Events in Bonito: Festival Calendar, Busy Dates and Shopping

The events that affect a trip to Bonito, Brazil most are the Winter Festival in late August, Carnival (locally called Carnalaço), the July school holidays and the year-end season, with New Year’s Eve and sports races in December. On those dates, accommodation is in high demand and the most popular tours sell out well ahead. Outside them, smaller events such as the Guavira Festival in November add things to do without filling the town.

For international visitors this matters because Bonito’s busiest periods follow the Brazilian calendar, not the northern-hemisphere one: July is winter here and a school holiday month, and December to February is summer holiday season.

Reference calendar (2026)

The table below is the calendar published by Bonito’s Tourism Department for 2026. Use it as a guide to which months concentrate events; exact dates for each year need to be checked on the official schedule before you book.

Dates that fill the town

Winter Festival

The largest event of the year, with concerts by nationally known Brazilian artists. In 2026 it ran from 26 to 30 August. That week, demand for hotels and tours rises sharply. If your trip falls on those dates, book accommodation and the most popular tours as you would in high season, 60 to 90 days ahead.

Carnival, July and year-end

January, February (with Carnival), July and December are the most expensive and crowded periods. December is the busiest, combining year-end holidays, New Year’s Eve and the Bonito 21K and Bonito Adventure races. In July, school holidays overlap with FLIB and the Film Festival.

During these periods:

• the most popular tours (Rio da Prata, Blue Lake Cave, Anhumas Abyss, Nascente Azul) sell out weeks ahead;
• the town’s small rental-car fleet runs out;
• it pays to book dinner in advance.

The booking sequence is in what to book first in Bonito.

Brazilian long weekends

National holidays that fall next to a weekend also fill Bonito. Treat them as high season and book the main tours before you travel. If your dates are flexible, check the Brazilian public holiday calendar before choosing them.

Events worth timing a low-season trip around

In May, the Beer Festival, the Festa do Peão and Inspira Ecoturismo add events in a month with lower prices, pleasant weather and clear water. In November, the Guavira Festival celebrates the cerrado fruit that turns up in ice creams, liqueurs and cachaça. For weather and water conditions month by month, see the best time to visit Bonito.

Year-round evening program

Some activities run all year, regardless of the calendar:

• Noite do Sinhozinho, on the second Saturday of every month at São Miguel Cave: a night visit with a traditional dinner, at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., for R$204 to R$236 (2026 reference).
• Projeto Jiboia, every day at 7 p.m.: a talk about snakes lasting about 2 hours; ask your agency which language it is given in.
• Casa da Memória Raída: local culture and history.
• The main street at night: ice-cream shops with cerrado fruit flavors, bars and craft shops.

More ideas in Bonito at night.

Shopping and crafts

Shopping is concentrated on Rua Coronel Pilad Rebuá, the main street, and in the small shops at the attractions. Items with local character:

• Handmade ceramics: decorative and functional pieces made in the region. Udu Cerâmica has a shop on the main street.
• Cachaça and liqueurs: taboa, a cachaça with cinnamon, honey, guaraná and herbs, and liqueurs made from guavira and other cerrado fruits.
• Natural stones: necklaces, earrings and decorative pieces with local stones.
• Regional crafts in the shops along the main street.

Check your home country’s customs allowance for alcohol before packing bottles. To try the regional flavors in town, see what to eat in Bonito.