Pelourinho reopens Largo Pedro Archanjo on 2 October

Pelourinho in Salvador has reopened Largo Pedro Archanjo after seven months of work, adding ramps, a second emergency exit and greater capacity.

Pelourinho reopened Largo Pedro Archanjo in Salvador on 2 October 2026 after seven months of refurbishment, restoring a cultural venue within the Historic Centre. The reopening concerns the Largo Pedro Archanjo space itself and returns it to the cultural programme of Pelourinho.

Largo Pedro Archanjo reopening follows seven months of work

The State of Bahia delivered the venue back to the public on 2 October 2026, according to the Bahia Culture Secretariat. The work was carried out through the Institute of Artistic and Cultural Heritage of Bahia, known as IPAC, and the space remains administered by the state culture secretariat.

The project added three accessibility ramps serving the main entrance, a secondary entrance and the event courtyard. It also created a second emergency exit and a marked escape route, while circulation areas and indoor and outdoor structures were adjusted. The official reopening notice also records waterproofing, structural repairs and a more durable polished floor.

Pelourinho gains a renewed venue for cultural programmes

The reopening followed a period in which the Largo Pedro Archanjo programme had been moved to Praça das Artes. Its return brings performances and other cultural activities back to a venue in the historic district, while the renewed access arrangements relate directly to the public areas used for events.

The venue’s capacity rose from 580 to 745 people. The reopening programme included Samba de Pretas and Aila Menezes, followed on 3 October 2026 by performances from Rogério Sacerdote, Viola de Doze, Nelson Rufino and Eduardinho Fora da Mídia. The Baile de Todas as Cores, led by Aila Menezes, also returned to the venue where the project was first held in May 2019.

This change gives the reopening a specific place in the district’s cultural landscape: a venue that had temporarily lost its programme now has ramps, improved circulation and greater event capacity. A second phase is planned by the state, including accessible toilets, a renovated dressing room and a possible partial roof, but those works are not part of the completed reopening.

The renewed venue sits inside a protected historic centre

Pelourinho is a symbol and concentrated expression of Salvador’s Historic Centre, which is protected by Brazil’s National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage and recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. The municipal heritage portal describes more than 3,000 properties from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, including religious, civic and military architecture.

The district combines churches, convents, museums, theatres, galleries and cultural groups with streets and squares used by residents and visitors. The reopening of Largo Pedro Archanjo therefore adds a functioning cultural venue to a built environment whose heritage status dates from the twentieth century, rather than creating a separate attraction outside the protected area. The city heritage portal describes the Historic Centre as accessible by car, bus, metro and on foot, with some areas closed to cars.

Visiting Pelourinho: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The reopening took effect on 2 October 2026 at Largo Pedro Archanjo in Pelourinho, Salvador.
• The venue is back in the cultural programme, with three new accessibility ramps, a second emergency exit and improved circulation areas.
• Pelourinho lies in Salvador’s Historic Centre, where the city heritage portal identifies access by bus, metro, car and walking routes.
• The wider district contains steep and narrow historic streets and should be explored mainly on foot; some areas are closed to cars.
• Portuguese is Brazil’s official language and the currency is the Brazilian real.
• 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 Pelourinho

What has changed at Pelourinho?

Largo Pedro Archanjo reopened on 2 October 2026 with three accessibility ramps, a second emergency exit, improved circulation and increased capacity.

Where is Pelourinho and how do you get there?

Pelourinho is in Salvador’s Historic Centre in Brazil. The city heritage portal lists access by bus, metro, car and on foot.

What is Pelourinho?

Pelourinho is the historic district that forms a central part of Salvador’s protected Historic Centre, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.