Rio de Janeiro
Daily City Brief — Thursday, April 16, 2026
Rio de Janeiro Nightlife Guide for Thursday, April 16, 2026
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April 16, 2026 · 07:00 BRT
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8 min read
The Rio Times · RT Nightlife Desk
Lobão Power Trio at Blue Note Rio 8 pm · Toni Costa e João Fernando with Emanuelle Araújo & Casuarina 10:30 pm · Piano Bar Experience R$25 · Bip Bip Thursday samba · Scenarium + Gema + Beco rising · The weekend build begins
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Tonight’s Vibe Menu
Tonight’s Vibe Menu
Thursday is when the Rio de Janeiro nightlife week shifts into weekend gear — and tonight the Blue Note Rio delivers one of the strongest double bills of April. At 8 pm, the Lobão Power Trio brings the essential energy of rock in its most direct form: guitar, bass and drums. Lobão — one of the most important figures in Brazilian rock, a provocateur, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has been central to the genre since the 1980s — strips the production to its core with the power trio format. Raw, loud, uncompromising. At 10:30 pm, Toni Costa e João Fernando present a show dedicated to Brazilian instrumental music with special guests Emanuelle Araújo and Casuarina. Toni Costa and João Fernando are two experienced and creative musicians whose encounter on stage celebrates MPB, samba and instrumental music. They are joined by Rodrigo Veiga (drums), Ronaldo Diamante (bass), and Flávio Mangaba (guitar), plus the guest appearances from Emanuelle Araújo — the actress and singer known for her powerful voice — and Casuarina, the group led by Gabriel Azevedo, João Fernando and Rafael Freire that has been one of Rio’s defining samba ensembles. The Piano Bar Experience runs on the first floor — R$25, Thursday only. At the Bip Bip, Thursday is samba night. The Lapa triangle runs at rising intensity: Scenarium, Gema, Beco all escalating. Nova Capela late. This is part of The Rio Times’ daily Rio de Janeiro nightlife coverage for expats and visitors. Comfortable — 26 °C, 10 % rain. A good Thursday.
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Top Picks Today
Fast scan
Top Picks Today
Fast scan
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Blue Note Rio — Lobão Power Trio 8 pm
Rock · Guitar + bass + drums · Av. Atlântica, 1910 – Copacabana · Eventim
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Blue Note Rio — Toni Costa e João Fernando + Emanuelle Araújo & Casuarina 10:30 pm
MPB · Samba · Instrumental · Special guests · Eventim
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Blue Note Rio — Piano Bar Experience R$25
Thursday only · First floor · House pianists + guests · R$25 couvert
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Bip Bip — Thursday Samba Roda
From 8 pm · R. Almirante Gonçalves, 50 – Copacabana · Free · Check @rodadobip
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Scenarium + Gema + Beco + Nova Capela — Thursday Rising
Scenarium 7 pm–1 am+ · Gema from 7:30 pm · Beco to 1 am+ · Nova Capela late · The weekend build
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Full Rundown
Venue by venue
Full Rundown
Venue by venue
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Suggested Route
Thursday edition
Suggested Route
Thursday edition
1
5:00 pm — Blue Note Rio calçadão + piano bar
Free entry. Copacabana oceanfront. Piano Bar Experience from the evening (R$25, Thu only). The building fills for the double bill.
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8:00 pm — Lobão Power Trio + Bip Bip samba
Two parallel options: Lobão at 8 pm (rock, loud, raw) or Bip Bip samba from 8 pm (acoustic, pavement, free). Both run simultaneously. Walk between them (5 min).
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10:30 pm — Toni Costa + Casuarina or Lapa
Stay for the Toni Costa / Emanuelle Araújo / Casuarina late show (samba, MPB, instrumental). Or metro to Lapa: Scenarium past 1 am, Gema, Beco. Two closes.
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Late — Beco or Nova Capela
Beco to 1 am+. Nova Capela kitchen late. Tomorrow: peak Friday. Saturday: Pura Alquimia (Secos & Molhados + Ney Matogrosso tribute) at Blue Note.
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Still Going After 22h
Late night
Still Going After 22h
Late night
Thursday after 10 pm: Toni Costa e João Fernando with Emanuelle Araújo & Casuarina at Blue Note Rio from 10:30 pm. Piano Bar Experience running concurrently. Scenarium past 1 am. Gema finishing around midnight. Beco to 1 am+. Nova Capela late. Bip Bip as long as the musicians hold.
Last night: Cine Jazz #2 — Electric Miles Band with Guilherme Dias Gomes & Victor Biglione at 8 pm + Violentango at 10:30 pm. Scenarium reopened. Full Lapa. Bip Bip bossa nova. Tonight the circuit escalates to Thursday rising.
Tomorrow, Friday: Peak Friday. Blue Note Rio double bill — Indiana Nomma Jazz Trio (divas do jazz tribute) at first session + check bluenoterio.com.br. Scenarium packed. Gema full flight. Beco to 2 am.
Saturday Apr 18: Peak Saturday. Pura Alquimia — Uma Homenagem ao Secos & Molhados e a Ney Matogrosso at Blue Note Rio (8 pm + 10:30 pm). Rodrigo Barba “Bloco do Eu Sozinho” 25 anos. Scenarium peak. Full circuit maximum.
This month: Apr 22: Cine Jazz #3 — Coltrane Dusseldorf + Jorge Continentino. Apr 26: The Weeknd at Estádio Nilton Santos. Apr 28–29: Next Copom.
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Plan B
More today
Plan B
More today
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MAR open today — No Martins: Sortilégios de desvio, 36th Bienal de São Paulo, Guilhermina Augusti. R$20/R$10. 11h–18h. Praça Mauá. The city’s cultural anchor.
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Copacabana boardwalk kiosks — Open late, 26 °C, mostly dry. The kiosks pair with the Blue Note and Bip Bip — the Copacabana Thursday circuit between sessions.
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In SP tonight — D-Edge Moving returns from midnight. Casa de Francisca full programme. Ó do Borogodó 10 pm–3 am. Blue Note SP double bill. The São Paulo Nightlife Guide has the full rundown.
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Weekend preview — Fri Apr 17: Beto Guedes “Página 43” at Blue Note Rio 8 pm — revisiting his trajectory and previewing the 50th anniversary of “A Página do Relâmpago Elétrico” (1977). Indiana Nomma Jazz Trio at another session. Scenarium packed. Sat Apr 18: Pura Alquimia — Secos & Molhados + Ney Matogrosso tribute. Rodrigo Barba “Bloco do Eu Sozinho” 25 anos. Barbixas “Improvável” at 5 pm + 8 pm. Apr 22: Cine Jazz #3. Apr 26: The Weeknd. Apr 28–29: Copom.
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Getting Around
Transport intel
Getting Around
Transport intel
Metro: This Rio de Janeiro nightlife guide notes that Thursday is the busiest weeknight on public transport. Cardeal Arcoverde or Siqueira Campos for Copacabana and Blue Note. Cinelândia or Carioca for Lapa. Last trains around midnight — plan ride-hailing for the late Scenarium departure.
Weather: Comfortable Thursday — 26 °C, 10 % rain. A mostly dry evening. Good for the Bip Bip pavement.
Ride-hailing: 99 and Uber — Thursday surge begins to rise.
Safety: Rio de Janeiro on a Thursday night is busier than midweek. Lapa is well-populated. Copacabana is well-lit. Standard awareness.
Weather: Comfortable Thursday — 26 °C, 10 % rain. A mostly dry evening. Good for the Bip Bip pavement.
Ride-hailing: 99 and Uber — Thursday surge begins to rise.
Safety: Rio de Janeiro on a Thursday night is busier than midweek. Lapa is well-populated. Copacabana is well-lit. Standard awareness.
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Neighbourhood Picks
By zone
Neighbourhood Picks
By zone
Copacabana
Lobão · Casuarina · Piano Bar · Bip Bip Samba
Lobão 8 pm + Toni Costa/Casuarina 10:30 pm + Piano Bar Experience R$25. Bip Bip samba from 8 pm (free). Calçadão from 5 pm. The Thursday headline zone. Metro Cardeal Arcoverde.
Lapa / Centro
Scenarium Rising · Gema · Beco · Chapel
Full Lapa triangle at rising Thursday intensity. Scenarium 7 pm–1 am+. Gema from 7:30 pm. Beco to 1 am+. Nova Capela late. The weekend build. Metro Cinelândia.
Looking Ahead
Fri · Beto Guedes · Sat · Secos & Molhados · Peak
Friday: Beto Guedes “Página 43” + peak Lapa. Saturday: Pura Alquimia (Secos & Molhados + Ney Matogrosso tribute) + Rodrigo Barba 25 anos. Apr 22: Cine Jazz #3. Apr 26: The Weeknd.
The Rio Times
riotimesonline.com · Nightlife Guide · Published daily · Rio de Janeiro nightlife guide
Compiled by the RT Nightlife Desk — all events verified against official sources.
Prices, times, and door policies may change — always confirm before heading out. Tonight: Blue Note Rio · Lobão Power Trio 8 pm + Toni Costa e João Fernando with Emanuelle Araújo & Casuarina 10:30 pm · Piano Bar Experience R$25 · Copacabana · Eventim. Bip Bip · Thu samba 8 pm · Free. Scenarium · Thu rising 7 pm–1 am+. Gema · Thu from 7:30 pm. Beco · Thu to 1 am+. Nova Capela · Kitchen late. Rio de Janeiro nightlife Thursday April 16 2026. Fri: Beto Guedes. Sat: Pura Alquimia Secos & Molhados. Apr 22: Cine Jazz #3. Apr 26: The Weeknd.
Compiled by the RT Nightlife Desk — all events verified against official sources.
Prices, times, and door policies may change — always confirm before heading out. Tonight: Blue Note Rio · Lobão Power Trio 8 pm + Toni Costa e João Fernando with Emanuelle Araújo & Casuarina 10:30 pm · Piano Bar Experience R$25 · Copacabana · Eventim. Bip Bip · Thu samba 8 pm · Free. Scenarium · Thu rising 7 pm–1 am+. Gema · Thu from 7:30 pm. Beco · Thu to 1 am+. Nova Capela · Kitchen late. Rio de Janeiro nightlife Thursday April 16 2026. Fri: Beto Guedes. Sat: Pura Alquimia Secos & Molhados. Apr 22: Cine Jazz #3. Apr 26: The Weeknd.
Related: Rio de Janeiro Nightlife Guide for Wednesday, April 15, 2026 · Rio de Janeiro Daily Brief for Thursday, April 16, 2026 · Rio de Janeiro Nightlife Guide for Thursday, April 9, 2026