Updated on Feb.25, 2012
One of the most dazzling celebrations on earth, Rio de Janeiro Carnival is a variegated festival made up of samba school parades on the Sambódromo, hundreds of street Carnival parades and parties with blocos, and Carnival balls.
Carnival season extends beyond the Saturday-to-Fat-Tuesday limits. Long before the holiday, samba schools start open rehearsals at their quadras, or headquarters, and, as Carnival approaches, launch their free technical rehearsals at Sambódromo. Street Carnival has a pre- and a post-Carnival season, and the tourist who arrives in Rio a couple of weeks before the festival or the weekend after it will find plenty of opportunities to parade (or "go out", in local lingo) with some of the city's best Carnival associations.
The growth of international tourism in Rio during Carnival is indicated by new records such as the one in Carnival 2012, when, according to Jornal do Brasil, an unprecedented 37 cruise ships anchored at Píer Mauá bringing 86,000 passengers to the celebrations.
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro requires early planning: about six months before the holiday, email the hotels or hostels you're considering for a stay and request the package rates, which usually consist of four nights.
Rio de Janeiro Carnival Parades on the Sambódromo
Most tourists associate Brazil Carnival with the parades on the Sambódromo - an experience anyone interested in Brazil Carnival deserves to live at least once.
- Special Group
Rio de Janeiro's main parades take place on Carnival Sunday and Monday; the top six winners parade again the Saturday after Carnival in what is known as the Champions' Parade. Ticket sales to the main parades usually start about three months before Carnival and tickets must be purchased in Rio de Janeiro, so make plans to get help from a Carnival ticket service, a tour agent in your country or a representative in Brazil such as your hotel or a receptive tour operator.
In 2012, the grand winners of the Special Group were Unidos da Tijuca - see photos of their parade on the Riotur Flickr.
See photos of previous Special Group champions: Beija-Flor (2011), Unidos da Tijuca (2010) and Salgueiro (2009).
- Access Group A Parade
In the highly competitive Sambódromo world, the Access Group A Parade is the next-to-best event. The top winner of this Carnival Saturday event is promoted to the Special Group every year, while the samba school placed last in the Special Group is demoted to this group which puts up quite a fantastic show every year - see some photos.
- Access Group B Parade
Great samba and a beautiful parade for a great price await the reveler on Sambódromo on Fat Tuesday.
- Children's Parade
A year of learning and growing in creativity leads up to this fantastic parade, the first official Carnival event at Sambódromo, on the Friday right before Carnival.
- Samba School Rehearsal Parades
Read about Rio's main samba schools rehearsals on the Sambódromo, free and a top attraction in Rio de Janeiro pre-Carnival.
Carnival Parties:
Carnival balls and galas go back a long way in the history of Rio de Janeiro Carnival.
- Bailes do Rio
A series of Carnival balls through Fat Tuesday, with Rio's official gala opening the city's festivities (in 2012, that gala was on Thursday, Feb.16).
- Carnival Ball at the Copacabana Palace
The most glamorous Carnival party in town takes place on Carnival Saturday.
- Carnival at Scala
Some of the city's best-known Carnival parties take place at Scala (now in Centro, and not in Leblon).
Rio de Janeiro Street Carnival by Day:
Every year, hundreds of blocos parade in the streets of Rio. Some are new associations; others have existed for decades. Each has its own story, atmosphere and loyal revelers who know what type of music and vibe they're going to find.
Street Carnival parades often change their parade places and schedule. The blocos featured in this guide will be updated as soon and as accurately as possible. You can keep up with the latest for all the blocos each Carnival on:
- Agenda Samba e Choro
- The official Rio de Janeiro Guide by Riotur
Here are top picks for Rio de Janeiro street Carnival.
- Great Carnival Saturday Blocos 2012 (updated on Feb.12, 2012)
- Great Carnival Sunday Blocos (updated on Feb.17, 2012)
- Great Carnival Monday Blocos
- Best of Fat Tuesday Blocos
- Best of Post-Carnival Blocos
Profiles of Great Rio de Janeiro Blocos:
Some of the city's best blocos, listed below, are members of an association called Sebastiana - a great introduction to the Rio de Janeiro street Carnival. They also have some great parties, especially a costume ball.
- Bangalafumenga, Jardim Botânico
- Banda de Ipanema, Ipanema
- Barbas, Botafogo
- Bloco da Ansiedade, Laranjeiras
- Bloco de Segunda, Botafogo
- Bloco Virtual, Ipanema
- Cordão do Boitatá, Centro
- Cordão da Bola Preta, Centro
- Frevo Prato Misterioso, Centro
- Gigantes da Lira, Laranjeiras
- Imprensa Que Eu Gamo, Laranjeiras
- Me Esquece, Leblon
- Meu Bem, Volto Já, Leme/Copacabana
- Monobloco, Centro
- Quizomba, Lapa
- Simpatia é Quase Amor, Ipanema
- Spanta Neném, Lagoa
- Suvaco do Cristo
