Rock in Rio is the world’s largest and most famous music festival. It is held every two years between Lisbon and its home town, Rio de Janeiro, where everything started 34 years ago.
Since 1985, the event held 19 editions in different cities of the world, which have passed more than 9.5 million people during 112 days to watch 2,038 musical performances.
In 2019, the City of Rock will be filled once more with the sounds of global music artists and icons, not only from the world of rock but also pop, funk, soul, MPB, electronic music and more.
Therefore, with that in mind, we prepared a guide with everything you need to know to enjoy Rock in Rio 2019.
When is it?
The 2019 edition of the festival will be held across two consecutive weekends: from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th September and Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th October.
It will be seven days of event, with more than 250 shows and 670 artists performing.
Where is it located?
The festival takes place in the new City of Rock, on the site of the 2016 Rio Olympics – Barra Olympic Park. It is located in Barra da Tijuca district, in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro.
–> Find a hotel in the event district by clicking here.
The city of Rock
This year, the city of rock will have 60,000 square meters (more space than the 2017 edition) and six new attractions for the public.
Apart from the musical performances every day, the city of Rock offers a lot of experiences and different attractions for you to enjoy the whole day.
Whether that’s the gourmet food square, breathtaking performances from the famous Fuerza Bruta theatre company or the fun arena with rides on the Ferris wheel, zip line and rollercoaster, the city of Rock has plenty of fun for all tastes and ages.
Carioca Tip:
In order to enjoy all the attractions of the festival, we suggest that you arrive early in the City of Rock. The gates open at 2pm and close at 4am.
How to get there
There are two main ways to get to the City of Rock: you can go by public transportation (subway + BRT with Rio Card) or take the First Class buses, an exclusive bus line for the event.
Public Transport
You can take the regular MetrôRio subway lines and BRT buses. The stations will be open 24 hours during the seven days of the event.
The station you must get off to go to Rock in Rio is Jardim Oceânico, which is on line 4 (yellow). Take the subway on the platform towards JARDIM OCEÂNICO and get off at the last station.
Leaving the subway, follow the signs for the BRT exit. You will arrive at the turnstiles that will give you access to the bus platform. The buses that will take you to Rock City will have “Rock in Rio” written on the front sign. The journey takes around 30 minutes.
Carioca Tip:
To ensure agility in boarding, it is recommended to purchase your Riocard (Rio’s public transport smartcard) in advance, both for the journey and the return (2 fares each). You can buy the smartcard inside Siqueira Campos or Botafogo metro stations.
Executive bus
The Primeira Classe bus is the best option if you want to get to the City of Rock more easily and comfortably.
It is the only one that leaves you inside the City of Rock, with exclusive entrance, thus ensuring the fastest access to the event.
The bus has 17 stops in different points of the city, like both airports, Downtown, Rio Sul mall, and Copacabana.
To buy the ticket for the bus, access this link here.
Additionally, you can go by Uber, the official mobility partner of the event. You just need to enter the destination “Parque Olímpico” or “Parque dos Atletas” and start your trip. Uber will have an exclusive area for boarding and disembarking inside the City of Rock. When leaving the event, just follow the signs on-site and call your car with peace of mind.
Rock in Rio 2019 Line up
Each year the organizers manage to book some of the biggest names in music scenario, that you might not otherwise get the chance to see live. Whether that’s a rare festival appearance from a global giant, a unique one-off collaboration that will never be repeated, or simply one of a select handful of shows in an artist’s calendar. And that is what makes the festival so special.
Drake, Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Iron Maiden, Pink, Muse and Imagine Dragons are some of the top international artists to perform on the world stage.
The Sunset Stage will also host renowned artists such as Seal, Whitesnake, Jessie J, Slayer, Charlie Puth and King Crimson.
Moreover, there are many attractions spread across other stages that will guarantee 14 hours of music a day in the city of Rock.
The full schedule and times are available on the official website and also in the Rock in Rio app.
To get you in the mood of the festival we have prepared a playlist with the main artists that will perform at the festival. Listen to our playlist “Rock in Rio 2019” on Spotify here.
Tickets
All tickets are daily, that is, they are only valid for a single festival entrance. They give you free circulation in the city of Rock and access to all shows and attractions.
This year, the ticket is a unique design chip bracelet that replaces the card used in previous editions.
You can find all the information on the tickets and prices on the official Rock in Rio website.
We hope this guide helps you to enjoy most of the biggest music festival in Brazil and the world!
We know the event is a unique experience, and we hope you have unforgettable memories of this edition.
Are you visiting the city for the festival? How about combining the festival with one of our Carioca experiences and know the city like a local?
If you need help planning your trip and itinerary, we can make a customized itinerary for you. It will include all the local details and tips to make your trip to the Marvelous city unforgettable!
