Festival Fronteiras São Paulo will feature an all-women main stage on March 8, with leading thinkers debating humanity and contemporary challenges.
To reinforce its plural identity, Festival Fronteiras São Paulo, promoted by Fronteiras do Pensamento, will present for the first time in the platform’s history a main stage program composed exclusively of women. Scheduled for March 8, 2026, the initiative pays tribute to female strength and highlights women’s central role in contemporary thought.
Known for bringing together major names in philosophy, psychoanalysis, literature and science, Fronteiras do Pensamento has become one of the most relevant projects in the Global South in the field of ideas. In this context, the festival underscores its commitment to diversity by placing women at the heart of its key debates.
An all-women lineup with leading voices
Taking place on March 7 and 8, the festival will occupy Parque da Água Branca in São Paulo. On the second day, the main stage will welcome Ana Maria Machado, Bárbara Paz, Camila Fremder, Carla Madeira, Carol Tilkian, Cris Naumovs, Ediane Ribeiro, Fernanda Mena, Geni Nuñez, Lilia Schwarcz, Marcela Ceribelli, Maria Ribeiro, Mary Del Priore, Miriam Leitão, Mirian Goldenberg and Socorro Acioli.
The debates will cover topics such as affection in a disconnected society, how to deal with time and finitude, the relationship between literature and the human condition, and the art of creativity. In this way, the festival proposes a broad and sensitive look at crucial issues of our time through diverse female perspectives.
A festival of ideas with music, art and experiences
Set in Parque da Água Branca, the event marks a new phase for Fronteiras do Pensamento in São Paulo. Beyond panels and talks, Festival Fronteiras will bring together music, art installations, immersive experiences, hands-on activities, a literary stage, a book fair and a food court in a single open space.
Thus, the initiative positions itself as a true festival of thoughts, questioning what it means to be human across multiple formats. The goal is to broaden access to contemporary thinking through a vibrant and diverse curatorial approach.
“Dedicating the festival’s main stage to a program composed exclusively of women is, above all, a gesture of coherence with our purpose,” says Rodrigo Santanna, CEO of Fronteiras do Pensamento. He stresses that bringing together researchers, artists, journalists, writers and creators in the same space helps deepen discussions on affection, time, finitude, art and the future.
From Porto Alegre to São Paulo
The first edition of Festival Fronteiras took place in Porto Alegre in May 2025, with guests such as Gilberto Gil, Mia Couto, Leandro Karnal, Maria Homem, Pedro Bial, Vera Iaconelli and Lázaro Ramos. Now, the event arrives in São Paulo with the mission of expanding access to contemporary thought, gathering leading Brazilian voices in culture and knowledge.
“The women who are part of this edition not only represent different fields of knowledge but also embody the power of a feminine perspective that questions, broadens and renews the debates of our time,” adds Santanna. The intention is to engage a wide-ranging audience willing to reflect on Brazil’s present and future.
First day: philosophy, neuroscience, arts and literature
On March 7, the festival will feature a curated lineup that brings together established figures and new voices in philosophy, neuroscience, psychoanalysis, art and literature. Confirmed speakers include Alexandre Coimbra, Álvaro Machado Dias, André Alves, Carla Mayumi, Christian Dunker, Fabrício Carpinejar, Fernando Schuler, Jana Viscardi, Joel Pinheiro da Fonseca and Kaká Werá.
The program also features Katiúscia Ribeiro, Liana Ferraz, Lucas Liedke, Luiz Felipe Pondé, Malu Gaspar, Monja Coen and other guests. Together, they will open a weekend dedicated to examining contemporary life from multiple intellectual and artistic angles.
Tickets and access formats
Tickets will be available in several formats, including a cultural category linked to book donations and a half-price category with promotional batches starting at R$ 190. Sales will open soon, with further information to be announced on official channels.
The full-access ticket will include entry to all festival areas, including spaces with limited capacity, reserved seating zones, exclusive services and brand activation experiences. At the same time, regular park visitors will be able to follow part of the program free of charge, subject to capacity limits, helping broaden the festival’s social reach.
About Fronteiras do Pensamento
Since 2006, Fronteiras do Pensamento has been recognized for bringing renowned thinkers to Brazil and promoting dialogues on philosophy, literature, psychoanalysis, neuroscience, art and music. Past editions have hosted figures such as Zygmunt Bauman, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Yuval Noah Harari, Graça Machel, Michael Sandel, Ai Weiwei, Ailton Krenak, Mario Vargas Llosa, Rosa Montero, Marcelo Gleiser, Elisabeth Roudinesco, Edgar Morin, David Lynch and Wim Wenders.
Over nearly 20 years, the project has organized more than 300 conferences, as well as landmark interviews, documentaries, books and curated content. Its mission is to question and explore ideas about contemporary life, connecting perspectives from different disciplines and spheres, from the arts to business and everyday experience.
About Porto
The festival is presented in partnership with Porto, an ecosystem of protection and service solutions enhanced by technology. With 80 years of history, the company operates four business units: Porto Seguro, Porto Saúde, Porto Bank and Porto Serviço.
Porto serves 18 million unique clients and works with 13,800 employees, 13,000 service providers and 46,400 independent brokers, in addition to regional offices across Brazil. In 2024, the company reported R$ 37 billion in revenue and R$ 2.7 billion in net profit, supporting its strategy of accelerated growth and innovation.
With brands such as Azul Seguros, Itaú Seguros de Auto e Residência and Porto Seguro Uruguay, the group continues to launch new solutions while positioning itself as a true safe harbor for people and their projects.
Service – Festival Fronteiras São Paulo
Porto and Fronteiras do Pensamento present: FESTIVAL FRONTEIRAS SÃO PAULO
Dates: March 7 and 8, 2026
Venue: Parque da Água Branca – Av. Francisco Matarazzo, 455 – Água Branca, São Paulo (near Barra Funda Terminal)
