Music, fashion and visual arts expanded the CASACOR Bahia 2026 program and reinforced Salvador's cultural power
Submitted at Sep 11, 2026, 10:00 AM
Pedro Chezzi | Chezzi Interiores - Ressonar. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Denilson Machado, do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)
CASACOR Bahia 2026 came to an end last Sunday (6), but the legacy reinforced by the showcase is undeniable: the power of uniting different forms of cultural expression in Salvador (BA). The event is traditionally known as the largest showcase of architecture, design, and landscaping in the Americas, but it decided to go beyond and prove that these languages work even better when combined with visual arts, music, and even fashion.
Dayse Pellegrini e Michele Wharton - Lounge Entre Camadas. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Bia Nauiack/CASACOR)
Several events were held throughout the two months of the 32nd edition of CASACOR Bahia. "The initiative arose from the strategic intention of transforming the showcase into a meeting point and a living cultural hub in Salvador. The perception that living well goes beyond physical space drove the inclusion of art, fashion, and music as fundamental pillars of lifestyle, identity, and cultural expression", says Magali Santana, director of CASACOR Bahia.
Starting with the musical program, CASACOR Bahia brought together shows by several female names from the Bahian scene during the month of August. Among them were: Larissa Luz, Illy, Sambaiana, and Amy Reggaehouse, a tribute to British singer Amy Winehouse conceived by singer Clariana. All performances were included in the showcase ticket and could be enjoyed alongside visits to the 46 projects designed by the architects, designers, and landscapers of the cast.
The presence of fashion at CASACOR Bahia began with the Meninos Rei store, designed by Augusto Senna, and continued with the "Knowledge that Becomes Trend" fashion show. There were 20 creations produced from training processes and mentorships of the Bahia Craftsmanship Qualification Program – conducted by names such as Acredite no Seu Axé, by Isa Silva, Mãos de Mãe and Elis Cardim, in addition to Meninos Rei itself.
Augusto Senna - Lounge Meninos Rei. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Camila Santos/CASACOR)
"CASACOR Bahia takes the lead when it presents fashion as a tool for transformation and understands that architecture is closely linked to fashion. Last year, we held a fashion show that paid tribute to Preta Gil and Gilberto Gil. This year, the soundtrack was dedicated to Gal Costa", says Carlos Cruz, creative director of the show and CEO of the Periferia do Futuro Institute.
The raw materials and techniques used focused on sustainability and the appreciation of Bahian handmade work. One of the pillars of Carlos Cruz's work also involved ancestry, with strong representation of Black and peripheral youth in the fashion show.
The hallways of Casa Nossa Senhora das Mercês, which housed CASACOR Bahia in 2025 and 2026, were also great examples of the showcase's cultural multiplicity. They were filled with no less than 190 works of art signed by Bahian artists. Curated by Ernesto Bitencourt and Wesley Lemos, the project is part of the Panorama of Modern and Contemporary Bahian Art program and aimed to transform passage areas into places of permanence, in tune with the theme Mind and Heart.
Wesley Lemos - Galeria de Arte Ernesto Bitencourt | Aurelino dos Santos. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Denilson Machado, do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)
"For three years, culture and art have been instruments of entertainment, art, and education at CASACOR Bahia. This time, we wanted to show who the true artists are that built the modernist and contemporary pillars of Bahia," explains Wesley Lemos in reference to works by artists such as Almandrade, Mario Cravo, Carybé and Genaro de Carvalho and others.
Wesley Lemos - Galeria de Arte Ernesto Bitencourt | Aurelino dos Santos. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Denilson Machado, do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)
The great highlight in the artistic realm of CASACOR Bahia 2026 was the unprecedented opening of the cloister of the former convent to house the Aurelino dos Santos Gallery. The space pays tribute to one of the great masters of visual arts and self-taught Bahian production, who passed away earlier this year. Read more about Aurelino dos Santos' trajectory here.
By bringing together different expressions surrounding architecture, CASACOR Bahia 2026 closed its 32nd edition reinforcing a relationship that runs through Salvador's own cultural identity. More than featuring music, fashion, and visual arts in its programming, the show opened space for these languages to dialogue with one another, bringing together creators, audiences and different generations of Bahian production.
Vitor Martins Arquitetura - Loja Artesanato da Bahia. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Bia Nauiack/CASACOR)
In the words of Magali Santana, the union of these languages allowed for a complete cultural experience. "These four strands share the same essence: the ability to translate behaviors, emotions, and narratives of the time. When united, they create a complete atmosphere where the visitor not only observes a space, but feels and experiences culture in its entirety."
Augusto Senna - Lounge Meninos Rei. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Camila Santos/CASACOR)
In turn, Carlos Cruz quotes Gilberto Gil when talking about the cultural mix. "Gilberto Gil is spot-on when he says that culture is like rice and beans and needs to be on the people's plate. To me, all art is combined. I believe that all art tools are interconnected," he concludes.
