Patron Saint Festival brings together 200,000 devotees at the Sanctuary of Aparecida (SP) and breaks historic record
Quick Look
- The National Sanctuary of Aparecida received 200,295 devotees this Monday (12), establishing a new historical attendance record for the Patron Saint Festival, surpassing the mark of 195,078 visitors from 2014.
- The number was 32% higher than that recorded on October 12, 2025, with 48,134 more visitors.
- Pilgrimages on foot also broke a record, with 52 thousand pilgrims passing through the Moreira César toll plaza between October 1st and 12th, an increase of 30% compared to 2025.
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Why It Matters
The Patron Saint Festival is celebrated on October 12th at the National Sanctuary of Aparecida, patron saint of Brazil. The date attracts millions of faithful annually to masses, processions and acts of devotion. In 2026, the coincidence with the first round of the General Elections influenced the flow of pilgrims in the previous days.
The National Sanctuary of Aparecida received 200,295 devotees this Monday (12), a day dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida. The number set a new historical attendance record for the Patron Saint Festival, surpassing the mark of 195,078 visitors recorded in 2014.
Furthermore, this year's attendance was 32% higher than that recorded on October 12, 2025, when 152,161 people passed through the Basilica. In total, there were 48,134 more visitors compared to last year.
The Patron Saint's Day program included seven masses, Marian Vigil, Solemn Consecration, held in the Historic Basilica, and the traditional Solemn Procession, in the external areas of the reception complex.
Pilgrimages on foot also break records
The number of pilgrims who arrived on foot in Aparecida also reached a historic mark.
According to the concessionaire RioSP, responsible for the Presidente Dutra Highway, 52 thousand pilgrims passed through the Moreira César toll plaza, in Pindamonhangaba (SP), between the 1st and 12th of October.
The total represents a 30% growth compared to 2025, with 12 thousand more pilgrims traveling the highway towards the National Sanctuary.
The reception and safety operation on the roads was part of the Romaria Segura Project, developed by RioSP in partnership with the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) and the Federal Highway Police (PRF), with support from the National Sanctuary and the Aparecida Communication Network.
Public between the 3rd and 12th
Between the 3rd and 12th of October, the National Shrine received 479,782 devotees. In 2025, there were 494,689 pilgrims during the ten days of programming, a reduction of 3% this year.
Between the 3rd and 11th of October alone, before the main day of celebrations, 279,487 devotees passed through the National Sanctuary.
According to the Sanctuary, the reduction in accumulated movement was influenced by the coincidence between the first weekend of the Novena and the first round of the General Elections, held on October 4th. Historically, holding the election at the beginning of the Novena reduces the displacement of pilgrimages and groups organized during this period.
Despite the drop in total attendance over the ten days, the movement registered on October 12th established a new historical mark for the Patron Saint Festival.
Open Questions
- What was the total audience expected by the organizers for the Patron Saint Festival in 2026?
- What specific measures were adopted by Pilgrimage Safe to ensure the safety of pilgrims on the Presidente Dutra Highway?
- How was the 3% reduction in attendance accumulated between October 3rd and 12th distributed across days?
- What was the estimated economic impact of the increase in pilgrims in the Vale do Paraíba region?
