The Rio Times · RT Nightlife Desk
São Jorge — Rio de Janeiro state holiday · Danilo Caymmi at Blue Note Rio 8 pm + 10:30 pm · Piano Bar Experience R$25 · Processions across the city · Bip Bip Thursday samba · Scenarium + Gema + Beco holiday Thursday · The Weeknd in 3 days
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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 this Thursday carries the weight of a state holiday. São Jorge, April 23 — the warrior saint, the orixá Ogum in the Afro-Brazilian religious tradition, patron of soldiers, athletes and workers. Large processions run through Madureira, Quintino, and terreiros of Umbanda and Candomblé across the city. Most Rio de Janeiro state public services are closed. The B3 is open (São Jorge is not a national holiday), but banking and commercial activity is reduced. This is Rio’s second holiday in three days after Tiradentes on Tuesday — many workers have bridged the gap, creating an extended holiday atmosphere. At the Blue Note Rio, Danilo Caymmi plays at 8 pm and 10:30 pm — the son of Dorival Caymmi, one of the most important composers in Brazilian music history. Dorival Caymmi — alongside Tom Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes, and João Gilberto — built the sonic architecture of modern Brazil: “Samba da Minha Terra,” “O Que É Que a Baiana Tem?,” “Das Rosas.” Danilo carries this lineage with his own voice — a singer and multi-instrumentalist who honours the father’s catalogue while maintaining his own artistic identity. 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 holiday Thursday intensity: Scenarium, Gema, Beco — check ahead for possible modified holiday hours. Nova Capela daily. This is part of The Rio Times’ daily Rio de Janeiro nightlife coverage for expats and visitors. The Weeknd in 3 days. 25 °C, 15 % rain.
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Top Picks Today
Fast scan
Top Picks Today
Fast scan
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Blue Note Rio — Danilo Caymmi 8 pm + 10:30 pm
Son of Dorival Caymmi · Av. Atlântica, 1910 – Copacabana · Eventim · Piano Bar R$25 (Thu only)
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São Jorge Processions — Madureira, Quintino, Terreiros
State holiday · The warrior saint · Ogum · RJ public services closed · Extended holiday atmosphere
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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 — Holiday Lapa
Check modified hours · Scenarium 7 pm–1 am+ · Gema from 7:30 pm · Beco to 1 am+ · Nova Capela late
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Full Rundown
Venue by venue
Full Rundown
Venue by venue
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Suggested Route
São Jorge holiday
Suggested Route
São Jorge holiday
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Daytime — São Jorge processions or MAR
São Jorge processions through Madureira and Quintino (daytime). MAR open (check holiday hours). Beaches. The holiday city.
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5:00 pm — Blue Note calçadão + piano bar
Free entry. Copacabana oceanfront. Piano Bar Experience from the evening (R$25, Thu only). The holiday afternoon transition.
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8:00 pm — Danilo Caymmi + Bip Bip samba
Two parallel options: Danilo Caymmi at Blue Note (8 pm, Eventim) or Bip Bip samba from 8 pm (free, pavement). Five minutes apart.
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10:30 pm — Danilo Caymmi second session or Lapa
Stay for Caymmi at 10:30 pm. Or metro to Lapa: Scenarium, Gema, Beco at holiday Thursday energy. Tomorrow: peak Friday. The Weeknd on Sunday.
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Still Going After 22h
Late night
Still Going After 22h
Late night
Thursday after 10 pm: Danilo Caymmi second session at Blue Note 10:30 pm. Piano Bar concurrent. Scenarium past 1 am (check holiday hours). Gema finishing around midnight. Beco to 1 am+. Nova Capela late. Bip Bip as long as the musicians hold.
Last night: Cine Jazz #3 — Coltrane Dusseldorf + Jorge Continentino at 8 pm + late session 10:30 pm. Scenarium. Full Lapa. Bip Bip bossa nova. Tonight the circuit carries São Jorge holiday energy.
Metro alert: MetrôRio may run on modified schedule for São Jorge. Check metro.rio. Plan ride-hailing for post-midnight.
Tomorrow, Friday: Fourplusone — Tina Turner: A História de Anna Mae at Blue Note Rio (8 pm + late session). Scenarium peak. Full Lapa. The extended holiday crowd treats Friday as the third consecutive day off.
The Weeknd countdown — 3 days: Sun Apr 26: The Weeknd “After Hours Til Dawn” at Estádio Nilton Santos with Anitta. The biggest concert event in Rio this month. Three days.
April endgame: Sat Apr 25: Peak Saturday (check Blue Note programme). Apr 28: Prix Osipova at Theatro Municipal. Apr 28–29: Copom. Apr 29: Cine Jazz #4 — final session (Coltrane Jazz Casual + Fernando Trocado). Apr 30: Emicida at Espaço Unimed (SP) / Circo Voador check. May 2: Shakira Copacabana.
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Plan B
More today
Plan B
More today
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São Jorge cultural context — The syncretism of São Jorge with the orixá Ogum is central to Rio’s identity. In the Afro-Brazilian tradition, Ogum is the warrior, the opener of paths, the orixá of iron and technology. The São Jorge processions — where Catholic and Afro-Brazilian devotees walk together — are one of Rio’s most powerful expressions of cultural hybridity. The Igreja de São Jorge at Praça da República (Centro) is the epicentre.
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MAR open today — No Martins, Bienal de São Paulo, Guilhermina Augusti. Check holiday hours. Praça Mauá. R$20/R$10.
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In SP tonight — D-Edge Moving from midnight (São Jorge is not observed in SP — normal operations). Casa full programme. Borogodó 10 pm–3 am. Blue Note SP double bill. The São Paulo Nightlife Guide has the full rundown.
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The Weeknd — 3 days — Sun Apr 26: Estádio Nilton Santos (Engenhão) with Anitta. “After Hours Til Dawn” tour. Ticketmaster. May 2: Shakira Copacabana. Apr 28–29: Copom. Markets: B3 open today (São Jorge not national). Short week continues toward Copom.
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Getting Around
Transport intel
Getting Around
Transport intel
Metro — HOLIDAY NOTE: MetrôRio may run on modified schedule for São Jorge. Check metro.rio before departing. Cardeal Arcoverde for Copacabana and Blue Note. Cinelândia for Lapa. Plan ride-hailing for post-midnight.
São Jorge processions: Some streets in Madureira, Quintino and Centro may be closed for processions. Check traffic before heading to Lapa.
Weather: 25 °C, 15 % rain. Umbrella advisable. Good for the Bip Bip pavement.
Ride-hailing: 99 and Uber — holiday Thursday surge is moderate.
Safety: Rio de Janeiro on São Jorge is busy in procession areas (Madureira, Quintino, Centro). Copacabana and Lapa carry extended holiday energy. Standard awareness.
São Jorge processions: Some streets in Madureira, Quintino and Centro may be closed for processions. Check traffic before heading to Lapa.
Weather: 25 °C, 15 % rain. Umbrella advisable. Good for the Bip Bip pavement.
Ride-hailing: 99 and Uber — holiday Thursday surge is moderate.
Safety: Rio de Janeiro on São Jorge is busy in procession areas (Madureira, Quintino, Centro). Copacabana and Lapa carry extended holiday energy. Standard awareness.
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Neighbourhood Picks
By zone
Neighbourhood Picks
By zone
Copacabana
Danilo Caymmi · Piano Bar · Bip Bip Samba
Danilo Caymmi 8 pm + 10:30 pm (Eventim). Piano Bar R$25. Bip Bip samba from 8 pm (free). Calçadão from 5 pm. The São Jorge Copacabana. Metro Cardeal Arcoverde.
Lapa / Centro
Holiday Lapa · Scenarium · Check Hours
Scenarium + Gema + Beco at holiday Thursday energy. Check modified hours. Nova Capela late. Igreja de São Jorge at Praça da República. Metro Cinelândia.
Madureira / Quintino / Zona Norte
São Jorge · Ogum · Processions
São Jorge processions through the day and evening. Terreiros of Umbanda and Candomblé. The spiritual heart of the holiday. Train Madureira.
Looking Ahead
Fri · Tina Turner · Sat · Peak · Sun · Weeknd
Fri: Fourplusone Tina Turner tribute. Sat: Peak Saturday. Sun: The Weeknd (3 days). Apr 28–29: Copom. Apr 29: Cine Jazz #4. May 2: Shakira.
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. São Jorge — RJ state holiday. Tonight: Blue Note Rio · Danilo Caymmi 8 pm + 10:30 pm · Piano Bar R$25 · Copacabana · Eventim. Bip Bip · Thu samba 8 pm · Free. Scenarium + Gema + Beco · Holiday Thu · Check hours. Nova Capela · Late. São Jorge processions: Madureira · Quintino · Terreiros. Rio de Janeiro nightlife Thursday April 23 2026 São Jorge. The Weeknd 3 days. Fri: Tina Turner tribute. Apr 28–29: Copom. May 2: Shakira.
Compiled by the RT Nightlife Desk — all events verified against official sources.
Prices, times, and door policies may change — always confirm before heading out. São Jorge — RJ state holiday. Tonight: Blue Note Rio · Danilo Caymmi 8 pm + 10:30 pm · Piano Bar R$25 · Copacabana · Eventim. Bip Bip · Thu samba 8 pm · Free. Scenarium + Gema + Beco · Holiday Thu · Check hours. Nova Capela · Late. São Jorge processions: Madureira · Quintino · Terreiros. Rio de Janeiro nightlife Thursday April 23 2026 São Jorge. The Weeknd 3 days. Fri: Tina Turner tribute. Apr 28–29: Copom. May 2: Shakira.
Related: Rio de Janeiro Nightlife Guide for Wednesday, April 22, 2026 · Rio de Janeiro Daily Brief for Thursday, April 23, 2026 · Rio de Janeiro Nightlife Guide for Thursday, April 16, 2026