Bahia sets caps on artist fees for São João festivals

The Bahia State Secretariat of Culture, led by Secretary Bruno Monteiro, endorsed a recommendation from the Bahia Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP‑BA) and the Union of Municipalities of Bahia (UPB) to impose a ceiling on payments to artists during the June São João celebrations. The measure is presented as a way to distribute public funds more equitably and to allow smaller regional musicians greater access to festival bookings.

In June, MP‑BA and representatives of 22 nationally and regionally known artists signed an agreement to apply the new fee‑calculation model for the 2026 festivities. The formula bases payments on the average 2025 fees adjusted for inflation, with reductions for artists whose notoriety has increased. Notably, the band Tok 10 will see its per‑performance fee cut by roughly R$ 100 000, contributing to an estimated total saving of R$ 5 million for municipalities. The agreement also expands a transparency panel that will publicly track fee contracts, with participating municipalities eligible for a “Transparency Seal” after June 25. By mid‑June, data from 38 municipalities and the state government had already been submitted.