Which city replaced Rio de Janeiro as Brazil's capital in 1960?

The city that replaced Rio de Janeiro as Brazil’s capital in 1960 was Brasília. The official transfer took place on 21 April 1960 during President Juscelino Kubitschek’s administration.

Brasília was built on Brazil’s central plateau as a planned inland capital. Moving the national government away from the Atlantic coast was intended to encourage interior development, strengthen national integration and reduce the political and economic concentration around Rio de Janeiro.

Urban planner Lúcio Costa created Brasília’s famous Pilot Plan, often described as resembling an airplane or a bird from above. Architect Oscar Niemeyer designed many of its monumental government buildings, including the National Congress, the Supreme Federal Court and the Cathedral of Brasília.

Rio de Janeiro remained a major cultural and economic centre after the move, but it ceased to be Brazil’s national capital. Salvador had been Brazil’s first capital until 1763, when the capital moved to Rio.