Matanza Ritual Fest in Rio on 18 December

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BRAZIL · EVENTS

The Matanza Ritual Fest is a night of Brazilian rock at Circo Voador in Rio de Janeiro on Friday 18 December 2026. Matanza Ritual headlines, with Gangrena Vodu and Catïça on the bill.

Tickets cost R$70 to R$200 (about US$13 to US$37) on Eventim, the official seller. For a US visitor in Rio before Christmas, it is an affordable night of live rock in the Lapa district.

What the Night Is and Why It Matters

Eventim names the show Matanza Ritual Fest no Circo Voador, and it lists three acts. Matanza Ritual is the headliner, and Gangrena Vodu and Catïça share the bill.

The listing says Catïça makes its debut on the Circo Voador stage. It does not say how long each set will last.

The Matanza Ritual Fest is a rock night for adults, and the age rating is 18. Young people over 14 may enter only with a parent or guardian.

For a visitor, the draw is a night inside one of Rio’s best-known live-music halls. The seller page does not say whether the hall is standing or seated, so check the booking steps before you pay.

The details below rest on the Eventim listing, the official seller. Check the page again before you buy, because lots and prices can change.

Matanza Ritual Fest Tickets and Prices

Eventim sells four ticket lots for the Matanza Ritual Fest. Lot 1 costs R$140 full price and R$70 half price (about US$26 and US$13).

Lot 2 costs R$160 and R$80 (about US$30 and US$15), and Lot 3 costs R$180 and R$90 (about US$33 and US$17). Lot 4 costs R$200 and R$100 (about US$37 and US$19).

Dollar figures use 5.40 reais per US dollar, the rate on Saturday 31 October 2026. Your card bank may use another rate and add a foreign-transaction fee.

Half-price tickets are called meia-entrada. Eventim links the rules on who qualifies and which documents are required, so read them before you choose that option.

The listing shows a booking fee of zero (US$0) plus shipping costs, and the exact fee is calculated when you pick your tickets. The Circo Voador box office is an official point of sale, charges no service fee and opens two hours before doors.

Eventim says it is not responsible for tickets bought through unofficial channels. Buy only on eventim.com.br or at the box office.

Matanza Ritual Fest Venue and How to Get There

The Matanza Ritual Fest takes place at Circo Voador on Rua dos Arcos in Lapa. Eventim gives the address as R. dos Arcos, s/n, which means the street has no building number.

Lapa is a central district of Rio de Janeiro, and the show is on a Friday night. The US State Department says violent crime, such as armed robbery, is common in Brazilian urban areas, day and night.

The State Department also advises you not to physically resist any robbery attempt. Plan your trip to and from the venue before you leave your hotel, and carry only a card and one ID.

The Eventim page does not publish parking, public transport or step-free access details for this show. Ask the venue before you go if you need wheelchair access.

Doors open at 8:00 p.m., and the box office opens two hours earlier. Eventim does not list bag rules, so travel light.

Tips for US and Foreign Visitors

The US State Department says US citizens need a visa for Brazil, whatever the purpose of travel, effective 10 April 2025. Tourists apply for an e-visa on the government-authorised site, brazil.vfsevisa.com.

Your passport must be valid on the date of entry, with one page free for the entry stamp. The yellow fever vaccine is not required to enter Brazil, according to the State Department.

The Matanza Ritual Fest starts at 8:00 p.m. in Rio, which is 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on that Friday. Brazil has no daylight saving time, so Rio is two hours ahead of New York in December.

The State Department says that if you are robbed you should hand over your belongings without resisting. It also warns that foreigners are targeted through online dating applications.

A night out costs the ticket plus transport and drinks, and the seller page does not publish drink prices. Book a driver through an app for the ride home, and agree a meeting point with your group in case you lose each other.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

The Eventim page does not state when the ticket sale began, how many tickets each lot holds, or when the lots change. It also gives no set times for the three acts.

The page lists the start time as 8:00 p.m., the same as the doors time. The stage time for the headliner is not published.

It does not say whether the hall will be standing or seated, and it lists no bag rules. Dates and line-ups can change, so confirm everything on Eventim before you buy.

Flights from the United States are not covered here. Price them before you plan a trip around the Matanza Ritual Fest.

What Comes Next

For the wider picture of the month, read our guide to what to do in Rio in November. Our Brazil events calendar for 2026 and 2027 lists the big dates to come.

Learn more about the city in our Rio de Janeiro city explainer. Another night at the same hall is our Groundation reggae concert guide.

More: Latin America news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Matanza Ritual Fest at Circo Voador?

It is on Friday 18 December 2026, with doors at 8:00 p.m. Rio time, which is 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The start time is also listed as 8:00 p.m.

How much are Matanza Ritual Fest tickets?

Eventim lists four lots from R$70 to R$200 (about US$13 to US$37), with half-price tickets at the lower figure. A booking fee is added when you check out.

Do US citizens need a visa for the Matanza Ritual Fest?

Yes. US citizens need an e-visa for Brazil, applied for at brazil.vfsevisa.com, and a passport valid on the date of entry.

Sources: Eventim Brasil, Matanza Ritual Fest no Circo Voador (official ticket seller: date, doors, line-up, prices, age rule, address), accessed 1 November 2026; US Department of State, Brazil country information page (visa, passport, crime wording), accessed 1 November 2026.

Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error

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