Marcelo OliveiraThe Congadas de Catalão 2026, held during the 150th Festa em Louvor a Nossa Senhora do Rosário, took place from October 2 to 12 at Largo do Rosário, with 25 groups and the Reinado. The 2027 edition does not yet have announced dates from the city government (checked on October 14, 2026). The starting point remains Praça do Rosário, on Rua Americano do Brasil, and each terno’s schedule comes out close to the festival, via the Irmandade.
Booking.com partner (advertising): we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
| Next edition | 2027, dates not yet announced (checked on October 14, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Previous edition | 150th Festa do Rosário, October 2–12, 2026 |
| Main venue | Largo and Praça do Rosário, Rua Americano do Brasil, Catalão (GO) |
| Ternos | 25 Congada groups, plus the Reinado |
| Schedule per terno | Not released by the city government; confirm with the Irmandade do Rosário |
| Tickets | Box office and prices not listed on the municipal pages consulted |
The 2027 edition and how the 2026 festival went
As of October 14, 2026, the city government had not announced the dates of the 2027 Festa do Rosário; this page is updated when the municipality releases the schedule. For the previous edition, the Catalão city government confirmed the festival for October 2–12, 2026, at Largo do Rosário, with 25 Congada groups and the Reinado, marking 150 years of the tradition.
In 2026, the official information did not break down each terno’s departure or provide a daily grid with procession times. That changes how you plan: pick your travel day based on the confirmed period, but ask the Irmandade de Nossa Senhora do Rosário for that day’s schedule or follow the city government’s communications before deciding what time to arrive. Don’t use posters from previous editions as if they were the 2027 agenda; dates and routes can change.
How to watch the ternos
Largo do Rosário is the safest reference point to start your visit, since it’s the festival location confirmed by the city government. Praça do Rosário is on Rua Americano do Brasil, in front of Igreja do Rosário. Arrive with some time to spare to get your bearings and ask the organizers where the terno you want to see will pass that day. Without an updated official route, it would be misleading to point to a fixed spot on the street or promise that all groups will pass at the same time.
The congadas are a religious and community celebration, not a parade staged just for visitors. Keep the way clear for dancers, musicians, banners and devotees; if you want to photograph someone up close, ask permission. The sound of the caixas and the movements of the ternos are part of the expression, and the experience is usually better when you observe without stepping into the procession. If you’re traveling with children or someone with reduced mobility, agree on a meeting point around the square beforehand and adjust how long you stay depending on the crowds that day.
Getting to Catalão and Largo do Rosário
If you’re arriving by bus, check the drop-off point indicated by your carrier. According to the city government, since June 1, 2026, interstate buses and intermunicipal lines that used to stop at Catalão Shopping now use the new bus terminal at Posto JK. Lines operating via São João remain at Subestação São João. The city government itself recommends confirming times and routes directly with the carrier; don’t assume every ticket arrives at the same terminal.
To head to the event, tell your driver or navigation app “Praça do Rosário, Rua Americano do Brasil.” If you’re driving, use that address as your reference destination, but check traffic on the day: a street festival can change drop-offs, pickups and parking in the surrounding area. The official sources used here don’t include a road closure map valid for every day of the edition. So avoid planning a rigid route all the way to the church door.
Where to stay to follow the festival
To follow the ternos without a long trek to Largo do Rosário, start your accommodation search in Central Catalão and check the real distance between your lodging and Praça do Rosário on the map. “Centro” alone doesn’t guarantee your room is near the street where you plan to watch the procession. Compare location, cancellation policy and check-in/check-out times before booking.
If you plan to come back late, also decide how you’ll return to the hotel, especially if you’re arriving by bus or not using a car. Since each terno’s schedule isn’t on the municipal page consulted, a flexible booking helps when plans change. There’s no official nightly rate for the period: lodging prices vary by date, number of guests and availability, so the price shown in your search needs to be verified before payment.
See hotels in Catalão on Booking ›
Tickets, costs and things to keep in mind
The city government pages confirming the festival don’t list a ticket table or box office for watching the processions. That doesn’t justify advertising a price or stating a free-entry rule for all activities. If a paid offer linked to the event appears, check who organizes it and what it includes before buying. For food at the stalls and transportation, make your own cost estimate: there’s no single official price published in the sources consulted.
Bring water, protect yourself from sun or rain depending on the day’s forecast and keep pedestrian paths clear. The festival has moments of devotion; follow the guidance of the Irmandade and local staff for photographing, moving around and following the groups. If your priority is seeing a specific terno, the most useful confirmation is the organizers’ daily schedule, obtained close to your visit date.
Why the Congada de Catalão matters
Iphan registered the Saberes do Rosário — Reinados, Congados e Congadas — as Brazilian Cultural Heritage in 2025. The recognition covers Afro-Brazilian traditions from different communities and states; it doesn’t mean all rites are the same. In Catalão, the ternos, the Reinado and the devotion to Nossa Senhora do Rosário keep alive a practice passed down through generations.
If your trip through Goiás continues after the festival, plan each destination as a separate leg. Voyage has a Pirenópolis guide and another on Chapada dos Veadeiros; both require their own transport and time planning. For a visit centered on the Congadas, prioritize confirming the day’s schedule and booking accommodation with a location verified on the map.
- HotelAs soon as you have datesCompare neighbourhoods and guest ratings.Booking ›
ActivitiesBefore you travelBook ahead the ones with limited spots.Civitatis ›
Frequently asked questions
When is the Festa do Rosário de Catalão in 2027?
The 2027 dates have not yet been announced by the city government (checked on October 14, 2026). The previous edition, the 150th, took place from October 2 to 12, 2026, at Largo do Rosário.
Where do the ternos perform?
Largo do Rosário is the central location confirmed by the city government. Praça do Rosário is on Rua Americano do Brasil, in front of Igreja do Rosário; each terno’s route should be confirmed with the organizers.
Is there an official time for each terno?
The city government has not published a daily schedule for each terno. Confirm the time directly with the Irmandade before your visit.
Do you need to buy a ticket to watch the processions?
The official pages consulted don’t list a box office or prices for the Congadas de Catalão processions. Check directly with the organizers if a specific paid activity is announced.