Historic Town of Ouro Preto hosts Forum das Letras from 13 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 07:20 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Historic Town of Ouro Preto (Centro Histórico de Ouro Preto) is hosting the 21st Forum das Letras from 13 to 22 October 2026, with activities in Ouro Preto and neighbouring Mariana. The programme opened on 13 October at Casa da Ópera and remains open to the community. It brings debates, exhibitions and film screenings to the historic centre and other venues in Minas Gerais.
Forum das Letras brings Guimarães Rosa to Ouro Preto
Organised by the Federal University of Ouro Preto, the 21st Forum das Letras uses the theme Do mundo e de Minas Gerais and honours João Guimarães Rosa. The programme marks 70 years since the publication of Grande Sertão: Veredas and Corpo de Baile, both first published in 1956.
The event’s confirmed dates are 13 to 22 October 2026. The municipal announcement lists the annex of the Inconfidência Museum, Casa dos Contos and Casa da Ópera among the Ouro Preto venues, alongside locations in Mariana and schools in both cities. The programme brings together researchers, writers, editors, translators and illustrators to discuss regionalism, orality, memory and place.
The official schedule records the opening of the forum at Casa da Ópera on 13 October, with Elisa Lucinda and Geovana Pires presenting Viver de Poesia. It also lists debates at the annex of the Inconfidência Museum, including sessions on 17 October about permanence, animality, memory and the music of Guimarães Rosa’s work.
Historic Town of Ouro Preto puts the programme in context
UNESCO describes the town as founded at the end of the seventeenth century and shaped by the gold rush and Brazil’s eighteenth-century golden age. Its irregular streets follow the steep slopes of Vila Rica, linking squares, churches, bridges, fountains, residences and public buildings in one historic urban landscape.
The forum’s venues sit within that preserved setting. The programme’s opening at Casa da Ópera connects a current literary event with a historic civic and cultural centre, while sessions at the Inconfidência Museum and Casa dos Contos place the discussions among buildings and collections tied to Ouro Preto’s colonial history. UNESCO says the town became Brazil’s first cultural property on the World Heritage List on 5 September 1980.
That heritage status also explains the event’s geographical character. Visitors encounter a living town rather than an isolated monument, with the forum distributed through existing museums, theatres, libraries and public spaces. The UNESCO description of Ouro Preto identifies the historic urban nucleus, Baroque churches and works associated with Aleijadinho as part of the property’s value.
Visiting Historic Town of Ouro Preto: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Forum das Letras runs from 13 to 22 October 2026 across Ouro Preto and Mariana. In Ouro Preto, listed venues include Casa da Ópera, the annex of the Inconfidência Museum and Casa dos Contos.
- The programme is open to the community. The schedule includes public debates, exhibitions, film screenings and a literary event at the Casa da Ópera and other venues.
- Ouro Preto is in Minas Gerais, 513 km north of Rio de Janeiro, according to UNESCO. The historic area follows steep slopes and an irregular street pattern.
- Portuguese is Brazil’s official language and the national currency is the Brazilian real. Event information and venue details may therefore appear in Portuguese.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Historic Town of Ouro Preto
When does Forum das Letras take place at Historic Town of Ouro Preto?
Forum das Letras runs from 13 to 22 October 2026, with activities in Ouro Preto and Mariana.
What is Historic Town of Ouro Preto?
It is a World Heritage historic town in Minas Gerais, shaped by eighteenth-century gold mining and Baroque architecture.
Where is Historic Town of Ouro Preto and how do you get there?
Ouro Preto is in Minas Gerais, 513 km north of Rio de Janeiro. Its historic centre lies across steep slopes with irregular streets.
