São João in Paraíba: the June festivals and what to see in the region
Article 30 of 100 · September 10, 2026 · 1 min read · Destino João Pessoa
About 130 km from João Pessoa, Campina Grande holds 33 days of June festival celebrations, claiming the title of "the world's biggest São João".
Although João Pessoa has its own São João program, the state's major June-festival destination is Campina Grande, in the Paraíba interior, known for calling itself "the World's Biggest São João". In 2026, the festival ran from June 3 to July 5, totaling 33 days of programming concentrated in the Parque do Povo, an area of about 42,000 m² in the city center.
The festival blends the traditional June-festival customs of the Northeastern interior — bonfires and dances linked to the season — with popular devotion to three Catholic saints: Santo Antônio, São João and São Pedro. The music program combines forró pé-de-serra, piseiro, sertanejo, pagode and other genres, and the event's organizers estimated an attendance of more than 3 million people over the month, with free concerts by names such as Marisa Monte, Roberto Carlos and Henrique e Juliano in the 2026 edition.
Forró, the musical and dance genre typical of the Northeast, has in Campina Grande one of the country's biggest stages for its celebration, which reinforces the festival's regional fame. For those in João Pessoa during the June-festival season, the trip to Campina Grande — about two hours by road — tends to be one of the most sought-after outings for tourists passing through the capital in June.
It is worth stressing that the dates and exact duration of the festival vary each year according to the calendar set by the local city hall, so it is advisable to confirm the schedule with official sources before planning a visit.