🇧🇷 Saravah Brazilian Festival 📅 Saturday, June 6, 2026 📍 ByWard Market, Ottawa 🅾 100% Free 👶 Family-Friendly

Saravah Brazilian Festival 2026 — Third Edition

For one day every June, a corner of the ByWard Market trades its usual rhythm for something a little warmer and a lot louder. The Saravah Brazilian Festival is back for its third year, taking over the 8 York Street Plaza beside the Ottawa Sign on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 11:30 AM right through to 9:00 PM. Samba, capoeira, forró, açaí, and the kind of crowd that doesn’t need much encouragement to dance in the street.

And the best part — it’s completely free, and built for the whole family. You can wander in for an hour or settle in for the whole day. Either way, you’ll leave with a little Brazil in your step.

🎉 Live samba & bossa nova 💃 Zouk & forró classes 🤸 Capoeira 🎵 Street performances 🍽️ Brazilian food vendors 🎤 DJ sets

🎫 Event Details & RSVP 📍 Get Directions →

💡 Admission is free, so there’s no ticket to buy — just show up. Bring a little cash for the food and craft vendors, who make up half the fun.

✨ Why This One’s Worth Your Saturday

There’s no shortage of summer festivals in Ottawa, but very few of them hand you an entire culture for the price of nothing. Saravah does exactly that — it’s a celebration of Brazilian music, dance, food and heritage dropped right into the heart of the ByWard Market.

Now in its third edition, the festival has grown into one of the city’s most joyful summer gatherings. You don’t need to know a single Portuguese word or how to dance forró to have a good time — the instructors will teach you, and the crowd will carry you the rest of the way.

It’s the rare event that works whether you come solo, on a date, or with the kids in tow. Free admission, ten-plus hours of programming, and food you’ll be thinking about for days. Hard to argue with that.

🎵 The 2026 Lineup & Activities

A full day of live music, dance, and street performance — flowing from late morning right into the evening.

📍 The Essentials

🍽️ Food & Craft Vendors

Half the reason to come, honestly. From açaí bowls to authentic Brazilian sausage, here’s who’s confirmed for 2026:

🚗 Getting There

The festival sets up at the 8 York Street Plaza, right by the famous Ottawa Sign in the ByWard Market — one of the most central and walkable spots in the city.

The ByWard Market is well served by OC Transpo and an easy walk from downtown. Parking exists in the area but fills up on summer weekends — transit or walking is the easier call.

💡 A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go

💵 Bring cash. Admission is free, but the food and craft vendors are where you’ll spend — and not every stall will take card.

🌞 Come ready for the sun. It’s an outdoor plaza in early June. Sunscreen, a hat, and a water bottle go a long way over a ten-hour day.

💃 Don’t skip the dance classes. The Zouk and Forró sessions are beginner-friendly and easily the most fun way to actually take part rather than just watch.

👶 Great with kids. Face painting, drumming, and plenty of open space make this an easy family afternoon. The earlier hours tend to be calmest for little ones.

🎬 Stay into the evening. The energy builds as the day goes on — the live bands and DJ sets later in the schedule are when the plaza really comes alive.

A Community Celebration 🇧🇷

The Saravah Brazilian Festival is presented by Saravah with the support of local sponsors including Horizons Dental Care, Pires Homes Real Estate Group, Mario’s Food Centre, Bea Teixeira Real Estate Agent, and Sabino Insurance & Investment Inc. The project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada (Heritage Canada) and partially funded by the City of Ottawa.

❓ Common Questions