Rio de Janeiro Nightlife Tonight: Monday Samba Rodas — October 26, 2026

Rio de Janeiro · Nightlife

Tonight, Monday 26 October 2026, Rio de Janeiro does what it does most Mondays: it goes to a samba roda, an informal circle where musicians play around a table and the crowd sings along. The big stages are dark, so the night belongs to Samba do Trabalhador in Andaraí from 5 p.m., the free Pedra do Sal roda in the old port in the evening and a samba and choro night in Catete from 8 p.m. It is mild at about 20°C (68°F), and the chance of rain is low after dark.

Tonight’s Top 4

Venues With Nothing Listed Tonight

• —Vivo Rio, Flamengo A large concert hall. Its own site lists no show tonight; the next is the Italian singer Matteo Bocelli on Thursday 29 October at 9 p.m.
• —Blue Note Rio, Copacabana A jazz club. Its own site lists no scheduled show.
• —Audio Rebel, Botafogo An indie music venue. Nothing is listed tonight; the next show is Miseryswin on Wednesday 28 October at 7 p.m.

Later This Week

• —Wednesday 28 October Miseryswin plays Audio Rebel at 7 p.m. for R$85 (about US$17).
• —Thursday 29 October The Italian singer Matteo Bocelli plays Vivo Rio at 9 p.m.
• —Friday 30 October “E A Terra Nunca Me Pareceu Tão Distante” plays Audio Rebel at 8 p.m. for R$40 (about US$8).
• —Saturday 31 October Líbera, Piseiro Deboxxado and Phoeta play Audio Rebel at 8 p.m. for R$25 (about US$5).
• —Sunday 1 November A Pink Floyd tribute show plays Vivo Rio at 9:30 p.m., and the festival NorttFest II plays Audio Rebel at 4:30 p.m. for R$20 (about US$4).

The Night in Context

Monday is samba night in Rio. While the big concert halls rest after the weekend, the city’s roda circuits run on Mondays, which is why the evening listings above are almost all samba.

A roda is not a show in the usual sense. Musicians sit around a table with cavaquinhos, guitars and percussion, and the audience sings the choruses back, so the line between stage and crowd disappears.

This Monday also follows the runoff for president, which Brazil held on Sunday 25 October, and the city is back to a normal working week.

The three rodas sit in three very different parts of the city. Andaraí is a residential North Zone neighborhood, Saúde is the old port and slave-trade quarter, and Catete is a mid-city district near the Metro.

Pedra do Sal carries the most history. The rock stands in a district that Afro-Brazilian communities shaped after the end of slavery in 1888, and its Monday roda is often described as one of the places where urban samba took form.

The quiet halls are also useful for planning. Vivo Rio opens its week with Matteo Bocelli on Thursday, and Audio Rebel runs a row of indie shows from Wednesday to Sunday.

Programmes in small venues change at short notice, so confirm with the venue before you go. Prices and line-ups come from venue pages and ticket listings checked on the morning of 26 October.

Practical Notes

• —Transport Andaraí and Saúde are away from the South Zone beaches, so an Uber or 99 ride is the practical way home. Catete has its own Metro station, but check the last train before you rely on it.
• —Weather Expect about 20°C (68°F) after dark, with a low chance of rain. A light layer is enough.
• —Tickets Buy through Sympla or at the door for the paid rodas, and avoid street sellers outside the venue.
• —Street rodas Pedra do Sal is crowded and outdoors, so carry only what you need and keep phones in a front pocket.
• —Safety Carry a copy of your passport rather than the original, and agree the drop-off point with your driver before you leave.

What We Could Not Confirm

• —Weekly rodas The Samba do Trabalhador, Pedra do Sal and Arlindinho das Antigas listings describe regular Monday nights, and we could not confirm Pedra do Sal’s exact start time or Arlindinho’s time and price. We could not find a notice for this specific Monday, so call or check the venue’s social media if you are travelling far.
• —Glorioso Cultural We could not find a ticket price for tonight.
• —Circo Voador, Carioca da Gema and other Lapa houses We could not read a current listing for tonight, so we do not list them.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is on in Rio de Janeiro tonight, Monday 26 October 2026?

Samba rodas are the main plan. Samba do Trabalhador starts at 5 p.m. in Andaraí for R$30 (about US$6), and the free Pedra do Sal roda runs in the evening in Saúde.

Is Pedra do Sal free?

Yes, the Monday roda at Pedra do Sal is listed as free. Food and drink are sold from stalls, and the crowd is large, so arrive early.

What is the weather in Rio tonight?

Open-Meteo shows about 20°C (68°F) at 6 p.m. and 19.4°C (67°F) at 10 p.m., with a low chance of rain after dark.

What is on in Rio later this week?

Miseryswin plays Audio Rebel on Wednesday 28 October at 7 p.m. for R$85 (about US$17), and Matteo Bocelli plays Vivo Rio on Thursday 29 October at 9 p.m.

Sources: Catraca Livre, Samba do Trabalhador, Sympla, Glorioso Cultural, Riotur, Rio’s city tourism agency, Vivo Rio, Blue Note Rio, Audio Rebel, Open-Meteo (weather service, 26 October 2026), RT market data (market-data provider, USD/BRL, 26 October).

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief