Events in the year 2021 in Brazil.
Incumbents
Federal government
Governors
Vice governors
Events
January
- January 1: Mayors and councilors elected in 2020 take office in more than 5,000 Brazilian municipalities. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the ceremonies were broadcast without guests.
- January 6: The first case of the Gamma Variant of SARS-CoV-2, also known as the Manaus variant, is detected in four people who arrived in Tokyo after visiting the Amazonas region of Brazil four days prior.
- January 7: The São Paulo state government and the Butantan Institute release the calendar of the State Immunization Plan against COVID-19. The chronogram, to start on January 25, initially serves some risk groups: health professionals, indigenous people, quilombolas, and individuals aged between 60 and 75 years or older.
- January 12: Ford Motor Company announces it is closing three plants and laying off 5,000 workers in Brazil.
- January 17: The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) unanimously approves requests for the emergency use of the vaccines CoronaVac (produced by the Butantan Institute in partnership with the Chinese laboratory Sinovac) and AstraZeneca (produced by the University of Oxford with Fiocruz). A nurse named Mônica Calazans, an employee of the EmÃÂlio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases, receives the first dose of CoronaVac in the country.
- January 21:
- Tendencias Consultoria, a consultant company focused on the economy, warns of food shortages in isolated areas, particularly in the favelas and quilombos, as the government ends emergency aid.
- Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes announces via social media, the cancellation of the 2021 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro due to the coronavirus pandemic. Paes justified it, stating that holding the festivities requires great preparation on the part of public bodies, groups, and institutions linked to samba and that it's impossible to do at this time. In another statement, the Independent League of Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro agreed with the decision and clarified that the samba school parades in Marquês de SapucaÃÂ, which is postponed until the month of July, would only be held with the arrival of the vaccine and release from authorities.
- January 24: A small plane carrying some part of the Palmas Futebol e Regatas delegation crashes shortly after takeoff in Palmas, Tocantins, killing four footballers, the club's president, and the pilot.
- January 26: The Supreme Federal Court approves an investigation into the government's handling of the pandemic in Manaus.
- January 28: 400 religious leaders, including Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodists, demand the impeachment of President Bolsonaro for mismanagement of the pandemic. There are another 60 such demands pending in the Chamber of Deputies.
February
- February 1:
- Operation Car Wash ends with 174 convictions in Brazil, 12 current or former presidents implicated across Latin America, and $790 million returned to Brazil's public coffers, with nearly $2.8 billion more on the way.
- Rodrigo Pacheco (DEM/ MG) is elected president of the Federal Senate.
- Arthur Lira (PP/ AL) is elected president of the Chamber of Deputies.
- February 4: Vale S.A. agrees to pay 37.7 billion reals ($7.03 billion) to settle the January 2019 Brumadinho dam disaster, where 270 people died.
- February 10: The traditional Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is canceled with strict warnings against clandestine celebrations.
- February 12: São Paulo City Hall announces the cancellation of the 2021 carnival in the city, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Celebrations are initially postponed to take place between May and July.
- February 16: Federal deputy Daniel Silveira (PSL/RJ) is arrested, by decision of Minister of Justice Alexandre de Moraes, after publishing a video on social media insulting and threatening court ministers.
- February 19:
- President Bolsonaro prevents a truckersâ² strike by agreeing to a two-month delay on federal tariffs on diesel fuel.
- The last male member of the Juma people dies of COVID-19.
- February 20: Three videos broadcast by Telemundo, show elderly people in Petrópolis and Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, being injected by empty syringes rather than with the COVID-19 vaccine.
- February 22: Stock prices of Petrobras fall 21%, as investors worry that the appointment of General Joaquim Silva e Luna as head of the company means that economic decisions will be made based on politics.
- February 25: The Health Minister admits he mistakenly sent 76,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines destined for Amazonas state (population 4,000,000) to Amapá municipality (population 9,000). The two places are apart.
- February 26: The death toll in Brazil, due to the COVID-19 pandemic surpasses 250,000; second-highest in the world.
March
- March 2: The number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day reaches a new high of 1,641.
- March 4: The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimate that the Brazilian economy shrank by 4.1% in 2020, less than original estimates of 8%-9%. This would be the worst performance in decades.
- March 8:
- A child named Henry Borel is murdered in Barra da Tijuca, inside the apartment of his mother Monique Medeiros and his stepfather Jairo Souza, a councilor and doctor. Both are suspected of having caused his death.
- Edson Fachin, a judge from the Brazilian Supreme Court, nullifies all convictions of former president (2003-2010) Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in relation to Operation Car Wash. This restores his civil rights and making it possible for him to run for president in 2022.
- March 10: The number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day reaches a new high of 2,349.
- March 15:
- The Ministry of Health confirms the purchase of 138 million doses of the Sputnik, Pfizer and Janssen vaccines by the end of the year to combat COVID-19.
- President Jair Bolsonaro changes health minister for the fourth time, as cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga replaces Eduardo Pazuello in office.
- March 15-30: São Paulo suspends all religious and sporting activities, as the health services are overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases.
- March 16: A new record of 24-hour COVID-19 deaths is recorded in the country, with 2,340.
- March 23:
- Brazil records 3,251 deaths from COVID-19 in 24 hours, a new record.
- Marcelo Queiroga becomes the fourth Health Minister in the last year.
- The Second Panel of the STF decides, by 3 votes to 2, that former judge Sergio Moro acted partially when convicting former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the case of the Guarujá triplex.
- March 24: Brazil surpasses the mark of 300,000 deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- March 26:
- Brazil once again breaks its own record and records 3,600 deaths from COVID-19 in 24 hours.
- In an interview with Der Spiegel, former president Lula calls the COVID-19 pandemic the âÂÂbiggest genocideâ in Brazil's history.
- March 29
- According to the Minister of Communications, six ministers are relieved of their jobs, including Foreign Relations (Ernesto Araújo), Defense (Fernando Azevedo e Silva), Justice and Public Security (André Mendonça), Chief of Staff (Walter Souza Braga Netto), and Attorney General (José Levi do Amaral).
- According to reports from O Globo and Folha de S.Paulo, military commanders Edson Leal Pujol (army), Ilques Barbosa Junior (navy), and Antonio Carlos Moretti Bermudez (air force) meet to discuss their possible resignations.
- March 30: In a move considered unprecedented, following the dismissal of Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva the previous day, President Jair Bolsonaro precedes the resignation requests and dismisses the three heads of the Brazilian Armed Forces: Edson Leal Pujol (Army), Antonio Carlos Moretti Bermudez (Airforce), and Ilques Barbosa Junior (Navy).
April
May
June
- June 9:
- Protests break out in Lins de Vasconcelos after Afro-Brazilian influencer Kathlen Romeu is killed by a stray bullet in a police shootout.
- A manhunt begins for serial killer Lázaro Barbosa, who killed a family in the rural area of Ceilândia, in the Federal District. The task force brought together around 200 men from the Civil Police, Military Police, Federal Highway Police, and the Military Firefighters Corps.
- June 11:
- Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest increases by 67%. President Bolsonaro has not followed through on his April pledge to boost funding for environmental enforcement.
- During the 2021 United Nations Security Council Elections, Brazil is elected to a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, starting in 2022. It will mark the eleventh time Brazil has sat on the Security Council.
- June 23: Ricardo Salles leaves the Ministry of Environment. President Jair Bolsonaro nominates Joaquim Alvaro Pereira Leite to replace him.
- June 28: After 20 days of searching, serial killer Lázaro Barbosa was arrested in Goiás after being shot by police. He was then taken by ambulance by police, but ended up dying shortly.
- June 30: A severe cold wave hits Brazil. The phenomenon is caused by a polar vortex, an extratropical cyclone, and the subtropical storm Raoni. Subsequently, 13 people die as a result of the weather event.
July
August
September
October
November
December
Culture
January
February
March
- March 1 - 456th anniversary of Rio de Janeiro.
- March 4 -
- The worsening of the pandemic of COVID-19 causes the ninth edition of the music festival Rock in Rio to be postponed to 2022.
- Globo postpones the telenovela Um Lugar ao Sol again and announces a replay of Empire to replace it.
- March 5 - Premiere of the TV program Dani-se on GNT.
- March 8 -
- Globo shows the TV special Falas Femininas.
- Premiere of the TV series Filhas de Eva on Globoplay.
- March 12 - DJ Bruno Martini releases his debut album, Original.
- March 13 - Rapper Djonga releases his fourth studio album, Nu.
- March 15 - The final episode of the telenovela A Mother's Love is shown on Globo.
- March 18 - Premiere of the movie Get the Goat on Netflix.
- March 22 - Premiere of the TV program Vem Pra Cá at SBT.
- March 23 - With the worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Globo once again interrupts the production of its dramaturgical works at Estúdios Globo.
- March 24 -
- Premiere of the talk show Posso Explicar at National Geographic.
- TV Cultura shows the TV special Nicette em 3 Atos, in honor of actress Nicette Bruno.
- March 30 â Premiere of the third season of the reality Pesadelo na Cozinha at Bandeirantes.
April
- April 15 â At the Latin America Music Awards, Anitta wins in the Favorite Artist - Female category.
- April 19 â Globo shows the TV special Falas da Terra.
- April 24 â Premiere of the reality show Mestres da Sabotagem at SBT.
- April 25 â Premiere of the third season from the reality show Canta Comigo on RecordTV.
- April 27 â Second season premiere of the TV show Minha Receita at Bandeirantes.
- April 28 -
- Launch of Te Amo Lá Fora, second studio album by singer Duda Beat.
- Lollapalooza Brazil is postponed again to the days March 25, 26 and 27, 2022.
- Premiere of the film Os Salafrários on Netflix.
- April 29 â Premiere of the documentary about singer and former Big Brother Brasil participant Karol Conká, A Vida Depois do Tombo on Globoplay.
May
- May 4 -
- Premiere of the TV series Onde Está Meu Coração on Globoplay.
- Globo changes the night program schedule and re-displays 220 Volts Especial de Fim de Ano in honor of comedian Paulo Gustavo, who died of complications from COVID-19 that same night.
- With 90.15% of the votes, makeup artist and lawyer Juliette Freire is the winner of the 21st edition of the popular reality show Big Brother Brasil.
- May 8 â Globo shows the TV special BBB - Dia 101.
- May 9 â Premiere of the fifth season of the reality show Power Couple Brasil on RecordTV.
- May 11 -
- Multishow broadcasts live the seventh day mass in memory of actor Paulo Gustavo, held at Cristo Redentor, in Rio de Janeiro.
- Premiere of the fifth season of the reality show No Limite on Globo.
- May 13 -
- Rádio Itatiaia is sold to businessman Rubens Menin.
- Premiere of O Caso Evandro, documentary about the murder of the boy Evandro, on Globoplay.
- May 17 â The telenovela Salve-se Quem Puder is shown again on Globo.
- May 19 â As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Globo postpones the premiere of the telenovela Quanto Mais Vida Melhor.
- May 20 â Launch of Passado & Presente, posthumous album by singer MC Kevin.
- May 24 â Because of the postponement of Quanto Mais Vida Melhor, Globo announces a repeat of the telenovela The Big Catch.
Sports
Deaths
January
- January 1: Cleonâncio Fonseca, 84, politician, Deputy (1987âÂÂ2007).
- January 2: Cléber Eduardo Arado, 48, footballer (Kyoto Purple Sanga, Coritiba); COVID-19.
- January 5:
- Bonifácio José Tamm de Andrada, 90, professor, lawyer and politician, Deputy (1979âÂÂ2019), complications from COVID-19.
- Brandãozinho, 90, footballer.
- January 7: Genival Lacerda, 89, forró singer; COVID-19.
- January 13:
- Eusébio Scheid, 88, Roman Catholic cardinal, Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (2001âÂÂ2009); COVID-19.
- Maguito Vilela, 71, mayor (Movimento Democrático Brasileiro) of Goiânia, Goiás; lung failure related to COVID-19.
- January 19: José Alves, 86, footballer (Botafogo, Corinthians, América).
- January 24:
- Marcus Molinari, 23, footballer (Tupi, Ipatinga, Tupynambás) aviation accident.
- Lucas Meira, 32, football executive, president of Palmas Futebol e Regatas, aviation accident.
- Guilherme Noé, 28, footballer (Batatais, Rio Preto, Ipatinga), aviation accident.
- Ranule, 27, footballer (Atlético Itapemirim, Democrata, Resende), aviation accident.
- January 29: Roberto Fernando Frojuelo, 83, footballer (São Paulo, River Plate, Colo-Colo).
February
- February 2: Vera Nunes, 92, actress.
- February 3: Nilson Borges, 79, footballer (Portuguesa-SP, Atlético Paranaense).
- February 6:
- Zezinho Corrêa, 69, singer.
- Afonso Fioreze, 78, Coadjutor Bishop (2003âÂÂ2004) and Bishop (2004âÂÂ2017) of Roman Catholic Diocese of Luziânia.
- February 9:
- Ivan Izquierdo, 83, Argentine-born Brazilian neurobiologist; COVID-19.
- José Maranhão, 87, politician, Deputy (1983âÂÂ1994), Senator (2003âÂÂ2009, since 2015) and Governor of ParaÃÂba (1995âÂÂ2002, 2009âÂÂ2011); COVID-19.
- February 22: Laurindo Guizzardi, 86, Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Bagé (1982âÂÂ2001) and Roman Catholic Diocese of Foz do Iguaçu (2001âÂÂ2010).
March
- March 3:
- Sérgio Eduardo Castriani, 66, archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manaus (2012âÂÂ2019); sepsis.
- Ruy Scarpino, 59, football manager (Imperatriz, Ceará, Ituano); COVID-19.
- March 5: José Carlos da Silva Júnior, 94, businessman and politician, Senate of Brazil (1996âÂÂ1999) and vice-governor of ParaÃÂba (1983âÂÂ1986); COVID-19.
- March 7: Fabio Brunelli, 51, news anchor, journalist and writer; cancer.
- March 9:
- Léo Rosa, 37, actor (Vidas Opostas); testicular cancer.
- Adhemar Santillo, 81, politician, deputyà(1975âÂÂ1986) and mayor of Anápolis (1986âÂÂ1989, 1997âÂÂ2001); pulmonary embolism from COVID-19.
- March 10: Hélio Fernandes, 100, journalist.
- March 11: Mauro Aparecido dos Santos, 66, archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cascavel (since 2007); COVID-19.
- March 12: Ademar Frederico Duwe, 82, politician, Santa Catarina MLA (1987âÂÂ1991).
- March 13: Silvio Favero, 54, politician and lawyer, Mato Grosso MLA (since 2019); COVID-19.
- March 16: Gilmar Fubá, 45, footballer (Corinthians); bone marrow cancer.
- March 17: Helenês Cândido, 86, politician and lawyer, governor of Goiás (1998âÂÂ1999); COVID-19.
- March 18:
- Herzem Gusmão Pereira, 72, politician and journalist, mayor of Vitória da Conquista (since 2017) and Bahia MLA (2015âÂÂ2016); COVID-19.
- Major OlÃÂmpio, 58, politician, senator (since 2019), deputy (2015âÂÂ2019) and São Paulo MLA (2007âÂÂ2015); COVID-19.
- March 19: Irmão Lázaro, 54, councilman, gospel singer and former member of Olodum; COVID-19.
- March 24:
- Aécio de Borba, 89, politician, deputy (1983âÂÂ1995, 1997âÂÂ1998) and member of the Constituent Assembly; cardiac arrest.
- Haroldo Lima, 81, politician and anti-dictatorship activist, general director of the ANP (2005âÂÂ2011) and deputy (1983âÂÂ2003); COVID-19.
- March 27:
- Odirlei Pessoni, 38, Olympic bobsledder (2014, 2018); traffic collision.
- Paulo Stein, 73, journalist and sports announcer; COVID-19.
- March 30: Contardo Calligaris, 72, psychoanalyst, writer and columnist for the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo; Cancer.
- March 31: Carlos Pedro Zilli, 66, Brazilian-born Bissau-Guinean Roman Catholic prelate, bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Bafatá (since 2001); COVID-19.
April
- April 2: Jean Luc Rosat, 67, Olympic volleyball player (1976, 1980), complications from COVID-19.
- April 3:
- José Adauto Bezerra, 94, former governor of the state of Ceará (1975-1978); COVID-19.
- Agnaldo Timóteo, 84, singer, composer and politician; COVID-19.
- April 5: Robert de Almendra Freitas, 73, doctor and politician, mayor of José de Freitas (2005âÂÂ2010) and PiauàMLA (1987âÂÂ2003); COVID-19.
- April 6: Firmino Filho, 57, economist and academic, mayor of Teresina (1997âÂÂ2004, 2013âÂÂ2020) and PiauàMLA (2011âÂÂ2012).
- April 7: Alfredo Bosi, 84, literary critic, member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters; COVID-19.
- April 8: Roseli Machado, 52, Olympic long-distance runner (1996); COVID-19.
- April 9:
- Abdul Hamid Sebba, 86, lawyer and politician, Goiás MLA (1995âÂÂ2003); COVID-19.
- Rubens Recalcatti, 72, politician and lawyer.
- April 20: Ana Lúcia Menezes, 46, actress, voice actor (Alice in Wonderland, Pretty Little Liars) and dubbing director; Stroke.
- April 23: Levy Fidelix, 69, politician, founder and president of PRTB (Partido Renovador Trabalhista Brasileiro); COVID-19.
May
- May 4: Paulo Gustavo (Vai Que Cola, Minha Mãe é uma Peça), 42, actor and comedian; COVID-19.
- May 7: Cassiano, 77, singer and composer; COVID-19.
- May 15: Eva Wilma (Mulheres de Areia, A Indomada), 87, actress; Cancer.
- May 16: Bruno Covas, 41, mayor of São Paulo; Cancer.
- May 17: MC Kevin, 23, singer.
- May 23: Paulo Mendes da Rocha, 92, architect; Lung cancer.
July
September
- September 1: José Gonçalves Heleno, 93, Roman Catholic prelate, coadjutor bishop (1976âÂÂ1977) and bishop of Governador Valadares (1977âÂÂ2001)
- September 24: Ota, 67, cartoonist.
- September 26: José Freire Falcão, 95, Roman Catholic cardinal, bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (1967âÂÂ1971), archbishop of Teresina (1971âÂÂ1984) and BrasÃÂlia (1984âÂÂ2004), COVID-19.
November
See also
References
External links