Recife's historic Bairro do Recife district hosts the 8th edition of REC'n'Play from November 11 to 14, 2026, an open technology and creativity festival nicknamed the Carnival of Knowledge. Organized by Porto Digital and Sebrae Pernambuco under the theme “O Futuro Nasce Aqui” (The Future Is Born Here), the event is free with prior registration and turns the historic centre into an urban campus of talks, workshops, debates, interactive experiences, themed arenas and shows.
What is on the programme
The programme covers technology, entrepreneurship, cities and the creative economy, with talks, workshops, discussion panels, cultural activities, children's programming and business opportunities. Names cited by Agência Brasil include Déia Freitas, Caco Barcelos, Fabrício Carpinejar, Murilo Gun and Lenine. The festival's publicity also lists Otto, Devotos and Cordel do Fogo Encantado in the cultural programme. Artificial intelligence is one of the main discussion themes, focusing on technology's impact on the labour market, alongside technological inclusion.
What is new in 2026
This edition expands its urban footprint to include Rua da Moeda in the activities circuit. It also adds street cinema, a redesigned Business Arena — connecting startups, companies and investors at the newly opened Núcleo de Empreendedorismo e Residência Digital (Nerd) — and the Games Arena in an open space beneath Cais do Sertão. According to Porto Digital president Pierre Lucena, workshops should make up almost half of the content, with fewer panels and more hands-on activities.
Why the festival matters for Brazil
The previous edition drew more than 80,000 registered participants and over 1,000 activities, according to Agência Brasil. Porto Digital, an innovation district with more than 25 years in Recife, brings together about 24,000 workers across 541 companies, with annual revenue of R$ 7.4 billion. Lucena also used the festival to reopen a debate: Brazil, ranked 53rd among 139 countries in WIPO's Global Innovation Index 2026, needs to discuss whether it wants to be merely a technology consumer or also a supplier — especially of artificial intelligence applications.
Details
- Event: REC'n'Play 2026 — 8th edition, Carnival of Knowledge
- When: November 11–14, 2026
- Where: Bairro do Recife, Recife (PE), Brazil
- Entry: free, with prior registration
- Programme and registration: recnplay.pe
Image credit
Image: official REC'n'Play website (recnplay.pe).
- Agência Brasil (via Rede Global TV) — REC'n'Play 2026 será palco de tecnologia e criatividade em Recife
- Site oficial — REC'n'Play 2026
- OverBR — Carnaval do Conhecimento: 8ª edição na REC'n'Play 2026 agitará Recife
Transparency: this article was produced with the help of artificial intelligence, based on cross-checking public posts and the internet sources listed below. Check the original sources to confirm dates, names and programming.
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