What to Do in Montevideo in October 2026: Books, Film
MONTEVIDEO · Culture
The 48th International Book Fair runs to 18 October, the Detour film festival opens on 9 October, and the Teatro Solís programme fills the month. The days that remain, one by one.
MONTEVIDEO — Montevideo’s October is a month of books, film and live music, and most of it is free or low-cost. Heritage Day weekend (Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October) has already passed, but the free International Book Fair at the city hall runs until Sunday 18 October. This guide lists what is still ahead from today, Monday 5 October, for things to do in Montevideo October 2026.
The city’s main stage, the Teatro Solís, stages concerts and plays regularly. The Detour film festival begins on Friday 9 October across 15 venues, and the Sala Zitarrosa hosts a tango festival the same evening. Each entry below gives the date, the venue and what the organiser has confirmed.
Key facts
- What: The 48th International Book Fair, the Detour film festival, the Viva el tango festival and the Teatro Solís season.
- Where: Montevideo, Uruguay, mostly in Centro and Ciudad Vieja.
- When: Book Fair to Sunday 18 October; Detour Friday 9 to Sunday 18 October.
- Cost: The Book Fair is free; theatre and concert prices are set by each venue.
- Why it matters: Visitors and residents get a long cultural calendar in a safe, walkable centre.
Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 October: the fair and the opening nights
Tuesday 6 October, 19:30
Camerata Salzburg and María Dueñas
Teatro Solís, Ciudad Vieja · Price on the Teatro Solís website
A chamber-orchestra concert in the Sala Principal, the theatre’s main hall. The building is part of the visit.
Wednesday 7 October, 19:30
Tchaikovsky en primavera
Teatro Solís, Ciudad Vieja · Price on the Teatro Solís website
A concert in the Sala Principal with a new cello work by Luis Jure and Tchaikovsky’s Manfred, timed for Uruguay’s spring. It is an easy first concert for a visitor, as an orchestral programme needs no Spanish.
Wednesday 7 October, time on the venue site
20a Noche de los Estrenos: Tango, Murga y Rocanrol
Sala Zitarrosa, Centro · Price and tickets via the Sala Zitarrosa website
The Sala Zitarrosa lists this evening under music. Murga is Uruguay’s theatrical carnival song form, and it sits at the centre of local identity. The title promises a mix of tango, murga and rock.
Thursday 8 October, 19:00
Presentation of printed Onetti Prize winning works
Intendencia de Montevideo, Centro · Free with fair entry
The city’s Intendencia (municipal government) presents the printed editions of the 2025 winning works of its literary prize, named after the novelist Juan Carlos Onetti. It is a chance to see the local literary scene up close.
Friday 9 October, 19:00
Ángel Rama, cien años: leer América Latina
Sala Ernesto de los Campos, Intendencia de Montevideo · Free with fair entry
A discussion marking 100 years since the birth of the Uruguayan critic Ángel Rama. It is held in Spanish.
Friday 9 October, time on the venue site
39 Festival Internacional Viva el tango
Sala Zitarrosa, Centro · Price and tickets via the Sala Zitarrosa website
The Sala Zitarrosa schedules the 39th edition of its international tango festival from 9 October. Tango is a Uruguayan tradition as well as an Argentine one, and Montevideo claims it equally.
Friday 9 October, 20:00, then on further dates until 22 November
El Teatro
Teatro Solís, Ciudad Vieja · Price on the Teatro Solís website
A production in the Sala Principal. The Teatro Solís calendar shows a run from 9 October to 22 November. Check the site for the exact performance days.
2 to 18 October: 48th Montevideo International Book Fair
Until Sunday 18 October
48th Montevideo International Book Fair
Intendencia de Montevideo, 18 de Julio 1360, Centro · Free
Germany is the guest of honour. The fair has about 300 events, with 47 guests from 13 countries. Opening hours are 12:00 to 21:00 from Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 to 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The fair closes on Sunday 18 October.
9 to 18 October: Detour film festival
Friday 9 to Sunday 18 October
DETOUR 2026, 14th New Film Festival
15 Montevideo venues, including Cinemateca and the Auditorio Nelly Goitiño · Prices not yet confirmed
Detour shows new Uruguayan film and audiovisual work. This year’s focus is on the actor and director Daniel Hendler. The festival publishes its grid at detour.uy and on its social accounts, so check there for screening times and tickets.
Wednesday 14 to Tuesday 20 October: concerts, tango and film
Wednesday 14 October, 20:00
Gala aniversario: La Quinta de Mahler
Teatro Solís, Ciudad Vieja · Price on the Teatro Solís website
An anniversary gala in the Sala Principal, listed on the Teatro Solís calendar. Check the venue site for the full programme.
Wednesday 14 October, time on the venue site
Semifinales Guitarra Negra 2026
Sala Zitarrosa, Centro · Price and tickets via the Sala Zitarrosa website
A semi-final night of the Guitarra Negra contest, listed under music by the Sala Zitarrosa. A second semi-final night follows on Wednesday 21 October.
Saturday 17 October, time on the venue site
Zita de tango
Sala Zitarrosa, Centro · Price and tickets via the Sala Zitarrosa website
A tango night in the Sala Zitarrosa, a few days after the Viva el tango festival. It suits visitors who want an evening of live tango without a late dinner show.
Saturday 17 October, time on Tickantel
David Bisbal
Antel Arena · Tickets on Tickantel
Tickantel, the state telecoms company Antel’s ticketing platform, lists the Spanish singer at the Antel Arena on this date. Prices and seating are shown at purchase.
Tuesday 20 October, time on the venue site
Opening of the Atlantidoc festival
Sala Zitarrosa, Centro · Price and tickets via the Sala Zitarrosa website
The Sala Zitarrosa lists the opening of the Atlantidoc documentary festival on this evening, under cinema.
What it means for you
A US visitor can build a good week around the fair, which is free and easy to reach in the centre, and add one evening at the Teatro Solís or the Sala Zitarrosa. Booking a concert a few days ahead is sensible, as the smaller halls have limited seats.
Residents get more choice. The fair’s German guest-of-honour programme and the Detour festival add weeknight options to the usual theatre season. Prices are set by each venue and are not listed on several calendars, so check before travelling across town.
For more on the country, see our Uruguay coverage, the explainer Uruguay Economy 2026, Who Runs It and How, and our report on the Soy Luna concert in Montevideo.
What is not known
Several venues have not published prices or start times. Detour has not released its ticket prices or its screening grid on the pages we could check. We left out listings we could not confirm with the venue, the organiser or the city, including some that appear on aggregator sites. Programmes can change, so check the official channels in the same week.
Planning your Montevideo October
October is spring in Uruguay, so weather changes quickly. Bring light layers and a rain jacket. The Book Fair stands partly outdoors on the Intendencia esplanade, so a wet day is worth avoiding for that visit.
Monday 12 October is the Día de la Raza holiday in Uruguay. It is a working holiday, so some public offices and schools close and many businesses stay open. Opening hours at cultural venues may vary, so confirm before you go.
The Intendencia, the Teatro Solís and the Sala Zitarrosa are all in or next to the centre, and the three are within a short taxi ride of each other. For weekly listings, use the Intendencia events portal, the Teatro Solís and Sala Zitarrosa websites, and Tickantel.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest events in Montevideo in October 2026?
The 48th International Book Fair runs until Sunday 18 October with free entry. The Detour film festival runs from Friday 9 to Sunday 18 October, and the Teatro Solís stages concerts and plays through the month.
Is the Montevideo Book Fair free?
Yes. The Intendencia de Montevideo says entry to the 48th International Book Fair is free. It is open 12:00 to 21:00 from Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 to 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, until Sunday 18 October.
Is there a public holiday in Uruguay in October 2026?
Yes. Monday 12 October is the Día de la Raza holiday. It is a working holiday, which means many businesses stay open while some public offices and schools close.
Where can I buy tickets for concerts and theatre in Montevideo?
Tickantel, the platform of the state company Antel, sells tickets for many concerts and shows. The Teatro Solís and the Sala Zitarrosa publish their own programmes and ticket information on their websites.
When does the Detour film festival start?
The 14th Detour festival of new film runs from Friday 9 to Sunday 18 October 2026 at 15 venues in Montevideo. The festival publishes its screening grid at detour.uy.
Sources: Teatro Solís calendar, Sala Zitarrosa programme, Intendencia de Montevideo, Book Fair, Cámara Uruguaya del Libro, Uruguay XXI, Detour 2026, Tickantel. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
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