Welcome to your São Paulo daily brief for Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The Avenida Paulista cultural corridor is in full swing today: Japan House continues its compelling exhibition on Japanese forest carpentry masters, Itaú Cultural offers the interactive Game+ show alongside Grande Othelo’s 71st Ocupação (both closing March 8), and the Instituto Tomie Ohtake hosts its France-Brasil river dialogue — all free. MASP is open today (10h–18h, R$85), with current exhibitions including André Taniki Yanomami and Abel Rodríguez alongside the permanent collection. The museum’s 2026 Histórias Latino-Americanas cycle launches with Sandra Gamarra Heshiki on March 6. The CCBB in Centro is open today with the landmark Joaquín Torres García retrospective — 500 works including the iconic América Invertida (free, through March 9). The Museu da Língua Portuguesa in Luz has its funk exhibition open (9h–16h30, R$24). On the markets, the Ibovespa closed at 191,490 yesterday — its first close above 191k and 13th record of 2026 — while the dollar fell to R$5.1556. Trump’s 10% global tariff under Section 122 took effect at midnight in Washington, well below the 15% he had threatened. Brasileirão Round 4 kicks off tonight, and the Paulistão semifinals are set for this weekend. This São Paulo daily brief covers weather, events, transport, food, and practical tips for your day.
01Weather & Air QualityWhat to wear
02Day at a GlanceQuick scan
Wednesday is a strong day for the Av. Paulista cultural corridor. Japan House offers one of the most distinctive exhibitions in the city right now — Mestres da Carpintaria immerses you in Japanese forest craftsmanship, including a replica of the Sa-an tea house, running through April 5. Down the road, Itaú Cultural pairs two free shows: Game+ Arte lets you play across 51 games and 25 consoles, while the 71st Ocupação honours Grande Othelo — both close March 8, so time is running short. The Instituto Tomie Ohtake in Pinheiros closes its France-Brasil river exhibition the same week. MASP is open with its collection display, though the big 2026 programme starts March 6 with Sandra Gamarra Heshiki’s retrospective. The CCBB in Centro is open today with the major Torres García retrospective — 500 works exploring the Uruguayan master’s universalismo construtivo, including the iconic América Invertida (through March 9, free). The Museu da Língua Portuguesa in Luz has its expanded funk exhibition. Friday brings the opening of Frestas Trienal de Artes at Sesc Sorocaba with 80+ artists.
03Culture & EventsWhat to see & do
Museums & Exhibitions
MASP
MASP is open today with current exhibitions including André Taniki Yanomami: ser imagem, Abel Rodríguez’s A árvore da vida e da abundância, and Minerva Cuevas: ecologia social, alongside the iconic cavaletes de cristal permanent collection. The 2026 cycle — Histórias Latino-Americanas — launches March 6 with Sandra Gamarra Heshiki’s first retrospective. Wednesday closing time is 18h (entry until 17h). Free admission returns Friday evening (18h–21h). Metro: Trianon-Masp (Line 2-Green).
Japan House São Paulo
Imbuídos das Forças das Florestas do Japão — Mestres da Carpintaria: Habilidade e Espírito (through April 5). Curated by Marcelo Nishiyama, the exhibition explores centuries of Japanese woodworking tradition, including a full-scale replica of the Sa-an tea house. One of the most distinctive cultural experiences on Av. Paulista right now. Free entry.
Itaú Cultural
Two compelling free shows. Game+ Arte, Cultura e Comunidade brings 51 games across 25 consoles in an interactive exploration of gaming as cultural expression. The 71st Ocupação: Grande Othelo honours one of Brazil’s greatest actors. Both close March 8 — visit this week while you can.
Instituto Tomie Ohtake
The Charente/Tietê river dialogue exhibition features 12 artists exploring the connections between a French river and São Paulo’s defining waterway, part of the France-Brasil 2025 cultural programme. Closes March 8. Free admission.
Also Open Today
Museu da Língua Portuguesa
The expanded funk exhibition, drawing on archives from MAR Rio with São Paulo-specific additions, continues to draw crowds. The museum itself, housed in the restored Estação da Luz, is worth the visit for the architecture alone. Metro: Luz (Line 1-Blue / Line 4-Yellow).
CCBB São Paulo — Open Today
Currently showing Joaquín Torres García — 150 anos, the most comprehensive exhibition of the Uruguayan master ever staged in Brazil. Some 500 items including paintings, manuscripts, wooden toys and the iconic América Invertida drawing. Curated by Saulo di Tarso in collaboration with Museo Torres García. Through March 9. Always free. Metro: São Bento (Line 1-Blue).
04Getting AroundHow to move
05Food & DrinkWhere to eat
06Practical InfoNeed to know
07Community & LifestyleLocal life
08SportsGame day
Paulistão — Semifinal Weekend
The Paulistão has reached the semifinal stage. All four remaining clubs were confirmed after last weekend’s quarterfinals: Novorizontino eliminated Santos 2-1, Palmeiras thrashed Capivariano 4-0, São Paulo beat Red Bull Bragantino 2-1, and Corinthians survived a penalty shootout (8-7) against Portuguesa after a 1-1 draw. Both semis are single-leg matches — a draw goes to penalties.
Brasileirão Série A — Round 4 Tonight
Six matches tonight as the national league continues its early-season schedule. Three matches were postponed due to fixture congestion.
SP interest: Palmeiras host Fluminense at 21h30 — first home match of the Brasileirão campaign. Jhon Arias faces his former club. São Paulo travel to Coritiba at 19h30. Corinthians visit Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte at 20h00. All three SP clubs in action tonight across different cities.
09Business & MarketsMarket watch
The Ibovespa closed at 191,490.40 on Tuesday — its first close above 191,000 and the 13th record of 2026. The intraday high reached 191,780.77. Volume was R$32.98 billion. The index has surged since the post-Carnaval return, buoyed by foreign inflows that have reached R$35.6 billion year-to-date through February 20.
The dollar fell to R$5.1556 — its lowest since May 28, 2024 — down 6.07% year-to-date. The real’s strength reflects both the foreign equity inflows and the carry trade attractiveness at 15% Selic.
Trump tariff update: The 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 took effect at midnight Tuesday in Washington, well below the 15% President Trump had threatened Saturday. The section has a 150-day limit. Bloomberg Economics estimates the effective US tariff rate dropped from 13.6% under the previous IEEPA regime to 10.2%. Embraer’s aerospace products are exempt. Market reaction was positive — the lower-than-expected rate eased fears of aggressive Brazilian targeting.
10Plan AheadComing up
Multiple major exhibitions close between March 8–9: Game+ and Grande Othelo at Itaú Cultural, the France-Brasil show at Tomie Ohtake, and Torres García at CCBB SP. Plan your visits now — the final weekend will draw large crowds across all venues.
São Paulo Daily Brief — Published by The Rio Times
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 — Next brief: Thursday, February 26