Carnival in Rio de Janeiro: Local Tips, Blocos, Sambadrome & Survival Guide

Written by Gio · Reviewed by Gui

Either you are a 3-6-5-party person or more into good vibes and unforgettable moments, we’ve got you covered. This guide was written by locals who’ve been there, done that, so you can enjoy your best Carnival days in Rio too.

What to expect

Carnival is the biggest popular festival in Brazil, and in Rio it gets even bigger, so rest assured you can find your tribe and favorite way of celebrating it there. From the beautiful Samba Parades at Sambódromo Marquês de Sapucaí to partying on the crowded streets and beaches, or even go clubbing, Rio has it all. The only thing you'll have trouble finding is peace and quiet, but we are sure that's not what you're looking for if you're going there for Carnival ;)

Know Before You Go

This is the kind of trip you want to plan some things way in advance, since millions of people travel to Rio during this unique time (Brazilians and foreigners). Flights and accommodation can get quite expensive or completely unavailable if you don't book them as early as possible.

Dates:

Brazilian Carnival takes place annually, between the months of February and March, so always check the calendar of the year you want to go. The changing of dates happens because Carnival is a tradition linked to the Christian calendar.

Future Carnival Dates:

• 2026: from February 14th to 18th;
• 2027: from February 06th to 10th;
• 2028: from February 26th to March 01st;
• 2029: from February 10th to 14th;
• 2030: from March 02nd to 06th;
• 2031: from February 22nd to 26th.

In theory, Carnival officially starts on Friday and ends on Wednesday (Ash Wednesday), but in practice, the city keeps partying until the following Sunday. If you want more time in Rio, you can plan a 2-week trip to enjoy the previous week and the days after the official celebration too.

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Where to Stay:

the perfect place to stay is in Zona Sul (South Region). Most of the street parties will be happening around Ipanema and Copacabana. Another beautiful neighborhood option is Jardim Botânico, which also hosts a few street parties during Carnival. We wouldn’t generally recommend staying in the Central Region, especially for first-time visitors, as it can feel less safe at night. The street parties in there are easily accessible from Zona Sul by metro or by car.

What to Pack for Carnival in Rio

Carnival is a celebration where people show a lot of skin, wear costumes and be free. Enjoy it and express yourself the best way you can!

What to consider when packing for Carnival, besides our Rio Summer Packing List:

1. Sunscreen is a MUST: Brazilian Summer is intense, even on cloudy days you can get sunburned in Rio de Janeiro, so stay protected at all times when spending time outdoors.

2. Light, Colorful, Bright: on the street parties most people wear costumes, fun makeup, glitter and a lot of color. Because it will be very hot and you'll stay mostly under the sun, avoid wearing anything too heavy or warm.

3. Flip-flops, right place and right time: you can go almost anywhere in Havaianas (the famous Brazilian flip-flop brand), but for Carnival street parties it's a no-go. We highly recommend you wearing sneakers. First of all for safety reasons: people can accidentally step on your feet, you can lose them more easily, your feet are vulnerable to garbage or broken bottles. The other thing is that you'll probably walk and stand on your feet a lot, so you're better off wearing very comfortable footwear. This is also valid in case you go to the Carnival Parade at Sapucaí, because most people watch the event standing up.

4. Money pouch is essential, even better if waterproof in case of rain or an unexpected beer shower.

Phone Signal and Roaming Data Usage

It is very important to know that in overcrowded spaces, like most places during Carnival, your internet data will not be reliable due to traffic volume.

First of all, download the offline version of Rio's city map for emergency access in case your signal is too bad or your data pack ends. Most of the places don't offer WiFi so you'll constantly consume a lot of data while walking around or when ordering an Uber here and there.

Another important tip if you're going anywhere with a group, especially during Carnival and on the Blocos, is to have a clear, accessible meeting point. This way if anybody gets lost you'll know where to go to reunite, in case you can't contact them.

You can check more about SIM Cards in Brazil on this article.

Meeting Points (So You Don't Get Lost)

On the beach, a good meeting point would be “right in front of Posto number X”, e.g. the Posto 5 in Copacabana Beach is a very famous point between locals. For Blocos in Centro, try finding a visible store or food chain.

Don't choose anything too vague for a meeting point, like simply a park or a street, also don't choose anything that is moveable (e.g. "near the blue umbrella"). The more specific the better! It will probably be too crowded to search for somebody just guessing their approximate location, so be exact.

Flirting in Rio: Language and Communication

First of all: no, not every Brazilian will be open to flirting with you. In every moment be sure that people are able to express their consent, and in case they aren't, don't try anything.

Now, how can you know if somebody is flirting with you? During parties Brazilians tend to be very direct about it, sometimes just locking eyes with you and smiling is a sign that they're interested and you can approach them. From there, you could just make a compliment like “Oi, você é muito gata/gato” (”Hi, you're very beautiful/handsome”) then ask "Me beija?” ("Kiss me?").

Another way of asking for a kiss is simply saying the verbs “Bora?” or "Vamo?” ("Let's go?"). They are both very informal ways to flirt so only use them if you're very sure the answer will be positive.

If you want to know their name you can say “Qual o seu nome?", and if you want to have their contact you can say "Qual o seu Whatsapp/Instagram?”. This "Qual o seu…” in both sentences translates to “What is your…".

Getting Around the City

Ubering in Brazil is very affordable and one of the safest ways of exploring major cities like Rio. Although very charming, we don’t recommend grabbing the yellow taxis off the street in Rio because pricing and routes aren’t always transparent, especially for visitors.

Taking the Metro in Rio:

During Carnival the metro will surely be very, very crowded, but it is the only traffic-free option, and it can be fun. You will only be able to access the transport these days with a prepaid metro card or using contactless payment. Besides, Carnival metro schedules change every year, so always check MetroRio’s website.

Normal Operating Hours:

Monday to Saturday: 5am to midnight.

Sundays and Holidays: 7am to 11pm.

MetroRio's Special Operating Hours Carnival 2026:

Fridays (January 23rd and 30th, February 6th): from 5am until 4am.

Saturdays (January 24th and 31st, February 7th): from 5am until 2:30am.

Sundays (January 25th, February 1st and 8th): from 7 am until 2:30 am.

Desfiles de Samba (Samba Parade) at Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí:

For us, this isn't just a festive competition. This is a political, historical and cultural masterclass. Many Escolas de Samba (Samba Schools) are organized by poor communities in Rio, so winning means pride, money, and respect for their whole neighborhood.

Locals don’t just watch it. We scream, sing their Samba-enredos (the theme songs), we argue about scores, and complain about judges before the results are even out. Some free TV channels have live broadcasts of all the presentations and all Brazilians can comment about it online in the following days, so a great way to make conversation with the locals is asking one's opinion on the parade.

The Desfile do Grupo Especial (Special Group Parade) are the presentations of the top-tier Samba Schools of Rio. It always happens on Carnival Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. On these days, the most famous Samba Schools perform with extravagant costumes and Carros Alegóricos (decorated floats) that can reach up to 15 meters (about 49 feet). It is the most unique experience in Rio: you'll never forget the amazement you'll feel when listening to the drumming band, or looking at the elegant flag bearer and her proud escort carrying their School's symbols.

On Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) the Samba Schools are judged on 9 categories, including: Drumming Band, Samba Song, Harmony, Floats and Props, Flow and Movement, Costumes, Front Commission, Flag Bearer and Escort, and Theme Development. The said judges are located at various points of the Samba runway and give their scores on a scale of 9 to 10 (10 being the highest).

We recommend as well going on the next Saturday to the Desfile das Campeãs (Victorious Parade), because then you'll only watch the Samba Schools that got the best scores on the competition in that year. The tickets are cheaper and easier to buy, because most people prefer going during the official Carnival dates, but the energy is still amazing and you'll feel the pride of every single participant and supporter.

Our favorite Samba School is GRES Portela, if you want to watch previous parades on Youtube!

Tickets to Watch the Carnival Parade in Rio

The tickets to attend the Sambódromo (Sambadrome) are available on Ticketmaster, divided into 4 different categories:

• Arquibancadas (Grandstands): where you'll have the best views, the best vibes, and the most authentic way of experiencing the parade. The best visibility tickets are between sections number 4 until 11. Sector 9, known as the Star Sector, is the only that features numbered seating, causing the tickets to sell out fast. In the other grandstands sections you'll have to stand up for hours, so be prepared.

  Who is it for: energetic people who don’t mind standing up for hours if they’re having a good time.

• Cadeiras Numeradas (Allocated Chair): this is your spot if you prioritize comfort and a stress-free arrival to your designed spot. However, because it is located on Sector 12 (almost the end of the runway), the visibility may not be the best.

  Who is it for: people who don’t mind exchanging a bit of visibility for more comfort during the party.

• Frisas (Front Boxes) located at ground level just a few steps away from the runway, these tickets offer the most immersive experience for you. For the most intense immersion, choose Rows A or B. For a broader, panoramic view, opt for Rows C or D.

  Who is it for: people who want to feel like they’re on the runway with the Schools, the drumming on their chest and every detail of the parades.

• Camarotes (VIP Lounges): you won't be too close to the runway as in the Frisas, instead you'll experience the perfect blend of sophistication and rhythm in a lounge with open bar, live DJs and Samba, with great panoramic views.

  Who is it for: people whose budget is not a problem when they’re having the time of their lives, as they want the best experience possible.

Blocos de Carnaval (Street Parties): The Local's Gem

This is our favorite way of enjoying the Carnival. The streets are full of music, life, color and beautiful people in costumes. When we say full, it's FULL! One single Bloco can gather more than half a million people on the street.

Early Birds vs Night Owls:

Ok, this will sound a bit weird but… most of the best Blocos start really early in the morning, usually around 7 to 9 am. Be ready to start the party early; it's safer, because people have just started drinking. Also you’ll have a lot more fun, since many Blocos stop playing music in the afternoon.

During the night, if you're still up for partying, the best option is to go to a private event, club or bar.

Some Bloco Suggestions for Finding Your Tribe

Traditional Blocos:

• Banda de Ipanema: this is our personal favorite! Inclusive, chaotic in the best way, and very Carioca;

• Bloco das Carmelitas;

• Cordão da Bola Preta;

• Suvaco do Cristo;

• Simpatia é Quase Amor;

• Monobloco;

• Me Enterra na Quarta: one of the only ones that occur on Ash Wednesday, its name translates to “Bury me on Wednesday”.

Queer Blocos:

• Bloconcé (Beyoncé in Samba rhythm);

• New Kids on the Bloco (Pop/electronic, very fun!);

• Bloco da Anitta: Anitta is the most famous Brazilian pop/funk/reggaeton star. This is one of the biggest Blocos in town, and for us a bit overwhelming;

• Agrada Gregos;

• Bloco CarnaPride;

• Divinas Tretas (one of the oldest in the category).

Family-friendly:

• Banda Fanfarrinha;

• Largo do Machadinho, Mas Não Largo do Suquinho (this one is cute and in a peaceful neighborhood);

• Banda do Lidinho Copacabana (very traditional among parents);

• Bloco Pega Rex (also pet-friendly!).

Themed Blocos:

• Sargento Pimenta: The Beatles in Samba rhythm, another personal favorite!;

• Summereletrobloco (Pop/electronic);

• Orquestra Voadora: street party mixed with Circus Parade, super fun and also very traditional;

• Desliga da Justiça: Geek bloco, everybody dressed in superheroes costumes or as pop culture references;

• Chora me Liga (Brazilian Sertanejo songs);

• Não Monogamia Gostoso Demais (for non-monogamy enthusiasts).

You can download the app Blocos do Rio for the dates, time and location of the Blocos for 2026, or access the municipality's webpage dedicated to the MegaBlocos in the city.

That’s all for now. We hope this guide helps you enjoy Carnival the way locals do: with joy, respect, and unforgettable memories. Have the time of your life in Rio!