Turma da Mônica has just officially entered the history of São Paulo. Mayor Ricardo Nunes has signed a law declaring Mauricio de Sousa’s work as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Municipality, recognizing more than six decades of artistic, educational and emotional impact on the lives of São Paulo residents.
And there’s news: in 2026, the city will receive 90 sculptures of the characters spread across all regions. In addition, the Viaduto do Chá will get a themed bench and other attractions will be announced soon.
The creator, who turned 90 in October, is today one of the biggest names in Brazilian culture. Mauricio de Sousa was responsible for turning São Paulo into the birthplace of the country’s most beloved gang.
São Paulo gets 90 Turma da Mônica sculptures in 2026
The tribute will be a real cultural occupation of the city. 90 sculptures of the iconic characters – Monica, Cebolinha, Cascão, Magali, Bidu, Franjinha and many others – will be distributed throughout various neighborhoods, inviting São Paulo residents and tourists to rediscover the city with affection and nostalgia.
And there’s a reward for those who take on the adventure:
📸 those who photograph 45 sculptures will win a visit to the MSP studios to see behind the scenes how the characters were created
📸 those who complete the circuit and record all 90 sculptures will receive a special prize (still kept secret!)
Why Turma da Mônica became SP’s Cultural Heritage
The new law officially recognizes the importance of Mauricio de Sousa’s work for the affective and cultural memory of the city.
After all, it was in São Paulo, in 1959, that the cartoonist published his first comic strip with Bidu and Franjinha. Since then, he has built a universe with more than 400 characters, translated into 14 languages and present in more than 50 countries.
MSP Studios, based in Lapa, is today one of the most important hubs of the national creative economy. The author’s work spans generations, tackling themes such as:
- citizenship
- health
- food
- sustainability
- urban mobility
- inclusion
- respect for diversity
For this reason, its characters are part of the education of millions of Brazilians, consolidating Turma da Mônica as one of the greatest symbols of national pop culture.
Mauricio de Sousa: from Folha da Manhã to the world
Born in Santa Isabel and raised in Mogi das Cruzes, Mauricio moved to São Paulo to pursue a career in journalism.
Here, he also found his way to comics, and to a career that would change the history of Brazilian culture. In addition to comics, his work expanded to:
🎬 cinema
📺 TV
📱 digital platforms
🎮 games
🎭 theater
📚 educational campaigns
Among so many recognitions, he has already received titles from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), UNICEF and the title of Citizen of São Paulo by the City Council.
Finally, the tributes for his 90th birthday also include the biographical film ‘Mauricio de Sousa – The Movie’, currently showing in cinemas.
