The conversation around company culture often feels confined to boardrooms and strategic plans. But one Portuguese entrepreneur, Fernando Gaspar Barros, decided to build a culture not through policy, but through a global, pulsating movement.
His creation, Brands Like Bands, isn’t simply a festival; it’s the world’s only music event exclusively for bands formed *within* companies. In 2026, it embarks on its most ambitious chapter yet, with a significant expansion into the vibrant landscape of Brazil.
The idea blossomed from a simple observation: countless professionals harbor hidden musical talents. Engineers, consultants, bankers, and developers – colleagues by day, bandmates by night – are given a platform to reveal a different facet of themselves.
Barros’s vision was shaped by his experiences at Microsoft, where he spearheaded cultural initiatives, including collaborations with Abbey Road Studios. He came to believe that creativity isn’t separate from business, but fundamentally woven into its success.
In 2026, Brands Like Bands will journey across seven countries and eight cities, including Porto, Lisbon, São Paulo, Florence, Barcelona, Berlin, London, and Oulu. This isn’t just a tour; it’s a deliberate expansion of a unique concept.
Brazil represents a pivotal moment in the festival’s global growth. The country’s deeply ingrained musical heritage, coupled with its thriving corporate world, creates an ideal environment for the festival’s core mission.
The arrival in São Paulo isn’t merely adding another city to the map. It’s about integrating into a culture where music isn’t a pastime, but a way of life, where the idea of workplace bands feels instinctively right.
Brands Like Bands isn’t simply exporting a format to Brazil; it’s becoming part of a dynamic cultural tapestry already rich with rhythm, collaboration, and self-expression.
The festival fundamentally challenges conventional approaches to workplace engagement. It moves beyond the confines of office-based team-building, offering a powerful, shared emotional experience on stage.
Over the years, Brands Like Bands has shared the stage with global icons like Muse, Duran Duran, and Post Malone, even appearing at the legendary Rock in Rio. These moments demonstrate that corporate musicianship can rival mainstream talent.
However, the true impact extends far beyond the spotlight. The festival fosters connections that transcend professional roles. Stories emerge of participants meeting at the event and later returning as families, a testament to the power of creativity to forge genuine human bonds.
This expansion into Brazil arrives at a crucial time, as companies worldwide re-evaluate how to engage employees and cultivate meaningful cultures. In an era of hybrid work, shared creative experiences are becoming increasingly valuable.
Brazil provides fertile ground for this vision. Its strong emphasis on community, music, and collaboration offers the perfect ecosystem for Brands Like Bands to flourish – not just as an event, but as a genuine movement.
For Brazilian companies, the festival presents a unique opportunity: a way to strengthen internal culture, unlock creativity, and connect employees through a profoundly human experience.
