Bahia replaces Flavio José with Mestrinho and Santana for June São João festivals

For the 2026 São João celebrations in Bahia, singer‑songwriter Flávio José withdrew from all scheduled performances after the municipalities reduced his fee. The Public Ministry of Bahia warned that artist fees had risen sharply in recent editions, noting contracts climbing from about R$ 200 thousand to roughly R$ 700 thousand.

To keep the festivals on schedule, officials appointed local forró acts as replacements. In Vitória da Conquista, accordionist Mestrinho was announced as the main attraction for June 24, with the event’s organizers saying, “Com sua sanfona e toda a força do forró tradicional, ele chega para reforçar uma das maiores riquezas do nosso São João.” In the Bonfim district of Feira de Santana, the singer known as Santana (Santanna, o Cantador) will perform on June 27, with the mayor declaring, “Agimos rapidamente para contratar um cantor à altura de Flávio José, e Santana foi esse nome.” The changes aim to preserve the traditional northeastern culture that defines the June festivals.