Welcome to your Rio de Janeiro daily brief for Saturday, February 28, 2026 — the last day of February and the best outdoor day in nearly a week. After days of cloud and rain, the skies are clearing: just 25% rain at 26°C, a welcome shift from yesterday’s 55%. The headline cultural event today is the mini bloco Breque no Piripaque at the CCBB (14h, free), a Carnaval-themed children’s parade by the clown collective Roda de Palhaço celebrating their tenth anniversary. All four major museums are open — the CCBB (Vetores-Vertentes, free), MAM (Daniel Buren, free), MAR (R$20) and Museu do Amanhã (R$30) — making this an ideal day for a cultural circuit in improving weather. Tomorrow’s Cariocão semifinal volta looms large: Fluminense host Vasco at Maracanã (18h), with Flu leading 1-0 from the ida and needing only a draw to reach the final. On the markets, the Ibovespa closed Friday at 188,787 (-1.16%) after a hotter-than-expected IPCA-15 reading spooked investors, while the dollar edged down to R$5.133. February ends with the Ibovespa up 4.09% for the month and 17.17% for the year. This Rio de Janeiro daily brief covers weather, events, transport, food, and practical tips for your day.
01Weather & What to WearWhat to wear
02Day at a GlanceQuick scan
Saturday belongs to families and fresh air. After a week of rain and Recopa heartbreak, the city gets a breather: clearing skies at 26°C, the CCBB’s Breque no Piripaque mini bloco parading through the foyer at 14h, and all four major museums open for a full cultural day. Vetores-Vertentes continues its acclaimed run at the CCBB with 170 works by Amazonian women photographers, while Daniel Buren’s sail-and-stripe installation at the MAM remains one of the most visually striking shows in the city. Tonight, Monobloco brings their Ressaca de Carnaval to Arena Bangu with the Mocidade Independente bateria — a last gasp of folia before March. But the real anticipation is for tomorrow: the Flu v Vasco Cariocao semifinal at Maracana (18h) is the most consequential derby of the state championship season, with the Tricolor needing only a draw to reach the final.
03Culture & EventsWhat to see & do
Today — CCBB Educativo
Mini Bloco Breque no Piripaque — CCBB
The headline cultural event of the day. The CCBB Educativo hosts the mini bloco Breque no Piripaque, a Carnaval-themed children’s parade by the clown collective that emerged from the Projeto Roda de Palhaço — an initiative created in 2016 that sends professional clowns to public hospitals in Rio every week. Now celebrating ten years, the bloco takes over the CCBB’s rotunda and foyer with marchinhas, kazoos, banjos, surdos and audience participation. Ideal for families, and perfectly timed for a rainy-week reprieve. Combine with the Vetores-Vertentes exhibition upstairs and the Viva Mauricio immersive experience (last entry 17h). The CCBB Lab Maker workshops (quadrinhos theme, ages 7-14) also run today from 13h-17h in the Mezanino.
Museums & Exhibitions
CCBB Rio — Open Today
Vetores-Vertentes: Fotografas do Para occupies the first floor with 170 works by 11 Amazonian women photographers spanning five decades — including VR experiences and an aromatic installation called Icamiabas. Curated by Sissa Aneleh for the Museu das Mulheres, the show runs through March 30. Also running: Viva Mauricio de Sousa, the immersive Turma da Monica experience (through April 13, last entry 17h). Fourth floor: Museu BB permanent collection. Ingressos at the bilheteria or bb.com.br/cultura.
MAM Rio — Open Today
Two compelling shows continue: Daniel Buren‘s first installation in Brazil — Voile/Toile – Toile/Voile (Vela/Tela – Tela/Vela) — transforms the museum’s foyer with 11 striped sails from January’s regata-performance on the Baia de Guanabara (through April 12). Plus a Carmen Portinho retrospective celebrating the pioneering engineer behind Rio’s modernist infrastructure. Free admission. Saturday is the best day to visit — weekend hours run 10h-18h with full programming. Cinemateca MAM also operating.
Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR) — Open Today
The MAR is open today with full programming. The rooftop terrace remains one of the best viewpoints in Centro, looking across Praca Maua to the Museu do Amanha. Combine with the VLT (Parada dos Museus stop) for an easy Praca Maua itinerary. With drier weather today, the walk between MAR and the Museu do Amanha is pleasant rather than punishing.
Museu do Amanha — Open Today
Santiago Calatrava’s futuristic museum is open with its permanent exhibition and the temporary show Oceano — O Mundo e um Arquipelago, which explores the relationship between human and oceanic intelligence through memory, attention and anticipation (through May 19). Half-price for students and under-21s. Casa do Saulo restaurant on site for lunch. Combine with the MAR across the square.
Also Open Today
Casa Museu Eva Klabin
An intimate collection of European and Asian art inside a stunning lakeside residence. Currently showing a new interpretation of Eva Klabin’s haute-couture pieces, photographs and paintings. A quiet alternative to the larger museums — and with today’s clearer skies, the Lagoa setting is especially rewarding.
A Gentil Carioca
One of Rio’s most respected contemporary art galleries, located in Centro near the CCBB. Running a group show exploring emergent Brazilian artists. Free entry, walkable from CCBB in five minutes. Saturday hours are shorter (12h-16h), so plan accordingly.
Tonight — Live Music
Monobloco — Ressaca de Carnaval — Arena Bangu
Monobloco brings their signature Carnaval-de-rua energy to Arena Bangu for a Ressaca de Carnaval party, joined by the bateria of Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel. Expect marchinhas, Carnaval classics and a crowd still hungry for folia after the official season ended. Classified 18+. Ingresso solidario available with 1kg of non-perishable food for a discount. This is Zona Oeste — plan transport accordingly, as Bangu is roughly 45 minutes from Centro by train.
04Getting AroundHow to move
05Food & DrinkWhere to eat
06Practical InfoNeed to know
07Community & LifestyleLocal life
08SportsGame day
Cariocao — Semifinal Volta This Weekend
The defining match of the Cariocao 2026. Fluminense lead 1-0 from the ida at the Nilton Santos, where Kevin Serna scored the only goal after Bernal headed down a corner. The Tricolor need only a draw to reach the final. Vasco must win by two or more for direct qualification; a one-goal win takes the tie to penalties. Fluminense lost Bernal (red card) and Zubeldia (expelled) in the first leg — both will miss the volta. Vasco sacked Fernando Diniz after the defeat and are now led by interim coach Bruno Lazaroni. Flu come off a 2-1 loss at Palmeiras in midweek; Vasco lost 2-1 at Santos. Transmissao: Globo (RJ), SporTV, Premiere, ge TV (YouTube). Expect Maracana traffic from 15h.
A formality. Flamengo lead 3-0 from the ida (De La Cruz, Arrascaeta — his 100th Flamengo goal — and Luiz Araujo). Madureira need four unanswered goals to qualify in normal time. Filipe Luis is expected to rotate heavily, resting key players after a brutal month that included the Recopa loss to Lanus (2-4 aggregate) and the Supercopa defeat to Corinthians.
Brasileirao Serie A — Round 4 Recap
Round 4 was completed this week. Neymar stole the headlines at Vila Belmiro, scoring twice — including a sublime chip — to give Santos a 2-1 win over Vasco (under interim coach Lazaroni after Diniz’s sacking). It was Neymar’s first goals of 2026. Palmeiras lead the table on 10 points after beating Fluminense 2-1. Sao Paulo also have 10 after a 1-0 win at Coritiba. Three matches remain postponed: Flamengo v Mirassol, Botafogo v Vitoria, and Bahia v Chapecoense. No Brasileirao this weekend — Round 5 resumes midweek.
09Business & MarketsMarket watch
Month-end context: February 2026 ends with the Ibovespa up 4.09% — a strong month that builds on January’s extraordinary 12.56% surge. The 13 record closes in 2026 and the 17%+ YTD gain reflect a fundamental repricing of Brazilian equities driven by record foreign inflows (R$35.6 billion through Feb 20). Friday’s IPCA-15 shock was a reality check but not a trend reversal: the selloff was orderly, volume was normal, and the broader rotation into EM equities remains intact. The key question entering March is whether the BCB will begin cutting rates at the March 17-18 meeting or whether the inflation surprise forces a delay. The Ibovespa’s 200k target remains in play for 2026 but may require patience.
10Plan AheadPlan ahead
Rio de Janeiro Daily Brief — Saturday, February 28, 2026
A culture-first daily guide for locals and expats in the Cidade Maravilhosa.