The Paraty Event Calendar 2026: Every Festival and When to Go

Paraty doesn't really have an off-season, it has a different season. Some months bring literary crowds and packed cafés, others bring quiet cobblestone streets and empty beaches. Knowing which is which makes a real difference when you're picking your travel dates. Below is the confirmed 2026 calendar for Paraty's biggest festivals, what each one is actually like on the ground, and who it's worth planning a trip around. For a broader overview of what to do outside of festival season, see our Things to Do in Paraty guide.

A quick note on dates: Brazilian cultural festivals are confirmed by their organizers on a rolling basis, and some can shift by a few days even after being announced. The dates below reflect the official 2026 municipal cultural calendar at the time of writing, but we'd always recommend double-checking closer to your travel dates.

February: Carnival and Paraty's birthday

Paraty's Carnival runs February 13–17, 2026. Unlike Rio's stadium parades, Paraty's Carnival plays out through colorful street parties called blocos, where locals and visitors dance together through the historic streets. It's festive but noticeably more relaxed and family-friendly than what you'll find in the bigger cities.

Just after Carnival, Paraty celebrates its own founding with the Aniversário de Paraty, marking 359 years as a town in 2026, running roughly February 27 to March 1. Expect extra live music and cultural programming layered on top of the tail end of Carnival season.

What to expect: This is one of Paraty's busiest travel periods. Restaurants, beaches, and boat tours fill up fast, and hotel prices climb. Book accommodation several months ahead if you want to be in the Historic Center for the celebrations.

May: Festa do Divino and the Bourbon Festival, back to back

May is arguably the most interesting month on the 2026 calendar, because two very different festivals overlap. The Festa do Divino Espírito Santo runs May 15–24, 2026, ten days of processions, traditional music, and community meals rooted in a tradition that goes back to Paraty's colonial period. It closes with one of the town's most moving traditions: the distribution of free food to the community on the final weekend, a symbolic gesture that no one should go hungry during the celebration.

Right as Festa do Divino wraps up, the Bourbon Festival Paraty takes over, running May 29–31, 2026 for its 16th edition. Note that this is a change from previous years: the festival has traditionally run in August, but the 2026 edition was moved to late May. Expect three days of free, open-air jazz, blues, soul, and Brazilian popular music spread across the historic squares, churches, and streets of the Centro Histórico.

What to expect: Mild, comfortable weather (May is outside the hot summer months), noticeably fewer crowds than Carnival or FLIP, and two authentic, very different sides of Paraty's culture back to back, religious tradition and free-flowing live music. This is one of our favorite windows to recommend to first-time visitors who want culture without the peak-season crowds.

Want to understand the story behind Festa do Divino before you go? Our guide to Paraty's festivals and seasonal celebrations covers the tradition in more depth.

July: FLIP, Paraty's literary capital moment

Every July, Paraty becomes Brazil's literary capital for a week. The Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty (FLIP) runs July 22–26, 2026 for its 24th edition, with the parallel Afro-Brazilian literary festival Flip Preta running July 24–26 at the Quilombo do Campinho, just outside town.

FLIP isn't a typical book fair. Historic churches turn into lecture halls, cafés host informal book discussions, and a 500-seat open tent hosts the main ticketed talks with Brazilian and international authors. Alongside the literary program, there's a full calendar of free concerts, exhibitions, and workshops running throughout the Historic Center, so even non-readers tend to get swept up in the atmosphere.

What to expect: This is Paraty's highest-profile international event, and hotels in the Historic Center routinely sell out six months in advance. If FLIP is the reason for your trip, book your accommodation as early as possible.

August: Cachaça, culture, and the town's patron saint

August brings the Festival da Cachaça, Cultura e Sabores de Paraty, running August 20–23, 2026 for its 44th edition, one of the longest-running festivals on the calendar. Expect tastings from artisan producers, live music, regional food stalls, and hands-on demonstrations of traditional copper-still distillation.

Overlapping with it is the Festa de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, honoring Paraty's patron saint, running roughly August 30 to September 8, 2026 and centered on the Igreja Matriz in the Historic Center.

What to expect: A quieter, more food-and-drink-focused crowd than FLIP or Carnival. If you're interested in cachaça specifically, this is the single best window on the calendar to visit a local distillery, since producers are actively pouring and explaining their process. Curious what makes Paraty's cachaça tradition special in the first place? Our article on 7 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Paraty covers its colonial roots.

September: Paraty em Foco, photography takes over the streets

Every September, Paraty em Foco, one of Latin America's most respected photography festivals, takes over the Historic Center. The 2026 edition runs September 9–13 and marks the festival's 22nd year. Expect open-air exhibitions in churches, galleries, and public squares, plus talks and workshops with working photographers from Brazil and abroad.

What to expect: A creative, low-key atmosphere. The festival leans into intimate spaces rather than big stages, so it's a good pick if you want cultural programming without festival-sized crowds. Bring a camera, whatever you shoot with, sunrise over the Historic Center and sunset over Paraty Bay are both worth the early alarm during this week.

Quick reference: Paraty's 2026 festival dates

Carnival: February 13–17 Aniversário de Paraty (359 years): February 27 – March 1 Festa do Divino Espírito Santo: May 15–24 Bourbon Festival Paraty: May 29–31 FLIP: July 22–26 Festival da Cachaça, Cultura e Sabores de Paraty: August 20–23 Festa de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios: August 30 – September 8 Paraty em Foco: September 9–13

So, when should you actually go?

If you want the single biggest cultural event on the calendar and don't mind crowds or booking early, FLIP in July is the obvious pick. If you'd rather experience two very different sides of local culture with fewer crowds and better hotel availability, May, with Festa do Divino followed by the Bourbon Festival, is genuinely one of our favorite windows to recommend. And if you're coming purely for beaches, boat tours, and quiet evenings without any festival crowds at all, the months between festivals (April, June, or October to December) give you Paraty at its calmest.

Not sure which trip fits you best? Send us a message on WhatsApp and we're happy to help you plan your dates around the calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest festival in Paraty?

FLIP (Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty), held every July, is Paraty's largest and most internationally recognized event. The 2026 edition runs July 22–26.

When is the Bourbon Festival Paraty in 2026?

The 2026 edition runs May 29–31, a change from its usual August slot in previous years.

Should I book accommodation in advance for festival season?

Yes, especially for FLIP and Carnival, when hotels in the Historic Center can sell out months ahead. Festa do Divino and the Bourbon Festival in May tend to have more availability.

Are Paraty's festivals free to attend?

Many events, including most of the Bourbon Festival's concerts and the Festa do Divino processions, are free. Some FLIP talks and workshops are ticketed.

What if I want to visit Paraty without any festival crowds?

April, June, and the October-to-December window fall between the major festivals listed above and are good choices if you'd prefer a quieter trip focused on beaches, waterfalls, and boat tours. Our beach guide is a good place to start planning that kind of trip.