Brazil’s Rock in Rio kicks off this Friday (13)

Brazil’s Rock in Rio music festival kicks off this Friday (Sep. 13), and runs through Sunday (22), at the City of Rock, in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of its inaugural edition, the festival is gearing up for a historic event. Organizers anticipate welcoming over 700,000 attendees, including local residents, as well as Brazilian and international tourists. Concerts will be held on September 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, and 22.

International headliners include Ed Sheeran, Will Smith, Katy Perry, Cyndi Lauper, Shawn Mendes, and Mariah Carey.

Over 8,000 security professionals will be on duty throughout the seven days of Rock in Rio. The special security operation kicks off this Friday and will continue until the festival concludes. This represents a 30 percent increase in police presence compared to the last edition of Rock in Rio. The Military Police will deploy 5,200 officers, along with 143 vehicles, eight observation towers, and 16 roadblocks on key routes leading to the City of Rock.

The event is projected to inject approximately BRL 2.6 billion into Rio's economy. Hotel occupancy rates are expected to soar to 95 percent during the festival weekends, while arrivals at Rio’s main bus station could see a 40 percent increase.