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Popular festival · Rio de Janeiro
The samba school parades at the Marquês de Sapucaí Sambadrome and the street blocos scattered around the city during Carnival days.
In the photo: Rio de Janeiro
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
In February or March, depending on the Carnival calendar, which changes each year with the date of Easter.
February/March
Dates change every year: check this year's date before you travel.
The festival
The Rio de Janeiro Carnival brings together two festivals in the same week. One is the samba school parade at the Marquês de Sapucaí Sambadrome in the city center, where each school presents its theme with a samba-enredo, floats, costumes, bateria, and thousands of members. The other is the street carnival, with blocos that take to the streets in various neighborhoods from morning until night.
The Grupo Especial schools, the top division, parade on the central nights of Carnival and compete for the title with judges’ scores. The Série Ouro schools parade earlier, in the first days. The results are announced on Ash Wednesday and, on the following Saturday, the top-ranked schools return to the avenue in the Desfile das Campeãs, without competition.
The technical rehearsals at the Sapucaí in the preceding weeks and the rehearsals at the schools’ quadras throughout the summer are also part of the calendar for those who follow samba.
To watch the parade, there are bleachers, frisas, and private boxes, sold in advance; the bleachers are divided into sectors, and each sector has its own view of the avenue. The Desfile das Campeãs is often a calmer way to see the standout schools.
The street blocos have schedules published by the city hall shortly before Carnival, with each bloco’s time and route. Use public transport: the metro usually has extended hours on parade nights.
This is the most sought-after period of the year in Rio de Janeiro. Book accommodation and travel well in advance and buy Sambadrome tickets from official channels as soon as sales open.
In the city
Flavors of Brazil
Your questions
In February or March. The date changes each year with Easter; check the official calendar for the year before buying tickets and travel.
It is the presentation, on the Saturday after Carnival, of the highest-ranked Grupo Especial samba schools. There is no competition: it is the champions’ celebration.
At the Marquês de Sapucaí Sambadrome, in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
Festivals and events in Brazil
JanuaryOn January 20, the day of the city’s patron saint, which is a municipal holiday in Rio de Janeiro.
The patron saint’s day in Rio de Janeiro, with masses and a procession that carries the saint’s image from Tijuca to the Metropolitan Cathedral in the city center.
May/JuneIn the days leading up to Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter; therefore it falls in May or June.
Paraty’s most traditional religious festival, with a novena, processions through the historic center, and a solemn Mass followed by a procession on Pentecost Sunday.
June/JulyBetween late June and early July, always including June 29, German Settler Day, a municipal holiday in Petrópolis.
Petrópolis’s German Settler festival, featuring traditional German food and beer, folk dance groups, and events around the Crystal Palace.
June/SeptemberEvery two years, in odd-numbered years; generally in September, sometimes in June. · Every two years
The major book fair of Rio de Janeiro held every two years, with publisher booths, author events, and programming for children and young people.
July/AugustOnce a year, between the second half of July and the beginning of August, during winter break.
The Sesc winter festival in the Mountain Region, with concerts, theater, dance and circus at Sesc Quitandinha, in Itaipava and other venues in Petrópolis.
July/AugustOnce a year, usually between July and August, for five days.
The literary festival that fills Paraty’s historic center with author talks, debates, and a parallel program spread throughout the town.
