The 2026 Novena and Feast of Our Lady of Aparecida will take place from October 3 to 12 at the National Shrine of Aparecida in Aparecida, São Paulo. The official schedule consulted on September 26, 2026 lists the Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and the Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. from October 3 through 11, along with Masses throughout each day. October 12 has its own schedule for the solemnity of Our Lady of Aparecida, including the Solemn Mass at 9:00 a.m., Children's Mass at noon, Solemn Consecration at 3:00 p.m. at the Historic Basilica, Closing Mass at 6:00 p.m., and Solemn Procession at 7:30 p.m.
The 2026 theme is “With Mary, in community, know and put the Word into practice”. For visitors planning to attend in person, the key practical distinction is that the novena runs from October 3 to 11, while October 12 has a separate solemnity schedule. Special events also include a Bicycle Ride on October 3, a motorcade on October 7, the Feast Festival on October 9, the Memorial Procession and Marian Vigil on October 11.
2026 Feast schedule by date
The table below summarizes the celebrations and activities most useful for planning a visit. Times follow the National Shrine's special Feast page. Because the event is still upcoming, check the same page again on the day before or the day of your trip.
| Date | Masses and novena | Other highlights | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 3, Saturday | Masses at 6:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m. Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. | Bicycle Ride at 8:30 a.m., with gathering at 8:00 a.m. at the Dom Aloísio Lorscheider Tribune. | Official schedule |
| Oct. 4, Sunday | Masses at 5:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m. Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. | School of Mary at 6:45 a.m. | Official schedule |
| Oct. 5, Monday | Masses at 6:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m. Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. | Third day of the novena. | Official schedule |
| Oct. 6, Tuesday | Masses at 6:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m. Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. | Fourth day of the novena. | Official schedule |
| Oct. 7, Wednesday | Masses at 6:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m. Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. | Motorcade, with gathering at 3:30 p.m. at Pátio das Palmeiras. The main page lists departure at 4:00 p.m. | Official schedule |
| Oct. 8, Thursday | Masses at 6:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m. Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. | Sixth day of the novena. | Official schedule |
| Oct. 9, Friday | Masses at 6:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m. Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. | Feast Festival at 8:45 p.m. at the Pope Benedict XVI Tribune, according to the main Feast page. | Official schedule |
| Oct. 10, Saturday | Masses at 6:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m. Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. | School of Mary at 7:30 a.m. | Official schedule |
| Oct. 11, Sunday | Masses at 5:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m. Final Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and final Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. | Memorial Procession to São Geraldo Chapel at 8:30 p.m. and Marian Vigil at 11:00 p.m. | Official schedule |
| Oct. 12, Monday | Masses at 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.; Solemn Mass at 9:00 a.m.; Children's Mass at noon; Masses at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.; Closing Mass at 6:00 p.m. | Marian Vigil at midnight, Solemn Consecration at 3:00 p.m. at the Historic Basilica, and Solemn Procession with fireworks at 7:30 p.m. | Official schedule |
How the novena works from October 3 to 11
During the nine days of the novena, the Shrine has scheduled two main novena services. The Afternoon Novena begins at 3:00 p.m. and the Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m. Before each one, the schedule lists a welcome at the Central Altar at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively. This structure repeats from October 3 through 11, with different preachers each day.
Mass times are not identical every day. Saturdays, Sundays and weekdays have different schedules, and the special Feast page lists each date separately. Anyone planning to attend a specific Mass and then stay for the novena should therefore use the schedule for the chosen date rather than relying only on the Shrine's general Mass timetable.
Processions, motorcade and vigil at the end of the Feast
On October 7 there will be a motorcade, with the gathering listed at 3:30 p.m. at Pátio das Palmeiras. On October 11, after the Solemn Novena, the Memorial Procession to São Geraldo Chapel is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. The program continues with the Marian Vigil at 11:00 p.m., which also appears on the October 12 schedule at midnight.
On October 12, the Solemn Procession is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., after the 6:00 p.m. Closing Mass, accompanied by a fireworks display. It is the main procession listed for the Feast Day itself.
Two official times that should be rechecked
Two differences appear among pages published by the National Shrine itself. On the main Feast page, the October 7 motorcade is listed for 4:00 p.m., while the cultural schedule article, updated on September 15, gives a 4:30 p.m. departure. For the October 9 Feast Festival, the main page gives 8:45 p.m., while the cultural article lists 8:55 p.m..
These differences may reflect updates made at different times. To avoid missing an activity, check the special Feast page shortly before leaving and, for the motorcade and Festival, compare it with the official cultural schedule.
How to plan your participation
- To attend the novena: choose a date from October 3 to 11. The two fixed novena times listed are 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- To join the processions: the Memorial Procession is scheduled for October 11 at 8:30 p.m., and the Solemn Procession for October 12 at 7:30 p.m.
- To experience the main October 12 program: the schedule begins at midnight with the Marian Vigil and continues through the evening procession.
- To combine Mass and novena: use that day's specific schedule, because times vary between Saturdays, Sundays and weekdays.
- If you cannot travel to Aparecida: the Shrine says celebrations will be broadcast through the Rede Aparecida de Comunicação, including TV Aparecida, Portal A12 and the app.
- Before traveling: recheck official times, especially the motorcade and Festival, because already published official pages show differences.
The schedule may be adjusted before the event takes place. The National Shrine maintains a special 2026 Novena and Feast page with the day-by-day agenda and links for following the celebrations.
