Cathedral of Brasília hosts Aparecida novena from 3 October

Cathedral of Brasília hosts the Aparecida novena from 3 to 10 October 2026 as part of the Festividades de Nossa Senhora Aparecida, organised at Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília in Brasilia, Brazil. The wider programme continues at the Esplanada dos Ministérios on 11 and 12 October.

The programme gives travellers a fixed religious and cultural event at one of Brasilia's principal modernist landmarks. The cathedral's official announcement names the dates, venues and celebrants, while the final two days extend the celebrations into the monumental civic axis.

Cathedral of Brasília sets Aparecida novena dates

The novena begins inside the cathedral on 3 October 2026 and continues daily through 10 October. The listed celebrants are Dom Adair José Guimarães, Father Agenor Vieira, Father Marcos Rogério, Father Chrystian Shankar, Father Patrick Fernandes, Father José Eduardo, Father João Henrique and Father Eduardo Dougherty, one for each day of the programme.

Participation inside the cathedral requires a free ticket obtained through Sympla, with a limit of one ticket per Brazilian taxpayer identification number for each celebration, according to the cathedral's programme announcement. The announcement also says that children up to six years old do not need a ticket.

How the novena connects with the 1970 landmark

The event takes place in a building designed by Oscar Niemeyer and officially opened on 31 May 1970. It stands below street level on the Monumental Axis, where 16 curved columns form the distinctive crown-like exterior.

Google Arts and Culture records the cathedral's capacity at about 4,000 people and identifies its dedication to Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil. That dedication gives the October novena a direct link to the building's religious identity, while the architecture places the ceremonies within a major work of Brasilia's modernist landscape. The architectural history of the cathedral also notes the stained glass by French-Brazilian artist Marianne Peretti.

The programme moves to the Esplanada on 11 October

On 11 October 2026, the final day of the novena moves to the Esplanada dos Ministérios. Dom Raymundo Damasceno is scheduled to preside over the celebration, followed by a book signing for Sob a Proteção da Mãe Aparecida.

The wider festivities continue on 12 October 2026 with further religious activities, according to reporting by Correio Braziliense. This change of setting matters for visitors: the cathedral is the venue from 3 to 10 October, while the later open-air celebrations use the esplanade in front of the landmark.

Visiting Cathedral of Brasília: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The cathedral's novena runs from 3 to 10 October 2026 at Cathedral of Brasília, with a separate celebration at the Esplanada dos Ministérios on 11 October 2026.
• Entry to the cathedral celebrations is free but requires a limited ticket for each day; the 11 October celebration at the esplanade is open to the public without a ticket.
• The venue is at the Esplanada dos Ministérios, Lote 12, in Brasilia's Monumental Axis. The official programme identifies the cathedral and the esplanade as separate venues for the two parts of the event.
• The building is set below street level, with 16 curved concrete columns rising to form its exterior. Visitors should expect a religious venue rather than a conventional concert hall.
• Portuguese is Brazil's official language and the national currency is the Brazilian real.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Cathedral of Brasília

When does the Aparecida novena take place at Cathedral of Brasília?

The novena takes place from 3 to 10 October 2026 inside the cathedral. The wider festivities continue at the Esplanada dos Ministérios on 11 and 12 October 2026.

Where is Cathedral of Brasília and how do you get there?

It is at the Esplanada dos Ministérios, Lote 12, on Brasilia's Monumental Axis. The official programme places the later celebrations at the esplanade in front of the cathedral.

What is Cathedral of Brasília?

It is a Roman Catholic cathedral designed by Oscar Niemeyer and officially opened on 31 May 1970. Its 16 curved columns and stained-glass interior form part of Brasilia's modernist architectural landscape.