by Brian Major
Last updated: 8:40 AM ET, Tue March 31, 2026
Brazil hosted more than 2.6 million international tourists
in the first two months of 2026, with visitors from the United States ranking
among the top four source markets worldwide.
U.S. visitors during the period
totaled 137,699 (over 5% of all foreign visitors).
In February alone, Brazil hosted 1,287,800 visitors. The
figure marks the second-best result ever recorded for that month and for the
first two-month period of the year, placing it among the periods with the
highest influx of international visitors to the country, according to data from
Embratur, Brazil’s tourism promotion agency, the Ministry of Tourism, and the
Federal Police.
The total number of arrivals to Brazil in the first two
months of the year is 52.9% higher than in the same period of 2024, when 1.7
million tourists visited the country.
The United States is also among the main drivers of
international tourism traffic thanks to the free concert that pop star Shakira
will perform on May 2 on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. International
tourists have already booked 8,477 airline tickets for the week of the festival
featuring the Colombian artist.
The volume of bookings for this year’s concert represents an
80.75% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and nearly matches the
level recorded for Lady Gaga’s 2025 show, according to data from Embratur–Visit
Brasil, the country’s international tourism promotion agency.
“These figures show that we are consolidating Brazil’s
position in international tourism, maintaining the same high levels as last
year, with the added benefit of a broader distribution among source markets,’
said Marcelo Freixo, Embratur’s president, ’which reduces our exposure to
regional crises.’
Brazil increased its international air connectivity by 35%
over the past three years, and its flight network will continue to expand in
2026. Growth in the international air network is expected to strengthen further
throughout the year, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
Since September 2025, at least 64 new flights and 16
additional frequencies authorized by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC)
have been confirmed. Rio de Janeiro is a key player in this deployment,
particularly following the recent announcement by airline Gol of new direct
flights from the city to New York and Orlando, as well as Lisbon and Paris,
using modern Airbus A330-900 aircraft.
Rio de Janeiro recorded an 18.5% increase in international
tourist arrivals in February. One of Brazil’s main tourist destinations, the state
hosted 310,654 foreign visitors in the second month of the year, compared to
262,108 during the same period last year.
This result continues the growth trend observed in January
and throughout 2025, highlighting the state’s importance for international
tourism in Brazil. In January alone, Rio had already recorded more than 289,200
international arrivals, a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
Several new luxury hotels are set to open in the coming
months:
- The
Tryst Rio de Janeiro: Located on Ipanema Beach, this Trust Hospitality
project will target the LGBTQIA+ market and feature a rooftop pool with
ocean views.
- Sofitel
Ipanema: After seven years closed, it will reopen as the brand’s flagship
in Latin America, featuring the renowned Lasai restaurant (two Michelin
stars) on its 21st floor and a pool with 360-degree views of Christ the
Redeemer.
- Four
Seasons Leblon: The chain will redevelop the former Marina Palace hotel
site, offering a five-star experience in one of the city’s most exclusive
neighborhoods.
- Exclusive
Experiences: This new luxury concept prioritizes cultural immersion,
offering services such as beachside yoga classes, private butlers by the
sea, and exclusive after-hours access to iconic landmarks like Sugarloaf
Mountain and the Museum of Tomorrow.
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