Rock in Rio creates a 40-meter sand guitar in Copacabana and launches TikTok contest that gives away 30 Rock in Rio Cards and Cable Car tickets.
Giant guitar lands on Copacabana Beach
Rio de Janeiro, November 27, 2025 – Rock in Rio brought a monumental art intervention to Copacabana Beach this Thursday. The festival’s iconic guitar was recreated in a giant version, drawn directly in the sand. The action reinforces the deep connection between the event and the city where it was born.
The sculpture measures around 40 meters in diameter and surprised early-morning passersby along the waterfront. Positioned in front of the legendary Copacabana Palace, the work was created by Land Art artist Clayton Balduino (Reciclayton). He is known for large-scale sand pieces with strong visual impact.
With more than 12 years of experience, Reciclayton develops large-format interventions characterized by geometric precision, minimalist aesthetics and high photographic appeal. In this context, the giant guitar turns Copacabana into an even more symbolic stage for the festival. The Rock in Rio brand literally imprints itself on the city’s landscape.
TikTok contest offers 30 pairs of Rock in Rio Cards
As expectations rise for the next edition in the Cidade do Rock, demand for tickets is already intense. To engage fans, Rock in Rio is launching a TikTok promotion that offers the chance to secure a spot at the 2026 festival. The contest will award 30 pairs of Rock in Rio Cards plus tickets to the Sugarloaf Cable Car Park.
From today until December 5, fans can post videos answering the question: “What would be your celebration dance after securing your Rock in Rio Card?”. Any style is welcome — from choreographed steps to memes and skits. The only rule is that the video must celebrate the party that 2026 promises to be.
To take part, users must include the hashtag #AnoDeRockinRio in the caption. Winners will be announced on December 9, the day Rock in Rio Cards go on sale. Full contest rules are available on the festival’s official website. This approach strengthens the festival’s dialogue with a digital-first audience.
Rio as the true headliner
The Copacabana intervention follows a press conference held earlier this week at the Sugarloaf Cable Car Park, with the Guanabara Bay as a striking backdrop. According to Ana Deccache, Marketing Director at Rock World, Rio’s iconic landscapes are central to the campaign’s narrative. The city is treated as the festival’s main star.
“For 40 years, Rio de Janeiro has welcomed, inspired and driven us. The city is our home and the starting point for everything we create. There is a truly genuine relationship of partnership and exchange: Rock in Rio takes Rio’s name to the world and, at the same time, receives from the city the energy that makes each edition possible.
For 2026, we are going a step further in this connection and want to be even more present, celebrating and amplifying Rio’s strength. As Roberto Medina said at this week’s press conference, ‘the great headliner, without a doubt, is Rio de Janeiro’. That is the spirit behind the integrated campaign for the Rock in Rio Card.
We are occupying, taking over and exalting the city in a true wave of communication. The giant guitar mark on Copacabana Beach, the TikTok promotion and the ‘Viva o Rio com o Rock in Rio’ program, developed with the city’s main tourism and hospitality entities, are all part of the same movement: to strengthen this historic bond, generate positive impact and set the tone for 2026. Through these and other upcoming actions, we want people to feel, right now and in everyday moments, the energy of a year that promises to be unforgettable,” she says.
First headliners: Elton John, Gilberto Gil and Stray Kids
The Rock in Rio 2026 line-up is beginning to take shape with major global and Brazilian acts. Elton John is confirmed as headliner on September 7, the same date on which Gilberto Gil will perform a special show. On September 11, K-pop group Stray Kids will close the night.
All three shows will take place on the Palco Mundo (World Stage), which will feature a new stage design in 2026. The structure will be dominated by a single massive LED screen spanning 2,400 m². This reinforces the festival’s focus on immersive, large-scale visual experiences.
Rock in Rio Card sales schedule
The next edition of Rock in Rio will once again be held in the Cidade do Rock, at Rio’s Olympic Park, on September 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11, 12, 13, 2026. The organization has set the sale dates for the Rock in Rio Card, a ticket that guarantees access to the festival before the full line-up is announced.
General public sales for the Rock in Rio Card begin on December 9 at 7 p.m. (BRT), exclusively through Ticketmaster Brasil. Members of the Rock in Rio Club will have pre-sale access from December 4 at 7 p.m. until December 8 at 7 p.m.. Card holders will be able to choose their specific festival day at a later date.
Each Rock in Rio Card is valid for one festival day and grants a single entry to the Gramado area, with free circulation across stages and attractions. Fans are encouraged to register in advance on the Ticketmaster platform to speed up the purchase process. The card is limited in quantity and subject to availability.
High demand and ticket pricing
During the 2024 edition, when the festival celebrated its 40th anniversary, Rock in Rio Cards sold out in 2 hours and 4 minutes. A total of 180,000 tickets were purchased by fans from all Brazilian states and 28 countries. At the time, 460,000 people were still waiting in the virtual queue when sales ended.
According to the organizers, if regular ticket sales had opened on that same day, there would have been enough demand to fill around 1.5 full editions of the festival. The average purchase was 1.8 tickets per person. The figures highlight the importance of planning ahead for 2026.
For Rock in Rio Brasil 2026, Rock in Rio Card prices are set at R$ 795 (full), R$ 397.50 (half) and R$ 675.75 (Itaú Ticket) for purchases with Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A. credit cards. There is no service fee. Payments can be made by credit card or PIX.
Customers paying with Itaú credit cards receive a 15% discount (not cumulative with half-price tickets) and can split the purchase into up to 8 interest-free installments. For other accepted credit cards, payment can be split into up to 6 interest-free installments. International cards are not eligible for installment plans.
Payment rules, PIX and half-price policy
For PIX payments, buyers must scan the QR code shown at the end of the purchase process and complete payment within 10 minutes. Tickets are confirmed only after payment is validated. Each CPF (tax ID) may buy up to four Rock in Rio Cards, with a maximum of one half-price ticket within this limit.
People with disabilities may select, in addition to their own ticket, one extra half-price ticket for a companion, respecting the maximum of four cards per CPF. They must upload documentation proving their eligibility on the website and present it at the entrance to the Cidade do Rock on the event day. Verification is mandatory for admission.
By law, half-price tickets are available for students, people under 21, seniors over 60, people with disabilities and their companion, teachers and education professionals in Rio’s public system, low-income youth and street sweepers employed by the municipal cleaning company. The event’s age rating is 16 years.
Attendees under 16 will be allowed in only when accompanied by parents or legal guardians. Additional details about half-price eligibility can be found on Ticketmaster Brasil’s help website. This reinforces transparency and compliance with local legislation.
Rock in Rio: four decades of impact
Preparations for the first Rock in Rio began in 1984, led by Roberto Medina. Forty years on, the festival is regarded as the world’s largest music and entertainment event. Its debut in 1985 placed Brazil firmly on the global touring map for major artists.
The first edition took place in a 250,000 m² area in Jacarepaguá, over 10 days, attracting 1.38 million people. The main stage, spanning 80 meters, was the largest in the world at that time. The line-up featured 15 Brazilian acts and 16 international artists, reshaping live entertainment in the country.
Originally held in Rio de Janeiro, Rock in Rio has expanded to Lisbon, where it continues to be staged, and has also been hosted in Madrid and Las Vegas. Since 1985, more than 12.3 million visitors have passed through the various Cidades do Rock. In total, audiences have seen over 4,667 artists perform across 141 festival days.
Economy, sustainability and global presence
Across all editions, Rock in Rio has generated more than 297,600 direct and indirect jobs. In 2024 alone, it produced an economic impact of R$ 2.9 billion in Rio de Janeiro. In 2022, the festival was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of the state of Rio de Janeiro.
The event is also a digital powerhouse. During the 40th anniversary edition, Rock in Rio’s social media content reached over 146 million people. The brand has consolidated itself as a global reference for large-scale, high-engagement live experiences.
Focused on positive impact, Rock in Rio and its partners have invested more than R$ 118 million in projects related to sustainability, education, music and forest conservation. In the Amazon, more than 4 million trees have been planted through festival-backed initiatives. The event uses its visibility to promote collective action.
Rock in Rio was a pioneer in obtaining ISO 20121 – Sustainable Events certification and has been carbon neutral since 2006. In 2022, it adopted ambitious goals aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. The mission is to build a better world, with happier, more empathetic people and a healthier planet.
24 editions, four countries and millions of fans
By 2024, Rock in Rio had held 24 editions. Ten took place in Brazil (1985, 1991, 2001, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2024) and ten in Portugal (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2024). The festival also had three editions in Spain (2008, 2010, 2012) and one in the United States (2015).
With this global footprint, Rock in Rio continues to evolve as a platform that blends music, culture, tourism and social impact. The 2026 edition in Rio de Janeiro aims to deepen this legacy, with new experiences and an even stronger bond with the city. The giant sand guitar on Copacabana Beach is just the opening chord of what is to come.
