Florianópolis Gay Carnival
About This Event
Florianópolis has been one of Brazil's best-known gay Carnival destinations for decades, and its anchor is the Pop Gay contest, renamed PopDay in 2023: a free street party on the Monday of Carnival where the city crowns a drag queen and a beauty queen. Around it, the gay crowd splits its days between Praia Mole, where Bar do Deca runs DJ sets from early afternoon, and the street blocos downtown.
PopDay sits inside the city's official street Carnival, produced by the Prefeitura (in 2026 with the agency Hit Makers), which spread more than 100 blocos across nine neighborhoods. The contest has run for more than three decades; its 30th-anniversary edition paid two R$5,000 prizes.
Practical: Carnival is the island's peak week, so book well ahead, and expect slow traffic between the beaches and the city center. Rain doesn't stop it: the 2023 edition went ahead under umbrellas.
Carnival 2026 ran 13 to 17 February. PopDay was on Monday 16 February with Gloria Groove headlining from a trio elétrico, and the organizers said about 160,000 people passed through against the 50,000 they had expected; that is their count, with no independent figure. Allana Logan and Nicole Brasil took the two titles. Carnival 2027 falls in early February, but the city hadn't published the 2027 program or the PopDay date when we checked.
Where to stay during Florianópolis Gay Carnival
via Stay22Schedule & Sub-Events
+ Add EventDetailed schedule coming soon.
Check the official website for the latest programme.
Practical Tips
Praia Mole is the main gay beach — Bar do Deca is the daytime gathering hub during Carnival.
Videos
The CRAZIEST and most DANGEROUS Party on Earth
