Folk Festival of Parintins (Boi-Bumbá)
Traditions · Parintins, Brésil
The festival
On Tupinambarana Island, in the heart of the Amazon, Parintins saw each last weekend in June at the pace of a duel unique in the world: in Bumbódromo, an arena of nearly 35,000 seats, two folk "beefs" competed for three nights — Garantido, red, and Caprichoso, blue. Songs, percussion, giant allegorical tanks and Amazonian legends: 21 criteria (quesitos) were noted by a jury to separate the two camps, and the entire city chose its color.
Born from a festival of Saint John, the Boi-Bumbá de Parintins has been a cultural heritage of Brazil by IPHAN since 2018. It is accessed by boat or plane from Manaus, and the festival turns the small river island into the world capital of Amazonian folklore.
Good to know
Estimated 2027: The official 2027 calendar was not yet published as of October 22, 2026.