With 100 lions in the streets, moon cakes, and free admission, Brazil’s largest Chinese festival takes over 25 de Março Street with an unprecedented performance by the Moon Goddess

Rua 25 de Março turns into“Little China” in September! On the 19th and 20th, the 2026 Chinese Moon Festival takes over the Historic Center with free events featuring folk dances, martial arts, and traditional cuisine. The event will be even bigger than the previous edition, which drew more than 300,000 people over two days.

The festival features the largest Chinese Lion Parade in Brazil, with 100 lions parading through the streets in a ritual of protection, good luck, and prosperity. The audience will also get to see the Moon Princess’s first performance in the country!

The 2026 Chinese Moon Festival features attractions never before seen in Brazil

Now in its 4th edition, the Chinese Moon Festival features a performance of Chang’e, the Moon Princess, for the first time. Using the Bù Dǎo Wēng technique—famous for the delicacy and balance of its movements—a dancer introduces us to the legend of the goddess who lives in the lunar palace after drinking the elixir of immortality.

On the “Path of Wishes,” visitors can write their wishes on small wooden plaques ( xuyuan pai) blessed by the temple for R$5 each. After the event, the Quan-Inn Temple will burn the plaques so that the smoke carries the wishes to the heavens.

To make the Chinese festival even more special, stalls offer traditional ornaments and local cuisine. We recommend trying the moon cake, made with glutinous rice dough and filled with sesame paste, egg, or beans. It’s been a favorite treat among visitors since the very first edition!

The Moon Festival originated in the ancient Tang Dynasty (618–907), a time when the Chinese made offerings to the moon during the fall to give thanks for the harvests. The celebration came to Brazil through the Sino-Brazilian community, which helps organize the event every year.

So, how about setting aside the weekend to learn more about China’s ancient culture?

📍 Where: Rua 25 de Março, at the corner of Ladeira Porto Geral — São Bento Metro Station, Historic Center
📅 When: September 19 and 20, 2026
⏰ Hours: Saturday , 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
🎟️ Admission: Free
🇨🇳 More information: Check out the Chinese Moon Festival 2026 social media pages