# Halleluya Festival

The Halleluya Festival is a Catholic music festival promoted by the Shalom Catholic Community, recognized as one of the largest events of its kind in Latin America. Held annually since 1997, its main edition takes place in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, attracting around 1.2 million people over five days, typically in July. The event combines performances by national and international Catholic artists with evangelization activities, sports, arts, and solidarity initiatives, and is free to the public.
In addition to Fortaleza, the Halleluya Festival is held in other Brazilian cities such as São Luís (Maranhão), Natal (Rio Grande do Norte), Teresina (Piauí), São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, as well as international editions during the World Youth Day (WYD) since 2013.

## History

The Halleluya Festival was established in 1997 by the Shalom Catholic Community in Fortaleza as part of its mission to evangelize young people through arts and music. The first edition began modestly but quickly gained popularity, becoming a landmark in youth evangelization in Brazil. By 2024, the Fortaleza edition reached its 27th event, solidifying its status as the leading festival of its kind in the country.
The festival expanded to other cities in the 2000s, with local editions adapted to regional contexts. Since 2013, it has also been part of the WYD program, held in cities such as Rio de Janeiro (2013), Kraków (2016), and Panama (2019), reaching an international audience. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the event adopted hybrid or virtual formats, returning to in-person events in 2022.

## Structure

The festival takes place in a large open-air arena, typically the Condomínio Espiritual Uirapuru (CEU) in Fortaleza, with free admission. Its structure includes several thematic spaces:
* Main Stage: Performances by artists such as Rosa de Saron, Adriana Arydes, and Missionário Shalom.
* Alternative Stage: Smaller and experimental shows.
* Adventure Space: Extreme activities like zip-lining, skateboarding, and biking tracks.
* Mercy Space: Confessions and spiritual counseling.
* Electronic Tent: Christian electronic music.
* Kids Space: Activities for children.
* Games Space: Electronic and interactive games.
Food stalls scattered throughout the venue help fund the event, which does not charge admission fees.

## Solidarity

Since 2008, the Halleluya Festival has partnered with **Hemoce** (Hematology and Hemotherapy Center of Ceará), promoting blood donation campaigns and bone marrow donor registration during the event. Additionally, it collects around three tons of non-perishable food per edition in Fortaleza, donated to Shalom Community social projects and underserved communities.

## Cultural Impact

The Halleluya Festival stands out for attracting diverse audiences, including young people from various musical styles and urban subcultures such as skaters and gamers, as well as caravans from rural Ceará. Sociologically, it is seen as an extension of the evangelizing charism of the Shalom Community, using contemporary youth culture to convey Christian values. The event also boosts the Brazilian Catholic music scene, promoting artists and bands on a national level.

## See Also

* Shalom Catholic Community
* Catholic Charismatic Renewal
* World Youth Day