Brazilians are known for their passion for soccer, but there are other team sports that also bring together thousands of fans.
If you are curious to know more about sporting events in Brazil, we have prepared a list of some you can’t miss (just as Brazilians don’t):
Football championships: a billionaire industry
The championships are broadcast on television in multiple channels and boost different sectors, including the audiovisual market, which demands teams of full production services.
In this case, what are the major football championships?
01
Campeonato Brasileiro (Brazilian Championship)
02
Copa do Brasil
Copa do Brasil is a football competition played by 92 teams. It is the Brazilian equivalent of the
Taça de Portugal and
Copa del Rey, in Spain.
The main difference from
Campeonato Brasileiro is in the format of the challenge.
Brasileirão uses a consecutive points format and
Copa do Brasil uses a knockout format. In 2023, the competition will be played between
February 21 and September 23, on different fields.
03
The classics
Something extra happens during the football championships called “the classics”. These are the games in which historical rivals play against each other. Usually, they are from the same city, and it doesn’t have to be a final or a qualifying game to become a classic. It is enough that the two competitors are in the same field.
Fla-Flu
This year, Flamengo and Fluminense will face each other during the finals of the Carioca championship, the main tournament at
Rio de Janeiro. The games are scheduled for
April 1
and 9. They will also play against each other during the
Brasileirão, on
July 15
and November 11.
Corinthians x São Paulo
Another classic game, but involving two teams from São Paulo. The last confrontation between Corinthians and São Paulo took place on January 29, for the 2023 Paulista Championship. On that occasion, Corinthians won by 2 to 1. They will play against each other again on
May 13 and September 20.
04
Superliga: the volleyball championships
Brazil has an important tradition in volleyball, which was boosted by the huge number of titles won by the men's national team, mainly between 2003 and 2010. This helped the entire sector of volleyball gain more attention, attracting big sponsors to the national teams — some of them, in fact, were founded during that period, such as Cruzeiro in 2006.
There are two major leagues: the women's and the men's. Both of them are called the
Superliga. They are played by season, usually from the end of one year to the middle of the other. The current games are happening from October 2022 to May 31
for both leagues.
05
NBB: the major league of basketball
Did you know Brazil has its own NBA? It is the NBB, translated as New Basket of Brazil. It is the main sport championship in the country, created in 2008 and organised by the National League of Basketball. Usually, the regular season runs from November to April. All teams face each other twice.
In the current season, NBB started on
October 15, 2022 and will end on
June 10, 2023.
06
Jungle Fight: the biggest MMA event in Latin America
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) holds tremendous significance in Brazil. With a rich history in combat sports and the advent of legendary Brazilian fighters, including Anderson Silva and José Aldo, MMA has surged in popularity, captivating audiences across the country. It has become a vehicle for social mobility, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds and providing avenues for personal growth.
Brazilians are a strong presence in almost every MMA Championship around the world, making a significant impact on the sport. The UFC regularly holds events in Brazil, but the local championship is represented by Jungle Fight, which was created in 2003 by former Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA fighter Wallid Ismail.

There are several editions annually. The first event of the 2023 season occurred on
March 26 in Manaus, in the Amazonian region, which hosted the first Jungle Fight ever. Then on
April 29
and May 27 in São Paulo.
07 Rio Open: the first ATP World Tour 500 to be held in Brazil
There is no doubt that tennis is an increasingly popular sport in Brazil. With a growing number of athletes and spectators, the number of official competitions in the country still lags behind.
Rio Open is one of the biggest sporting events of the year in Rio de Janeiro. The games are played on nine clay courts, being one of only 3 ATP tournaments on this type of surface. Talented athletes have participated in the tournament, Rafael Nadal being the greatest, who won the competition in 2014.
The 2023 edition took place between
February 18 and 26.
08 Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix: the highlight of local motorsport
The São Paulo Grand Prix is a prestigious motorsport event that forms part of the Formula 1 World Championship. It has been taking place almost every year since the 70s at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as the Interlagos Circuit, and it attracts top drivers and teams from around the world.
The 2023 race, which includes 71 laps, will happen between
November 3 and 5.
09
Campeonato Brasileiro de
Kitesurf (Brazilian Kitesurf Championship): a sport of growing popularity
Brazilian Kitesurf Association (ABK) organises the Brazilian Championship to promote the development of high-performance national kitesurfers.
With Brazil's beautiful beaches and favourable winds, the competition offers the perfect setting for athletes to showcase their impressive skills and techniques in categories that include freestyle and race.
The event usually takes place in November in the northeast region of Brazil, but the exact dates for the 2023 edition have yet to be confirmed.
As Brazilians know, sport is an important aspect of national life. Competitions are closely followed and have a strong influence on the domestic scene and on personal relationships. But if you want to go beyond sports, we firmly recommend this article on
the events and celebrations happening in Brazil in 2023! Take a look!
