Rio de Janeiro, the first city in the world to receive UNESCO World Heritage status as a Cultural Landscape, is set to take centre stage in the global culinary spotlight. The city will host the official launch of The MICHELIN Guide Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo 2026, offering food lovers a front-row seat to one of the most anticipated moments in Brazil’s gastronomic calendar.
The ceremony will take place in partnership with Rio’s City Hall at the iconic Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel. Chefs from across both cities will gather as new MICHELIN Stars are announced, alongside Bib Gourmand distinctions and restaurants newly selected or reconfirmed in the Guide.
A global stage for Brazilian cuisine
For Mayor Eduardo Paes, the event underscores the growing momentum of Rio’s food scene. He notes that The MICHELIN Guide plays a vital role in placing Carioca and Brazilian cuisine on the world stage, driving tourism, creating thousands of jobs, and celebrating a defining element of the city’s cultural identity.
Hosting the ceremony in Rio reinforces the city’s ambition to position gastronomy alongside its beaches, music, and natural beauty as a core pillar of its international appeal.
Rio de Janeiro as a gastronomic destination
With beaches setting the city’s rhythm, hills meeting the sea, and an atmosphere defined by lightness and energy, Rio de Janeiro has long been Brazil’s most recognisable postcard. Yet beyond the coastline, the city’s neighbourhoods reveal a culinary landscape as diverse as its geography.
From traditional botecos serving classic Brazilian comfort food to refined dining rooms pushing creative boundaries, Rio’s restaurants continue to evolve. Areas such as Copacabana, Botafogo, and Santa Teresa have become hubs for chefs who reinterpret local ingredients through both contemporary and global influences.
Menus often reflect the city itself: relaxed yet sophisticated, rooted in tradition while open to innovation. Hospitality remains central, with the warmth of Carioca culture shaping dining experiences as much as the food on the plate.
The MICHELIN Guide Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo 2026
As with every edition, the selection process for The MICHELIN Guide Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo 2026 is carried out independently by an international team of anonymous MICHELIN Guide Inspectors. Restaurants are evaluated using five long-established criteria: quality of ingredients, harmony of flavours, mastery of culinary techniques, the personality of the cuisine, and consistency over time.
Inspectors assess the entire dining experience, ensuring that awards reflect not only technical excellence but also the unique character of each kitchen.
The launch ceremony will be broadcast live on The MICHELIN Guide’s official YouTube channel, allowing audiences around the world to follow the announcements in real time. For Brazil’s two most dynamic food cities, the event marks both a celebration of past achievements and a statement of ambition for the years ahead.
