do the concerts take place?
All concerts take place in two public spaces in the town centre of Santo Antônio do Pinhal: the Praça do Artesão and the Boulevard Araucária. No street addresses are published, but both are in the town centre.
How do I get to Santo Antônio do Pinhal from São Paulo?
By car, it’s about a two-hour drive via the Rodovia Ayrton Senna, Rodovia Carvalho Pinto, and Rodovia Floriano Rodrigues Pinheiro (SP-123). By bus, an intercity coach runs from São Paulo’s Terminal Rodoviário Tietê to Campos do Jordão.
Connected Coverage
Sources: G1 Vale do Paraíba; Veja São Paulo; Folha de S.Paulo; Vale no Feed; Agenda Viva SP; São Paulo Secreto; Cultura UOL; In&Out Jazz; Turismo Santo Antônio do Pinhal; Banco Central do Brasil.
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