Our Lady of Aparecida Novena 2026: how to choose a day, Mass and celebration

The 2026 Novena and Feast of Our Lady of Aparecida takes place at the National Shrine of Aparecida from October 3 to 12. For visitors choosing the best day, the most useful split is straightforward: October 3 through 11 covers the nine-day novena, with the Afternoon Novena at 3:00 p.m. and the Solemn Novena at 7:00 p.m.; on October 12, the Solemnity of Our Lady of Aparecida, the schedule changes and focuses on Masses and celebrations specific to the feast day. The schedule below was checked on September 17, 2026 on the Shrine's official page.

How to choose a day in a few steps

• Want to attend the novena? Choose any date from October 3 to 11 and decide between the 3:00 p.m. service and the 7:00 p.m. Solemn Novena.
• Want to combine the novena and Mass on the same day? Masses are scheduled before and after the main novena times; the table below shows the options for each date.
• Want to experience the October 12 solemnity? Set that day aside for the Patroness's own schedule, including the Solemn Mass at 9:00 a.m., Solemn Consecration at 3:00 p.m. and Solemn Procession at 7:30 p.m.
• Interested in a specific activity? The calendar includes a bicycle ride on October 3, a motorcade on October 7, the Patroness Festival on October 9, and the Memory Procession and Marian Vigil on October 11.
• Following from home? The Shrine states that live coverage will be provided by the Rede Aparecida communication network. Viewers can use the National Shrine live page and TV Aparecida live.

Quick Mass and novena schedule

What is the practical difference between choosing a Mass and choosing the novena?

Mass and the novena are not the same type of celebration. For planning purposes, start with the purpose of your visit. If your priority is the Eucharist, choose one of the Mass times. If your goal is to follow the nine-day devotional journey, choose the Afternoon Novena or the Solemn Novena. Visitors with more time can combine both experiences on the same day, allowing extra time for walking, meals and movement around the Shrine complex.

On weekdays from October 5 to 9, the Mass schedule is especially regular: 6:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m., in addition to the novenas at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. On Saturdays, October 3 and 10, the first listed Mass is at 6:00 a.m. On Sundays, October 4 and 11, the first Mass is at 5:30 a.m.

If you want to choose by the spiritual theme of each day

The overall theme for 2026 is “With Mary, in community, know and practice the Word”. The proposal is connected to the conclusion of the Shrine's Biblical Journey, an eight-year project intended to bring devotees closer to Sacred Scripture. Each day has its own focus:

1. Oct. 3: take part in salvation history through the Word of God.
2. Oct. 4: care for life and our common home.
3. Oct. 5: build peace and unity through reconciliation.
4. Oct. 6: contemplate redemption through the Word made flesh.
5. Oct. 7: carry the Rosary and the Bible in hand and heart.
6. Oct. 8: live popular piety illuminated by the Word of God.
7. Oct. 9: live fraternity gathered by the Word and the bread of life.
8. Oct. 10: practice social justice as a commitment to love and peace.
9. Oct. 11: conclude the Biblical Journey with a call to evangelization.

What changes on October 12

The Patroness's feast day has its own sequence. The Marian Vigil extends into the early morning; the program lists Masses at 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., the Solemn Mass at 9:00 a.m., Children's Mass at noon, Masses at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the Solemn Consecration at 3:00 p.m. in the Historic Basilica, the closing Mass at 6:00 p.m. and the Solemn Procession at 7:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks display. If you plan to attend only one celebration, first decide what kind of moment you want to experience and then organize your arrival and departure.

Two event times should be checked again

The official communication currently contains internal differences for two events. For the October 7 motorcade, the main program shows a 3:30 p.m. gathering and a 4:00 p.m. motorcade, while the cultural program article gives a 4:30 p.m. departure. For the October 9 Patroness Festival, the daily schedule shows 8:45 p.m., while another section of the page and the cultural article state 8:55 p.m. If your travel plans depend on either event, check the official schedule again close to the date.

How to follow remotely

Those who cannot be in Aparecida can follow the program through Rede Aparecida. The official page points to live coverage and provides access to the National Shrine live page, with cameras in different areas, as well as TV Aparecida live. Since the broadcast lineup may feature selected celebrations, check on the day whether your chosen event is identified as available for live viewing.

Checklist before finalizing your plan

• Choose a date from October 3 to 11 if the novena is your priority, or October 12 if the Patroness's solemnity is your priority.
• Decide whether you want Mass, the Afternoon Novena, the Solemn Novena or a combination.
• If a cultural event or procession is part of your plan, reconfirm its time on the official page.
• For remote participation, open the live channel in advance and check the broadcast listed for that celebration.
• The Shrine may update the program. Use this schedule as a planning guide and the official source as your final confirmation.

Official sources

• National Shrine: 2026 Novena and Feast of the Patroness, official schedule.
• National Shrine: cultural program for the 2026 Feast of the Patroness.
• A12: National Shrine live.
• A12: TV Aparecida live.