FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Colorado Brazil Fest Returns to Boulder August 6–9, 2026 with Four Days of Music, Dance, Workshops, and Cultural Celebration
BOULDER, Colo. — Colorado Brazil Fest returns to Boulder, Colorado, August 6–9, 2026, for four vibrant days of live performances, dance, workshops, and community events celebrating the richness and diversity of Brazilian culture. Bringing together acclaimed artists from Brazil and across the United States, the festival offers audiences an opportunity to experience Brazilian music, dance, and cultural traditions through a series of performances and educational activities.
This year’s festival features internationally recognized artists, community ensembles, and cultural bearers presenting a wide range of Brazilian styles, from jazz and choro to samba, forró, MPB, and Afro-Brazilian traditions.
Festival Schedule & Highlights
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Brazilian Jazz Night with Gabriel Santiago Project & Elisa Garcia Quartet
Location: Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St Suite V3A, Boulder, CO 80301
Time: 7:30 PM–10:00 PM (Doors at 7:00 PM)
Colorado Brazil Fest opens with an evening of Brazilian jazz featuring acclaimed guitarist Gabriel Santiago. Joined by Peter Stoltzman (keyboards), Gonzalo Teppa (bass), and Adriano Santos (drums), Santiago presents original compositions and Brazilian jazz classics that blend contemporary jazz with Brazilian rhythms.
Opening the evening is the Elisa Garcia Quartet, featuring vocalist Elisa Garcia, percussionist Leo Muñoz Corona, bassist Gonzalo Teppa, and pianist Victor Mestas. Their repertoire highlights musical traditions from across Latin America, including Cuban boleros, Brazilian choros, Mexican huapangos, Argentine zambas, and Uruguayan candombe.
Friday, August 7, 2026
Samba on the Mall (Free Community Event)
Location: Boulder County Historic Courthouse, 1300 Block of Pearl Street, Boulder
Time: 6:00 PM–7:00 PM
Celebrate the spirit of Brazilian Carnaval at this lively outdoor community performance featuring Bateria Alegria, Dandha da Hora, Escola de Samba Denver, and Samba Colorado. Inspired by the traditions of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia, the event brings together music, dance, and percussion in the heart of downtown Boulder.
Admission is free. Audience members are encouraged to arrive early and bring a chair.
Choro & Forró Dance Night with Dexter Payne Quintet and Dandha da Hora
Location: Junkyard Social Club, 2525 Frontier Ave Ste A, Boulder, CO 80301
Time: 8:30 PM–11:00 PM (Doors at 7:30 PM)
The evening continues with a celebration of two beloved Brazilian musical traditions. The Dexter Payne Quintet opens with spirited instrumental choro and forró before leading audiences into the vibrant sounds of Brazil’s Northeast.
Special guest vocalist Dandha da Hora joins the ensemble, along with percussionist Carl Dixon, for a second set featuring forró, xote, arrastapé, and baião. Guests are invited to enjoy an evening of music, culture, and social dancing.
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Samba, MPB & Carnaval Show
Featuring Michele Castro, Dandha da Hora, Members of Ginga, Bateria Alegria & Batalá
Location: Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St Suite V3A, Boulder, CO 80301
Time: 7:00 PM–10:00 PM (Doors at 6:00 PM)
The festival’s flagship concert celebrates the richness and diversity of Brazilian music and dance. The evening begins with Rio de Janeiro vocalist and guitarist Michele Castro, performing samba, bossa nova, MPB, and other Brazilian classics.
The festival culminates with singer and dancer Dandha da Hora, a master artist from Salvador, Bahia, and longtime member of Ilê Aiyê. Joined by members of Ginga, she presents an energetic performance rooted in the traditions of Bahia and Afro-Brazilian culture.
Throughout the evening, percussion groups Bateria Alegria and Batalá showcase rhythms representing the samba traditions of Rio de Janeiro and the Afro-Brazilian musical heritage of Bahia.
About Colorado Brazil Fest
Colorado Brazil Fest is an annual celebration of Brazilian arts and culture produced by the Boulder Samba School. Through concerts, workshops, performances, and community events, the festival fosters cultural exchange while showcasing the diversity and vitality of Brazilian traditions.
Event Information
Colorado Brazil Fest 2026
Dates: August 6–9, 2026
Location: Boulder, Colorado
For tickets, schedules, workshop information, and additional festival details, visit Colorado Brazil Fest.
Media Contact:
Boulder Samba School
Email: coloradobrazilfest@gmail.com
Website: https://coloradobrazilfest.org