Christ the Redeemer hosts 95th anniversary events on 12 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 02:57 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) in Rio de Janeiro has begun a month-long 95th anniversary programme, with the main celebration scheduled for 12 October 2026. The programme combines religious services, an exhibition, commemorative items and social initiatives around the sanctuary and other venues in Brazil.
The anniversary programme started on 3 October 2026 with a Franciscan Jubilee Mass at the Laudato Si' Adoration Chapel. The celebrations continue through October, giving visitors a series of publicly announced events connected with the monument and its sanctuary.
Christ the Redeemer anniversary reaches its main date
The central day is 12 October 2026, the anniversary of the monument's inauguration. The programme begins at 7am with the opening of the Christ the Redeemer - Towards 100 Years exhibition at Paineiras Visitor Centre, followed at 7.30am by a thanksgiving Mass for the 95th anniversary and the feast of Our Lady of Aparecida.
A commemorative stamp created by artist Oskar Metsavaht and produced with Correios is scheduled for presentation at 8.30am. Masses at the sanctuary are listed for 11am, 3pm and 5pm. The programme also includes the Christ the Redeemer Action of Love at the Metropolitan Cathedral, where social services are planned for people in vulnerable circumstances.
The published programme also lists events on 5 October, including the launch of a special edition of a children's publication with Turma da Monica, and a pink illumination for Breast Cancer Awareness. On 9 October, a thanksgiving Mass marks 142 years of the Corcovado Railway.
The published anniversary programme confirms the 12 October date and the principal activities. A second regional report gives the wider schedule, including the 3 October opening event and the 31 October end of the toy and children's book campaign.
How the anniversary connects with the monument's history
The anniversary date links the current programme to the monument's inauguration on 12 October 1931. The statue was designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, with contributions from engineer Heitor Levy, painter Carlos Oswald and sculptor Maximiliam Paul Landowsky.
The monument stands on Corcovado Mountain above Rio de Janeiro. Its history is therefore present in the anniversary exhibition: the show at Paineiras Visitor Centre looks towards the centenary planned for 2031, while the religious programme remains centred on the sanctuary at the summit.
The operator's historical page records the 1931 inauguration and identifies the principal figures involved in the construction. It also places the monument within the Tijuca Forest setting, a landscape that connects the summit attraction with the wider national park.
The operator's history of the monument records its inauguration on 12 October 1931 and its design team. The anniversary's 12 October programme consequently falls on the same calendar date as the opening ceremony 95 years earlier.
October programme extends beyond the anniversary day
Other listed dates include a Habitat Day Mass and yellow illumination on 6 October, a joint ceremony with the Cathedral of Saint Peter of Alcantara in Petropolis on 8 October, and a prayer vigil at the sanctuary on 11 October.
After 12 October, the programme includes a thanksgiving Mass on 13 October, a special education-themed illumination on 15 October and activities linked to World Bread Day on 16 October. A pilgrimage with an image of Saint John Paul II is listed for 22 October, while a cooperation agreement involving the sanctuary and the Dominican Republic's consulate is scheduled for 27 October.
The anniversary also has a social strand. The Classic is Play campaign, promoted by Amigos do Redentor, is intended to collect toys and children's books until 31 October 2026. Its connection with the monument's anniversary places a charitable campaign alongside the exhibition, religious services and commemorative stamp.
The detailed October schedule lists the dates, venues and programme items, including the Paineiras exhibition, sanctuary Masses and the campaign deadline.
Visiting Christ the Redeemer: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The anniversary's main programme takes place on 12 October 2026, beginning at 7am with the exhibition opening at Paineiras Visitor Centre and continuing with services at the sanctuary and cathedral.
- The publicised programme adds events at the sanctuary on 3, 5, 6, 9 and 11 October 2026, while other dates use Paineiras, the Corcovado Railway cultural space or the Metropolitan Cathedral.
- The monument is on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, within the Tijuca Forest setting. Paineiras Visitor Centre is one of the named venues for the 12 October exhibition.
- The statue was inaugurated in 1931 and was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa, with its head and hands made in France and brought to Brazil.
- Brazil's official language is Portuguese and its 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 Christ the Redeemer
When does the 95th anniversary programme take place at Christ the Redeemer?
The programme runs through October 2026, with the main anniversary events on 12 October 2026. It began with a Mass on 3 October 2026.
What is Christ the Redeemer?
It is a statue on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, inaugurated on 12 October 1931. The monument was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa with several collaborators.
Where is Christ the Redeemer and how do you get there?
The monument is on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, in the Tijuca Forest setting. The published anniversary venues include Paineiras Visitor Centre and the sanctuary at the summit.
