Next: 5 to 9 Feb 2027
Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro
Four days of samba schools in the Sambadrome, street blocos, costumes and music before Lent.
When is Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro in 2027?
Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro 2027 runs from 5 to 9 February 2027. Other years: 2026, 13 to 17 February 2026; 2028, 25 to 29 February 2028.
About Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro
Carnaval in Brazil starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and is the country's biggest festival. In Rio de Janeiro, the main parades are held at the Sambadrome, where the samba schools, escolas de samba, from the city's neighbourhoods and favelas, each of them with thousands of members, parade with a theme, large floats, a drum section, the bateria, dancers and a song written for the year, and compete in front of judges. In the streets, blocos, neighbourhood groups, follow brass bands and sound trucks through the city, with crowds in costume, glitter and fantasias. The King Momo, a symbolic ruler, is handed the keys of the city. Salvador, Recife and Olinda have their own Carnavals, with trios elétricos and frevo. The feijoada is eaten the day after.
Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 to 17 February 2026 |
| 2027 | 5 to 9 February 2027 |
| 2028 | 25 to 29 February 2028 |
What is eaten
- feijoada
- caipirinha
- pastel
- acaraje
Traditions of Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro
Also part of it, and being written: Samba school (The community groups that parade.), Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí (The avenue-stadium of the parades.), Bloco (The street bands.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Carnival in Rio de Janeiro" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.