Colorado Brazil Fest (CBF) is Colorado’s premier festival celebrating Brazilian music, dance, and culture and one of the leading events of its kind in the United States. Produced by Boulder Samba School, the state’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to Brazilian cultural arts, the festival reflects the organization’s longstanding commitment to cultural exchange through high-quality performances, educational programming, and community engagement. Since 2009, Boulder Samba School has enriched Colorado’s cultural landscape by making Brazilian arts accessible to audiences and participants of all backgrounds.
Save the date! August 6-9 (2026)
Upcoming Events
Thursday Aug 6: Brazilian Jazz Night with Gabriel Santiago Project & Elisa Garcia Quartet
Location: Roots Music Project (4747 Pearl St Suite V3A, Boulder, CO 80301) | Date/Time: 7:30PM-10:00PM | Doors: 7:00PM
Colorado Brazil Fest presents an evening of Brazilian jazz featuring acclaimed guitarist Gabriel Santiago. Performing a selection of original compositions alongside special arrangements of Brazilian jazz classics, Gabriel is joined by an outstanding ensemble featuring Peter Stoltzman on keyboards, Gonzalo Teppa on bass, and Adriano Santos on drums. Together, they explore the intersection of Brazilian rhythms and contemporary jazz, creating a performance rich in improvisation, melody, and musical dialogue.
Opening the night is the Elisa Garcia Quartet, led by vocalist Elisa Garcia and featuring percussionist Leo Muñoz Corona, along with pianist Victor Mestas. Their repertoire spans a wide range of Latin American folk traditions, including Cuban boleros, Brazilian choros and sambas, Mexican huapangos, Argentine zambas, and Uruguayan candombe.
Friday Aug 7: Choro and Forró Dance Night With Dexter Payne Quintet & Dandha da Hora
Location: Junkyard Social Club (2525 Frontier Ave Ste A, Boulder, CO 80301) | Date/Time: 8:30PM-11:00PM | Doors: 7:30PM
Kick off a lively night of music and dance at Colorado Brazil Fest with the Dexter Payne Quintet & guests, opening the evening with spirited instrumental choro and forró that set the perfect tone for a festive atmosphere. As the night unfolds, the focus shifts to the rich rhythms of Brazil’s northeast, with a second set featuring styles like forró, xote, arrastapé, and baião. Special guest vocalist Dandha da Hora joins the band, along with percussionist Carl Dixon, to bring beloved Brazilian forró classics to life with powerful vocals and joyful energy—inviting everyone to the dance floor.
Born in the sertão, the arid interior of the region, Forró was formed by the many traditions, cultures, and musical styles of the Northeast. Forró is danced by couples locked in a sensual embrace and has three main rhythms: baiao, xote, and arrasta-pe.
Saturday Aug 8: Samba, MPB, and Carnaval Show
Artists: Michele Castro, Dandha Da Hora, Members of Ginga, Bateria Alegria & Batalá
Location: Roots Music Project (4747 Pearl St Suite V3A, Boulder, CO 80301) | Date/Time: 7:00PM-10:00PM | Doors: 6:00PM
Colorado Brazil Fest presents an exciting evening of live music and dance celebrating the richness, diversity, and energy of Brazilian culture. The night begins with Michele Castro, a dynamic vocalist and guitarist from Rio de Janeiro, performing Samba, Bossa Nova, MPB, and other Brazilian styles. The festival culminates with an electrifying performance by singer and dancer Dandha da Hora, a master artist from Salvador, Bahia, and longtime member of Ilê Aiyê. Joined by members of Ginga, she brings the evening to a joyful and unforgettable close, filled with the vibrant rhythms and spirit of Bahia.
Bateria Alegria and Batalá will join the evening with percussion performances representing the samba traditions of Rio de Janeiro and the Afro-Brazilian rhythms of Bahia, adding another dimension to the festival’s celebration of Brazilian culture.
Colorado Brazil Fest 2026 Schedule
