The Gramado Film Festival 2026 returns for its 54th edition, taking over the Palácio dos Festivais in the Serra Gaúcha region from August 12 to 22. It’s eleven days of Brazilian premieres, competitive showcases, a red carpet on Rua Coberta, and the presentation of the coveted Kikito awards. If you want to secure a spot at the screenings and plan your trip, it’s worth understanding the dates, how tickets work, and who’s taking the stage to be honored this year.
The 54th Gramado Film Festival runs from August 12 to 22, 2026, at the Palácio dos Festivais. The official opening is on August 14 with the out-of-competition screening of “Antártida,” directed by Bruno Safadi. Tickets and credentials go on sale through the festival’s official website, and this year’s Crystal Kikito honorees are Selton Mello and Maria Fernanda Cândido.
When is the Gramado Film Festival 2026
The 54th Gramado Film Festival takes place from August 12 to 22, 2026, always at the Palácio dos Festivais in the heart of the city. It’s eleven days of programming, with the opening ceremony set for August 14 and the closing—when the Kikito winners are announced—on the final weekend. Book the second half of August if you’re planning to experience the festival up close: the city fills up, hotels sell out, and nightly rates climb well above the monthly average. If you want to stay near the center, book at least two to three months in advance—during festival August, what’s left tends to be pricey or far away.
The Gramado Festival is annual and has called the same venue home for decades, which makes trip planning predictable. August is winter in the Serra Gaúcha, so be ready for cold nights, when the main screenings and the guest parade down the red carpet take place.
Program and opening film
The 2026 program officially opens on August 14 with the out-of-competition screening of “Antártida”, the new feature by Bruno Safadi, shown outside the awards race. Over the eleven days, audiences can catch the competitive showcases of Brazilian features and shorts, the traditional Assembleia Legislativa Award—the “Gauchão,” which brings together 18 short films from Rio Grande do Sul with screenings on August 15 and 16 and awards on the 16th—plus documentary sessions and parallel showcases.
The full schedule, with times and the final list of films in competition, is released and updated on the official Gramado Film Festival website. Since the selection changes every edition and screenings can sell out, double-check the day’s program before leaving your hotel. Beyond the main showcase, the festival usually makes room for documentary screenings, university sessions, and Q&As with directors and cast, giving you a chance to chat with the people behind the screen. It’s worth setting aside at least two nights to pair a competitive screening with the buzz of Rua Coberta.
How to buy tickets for the Gramado Festival
Tickets and credentials for screenings at the Palácio dos Festivais are sold exclusively through the festival’s official channels, announced on the festivaldecinemadegramado.com website and the event’s social media. Part of the program runs on accreditation (journalists, industry pros, and guests), and public screenings usually have online sales, with batches that sell out fast on high-demand days.
Only buy festival tickets through the channels announced on the official website: around this time, resellers and fake pages pop up charging steep prices for sessions that, in many cases, are free or have set pricing.
A big part of the experience, in fact, doesn’t require a ticket: the red carpet stretching along Rua Coberta to the Palácio’s entrance is open to the public, and that’s where fans gather to see actors and directors up close on gala nights. If your goal is to soak up the festival vibe without depending on a sold-out screening, that’s your safest bet.
Who will be honored in 2026
The Crystal Kikito, the highest honor given to artists whose careers push boundaries, goes to Selton Mello and Maria Fernanda Cândido in 2026. The list of tributes doesn’t stop there and brings together some of the most respected names in Brazilian film and TV.
Actor Marcos Caruso receives the Cidade de Gramado Trophy; Andréa Beltrão takes home the Oscarito Trophy; and producer Renata Almeida Magalhães is awarded the Eduardo Abelin Trophy. Cinematographer Jorge Henrique Boca gets the Sirmar Antunes Trophy, and actress and cultural producer Silvia Duarte receives the Leonardo Machado Award. The tribute ceremonies are some of the most sought-after moments of the evening program.
The festival’s history, from 1973 to today
Founded in 1973, the Gramado Film Festival started small and grew into one of Latin America’s premier audiovisual events. It was here that landmark Brazilian films got their spotlight before conquering the country—like “Central do Brasil” (Central Station), by Walter Salles, acclaimed at the festival in 1998 on its way to an Oscar nomination.
Over the decades, the Kikito became synonymous with recognition for Brazilian directors and actors, and Gramado’s red carpet established itself as one of the rare moments when national cinema takes center stage. Big names, from Fernanda Montenegro to Rodrigo Santoro, have already passed through the Palácio dos Festivais.
What to do in Gramado during the festival
Watching the festival is only part of the plan. Between screenings, Gramado offers European-inspired architecture, cozy cafés, and the cuisine that made the city famous. You can walk over to Lago Negro, rent a paddle boat, and cap it off with a fondue at night when the August chill calls for it.
Downtown, Rua Coberta is packed with bars and restaurants and is exactly where the festival’s red carpet stretches out—two attractions for the price of one. Right next door, Rua Torta makes for great photos. Get to Rua Coberta before 7 PM on gala nights to grab a spot at the barriers and watch the stars walk the red carpet. If you travel in August and come back in December, you’ll find the city transformed by Gramado’s Natal Luz, the other big event on the local calendar.
To explore the highlands beyond the town center, a great shortcut is booking a guided experience, like the Serra Gaúcha tour from Porto Alegre, which combines Gramado and Canela in a single day — handy for those arriving via the capital.
Getting There and Getting Around
The nearest airport is Salgado Filho, in Porto Alegre, about 120 km from Gramado — roughly 2 to 2.5 hours by car via the RS-115 or RS-235. From there, you can rent a car, hop on a long-distance bus, or book a transfer from Porto Alegre to Gramado, which saves you the wait at the bus station after your flight.
Once in town, you can walk just about everywhere in the center during the festival, since the Palácio, Rua Coberta, and the main restaurants are all close by. For the farther neighborhoods, check out these options for getting around Gramado without a car — in August, with the city packed, parking downtown at night can be a hassle.
As for lodging, travelers who want to save steps usually stay between the center and Avenida Borges de Medeiros, just minutes from the Palácio. Canela, the neighboring town 8 km away, offers cheaper nightly rates and is a short drive or bus ride away — a solid backup when Gramado sells out during the festival dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Gramado Film Festival 2026?
The Gramado Film Festival 2026, its 54th edition, runs from August 12 to 22, 2026, at the Palácio dos Festivais in Gramado (RS). The opening ceremony is scheduled for August 14.
How do I buy tickets for the Gramado Festival?
Tickets for the Gramado Festival are sold through the official channels announced on the festivaldecinemadegramado.com website and the event’s social media. Some screenings require accreditation, while public sessions typically have online sales that sell out fast on the busiest days.
Who will be honored at the Gramado Film Festival 2026?
The honorees with the Kikito de Cristal in 2026 are actors Selton Mello and Maria Fernanda Cândido. Marcos Caruso receives the Troféu Cidade de Gramado, Andréa Beltrão takes home the Troféu Oscarito, and producer Renata Almeida Magalhães is awarded the Troféu Eduardo Abelin.
Does the Gramado Film Festival have free programming?
Yes. The red carpet on Rua Coberta, in front of the Palácio dos Festivais, is open to the public and is where fans get an up-close look at the stars on gala nights. Screenings inside the Palácio, however, require a ticket or credential.
Conclusion
The Gramado Film Festival 2026 is your chance to experience Brazilian cinema up close, with premieres, tributes to Selton Mello and Maria Fernanda Cândido, and the buzz of the red carpet on Rua Coberta. Lock in the dates (August 12–22), keep an eye on ticket sales through the official website, and book your stay well in advance — August is a busy time in the highlands. Right here on Gramado.poa.br, you’ll find guides to round out the rest of your itinerary and enjoy the city beyond the silver screen.