Carnival, discover the magic of the biggest popular festival in the world!

Welcome to the grandest and most vibrant spectacle in Brazil: Carnival! A celebration of grand proportions that warmly welcomes visitors from all over, providing them with an unforgettable immersion in the cultural richness of Brazil. Discover the origins of this party that is intertwined with the country’s history, the diversity of rhythms that drive it and the unmissable destinations where this magic happens.

Brazilian Carnival has its roots in the colonial period, being a legacy of European Carnival festivities. Brazilians, however, left their mark by incorporating elements of African culture, resulting in a incomparable celebration. In the 20th century, Carnival expanded even further in Brazil, embracing a diversity of forms and rhythms, from the iconic samba to the vibrant axé, frevo and maracatu. Samba schools, street blocks, dances and electric trios offer a variety of options for revelers to immerse themselves in the festive days.

Rio de Janeiro, unquestionably, is the epicenter of one of the most iconic Carnivals in the country. Rio’s street Carnival is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest in the world, attracting approximately two million revelers per day to follow the blocks. Meanwhile, the Sambódromo of Marquês de Sapucaí serves as the official stage for the annual parade of Rio’s samba schools. This grand spectacle involves each school performing according to a specific plot, delighting both the audience and the judges.

São Paulo is not far behind, standing out both in the street blocks and in the samba school parades. The metropolis attracts more and more tourists, providing them with a vibrant experience during festival days. In other regions, the rhythm of Carnival takes on different nuances. Salvador, for example, is the stage for Afro groups such as Ilê and Olodum, the latter recognized as Bahia’s cultural heritage, which bring African traditions to the center of the festival. The electric trios take to the streets of Salvador with axé and the public follows the trio through the city’s circuits. In Recife and Olinda, frevo and maracatu infect revelers who celebrate in both cities.

Wearing colorful and fun masks and costumes is an essential part of Brazilian Carnival. It is the moment when creativity comes to the fore and everyone is invited to have fun, creating an atmosphere of contagious joy that resonates throughout the country. Brazilian Carnival is more than a party; It is a unique experience, a celebration of culture, diversity and passion that beats in the heart of Brazil. Come be part of this unique party!

When and where does it happen?

Brazilian Carnival takes place annually, between the months of February and March, 47 days before Easter, culminating in an intense week of celebrations before Ash Wednesday in many Brazilian cities. However, in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife, Olinda, Belo Horizonte, and São Paulo this popular festival attracts thousands of tourists from all over Brazil and the world, revealing its grandeur and the power of Brazilian culture.

Festivities

Programações e Atrações

The street Carnival and the Samba School parades in Rio and São Paulo:

The parades are spectacles of colors, music, and creativity, with samba schools competing in categories such as evolution, plot, samba-enredo, costumes and allegories. A grand spectacle that mixes dance, music, and art. However, the Carnival revelry is completed with the street blocks where the spontaneity, irreverence and musicality that characterize this genuinely Brazilian popular festival reign.

Electric Trios, cabins, and beauty of the Afro blocks in the capital of Bahia:

In Salvador, the Electric Trios and Carnival Blocks bring together the greatest artists of Brazilian popular music who, with a live musical performance, excite the crowd in a relaxed and participatory experience. This city has a strong influence of Afro culture in the formation of its identities and the world-renowned Afro groups, such as Os Filhos de Gandhy, Olodum and Ilê Ayê, perform on the city’s streets, celebrating the African heritage that inspires, beautifies, and enhances Carnival celebrations across the country. For those who want to observe the festivities, the Carnival in this destination offers the option of cabins. With increasingly diversified services and musical offerings, these are structures adjacent to the festival circuits, rented to revelers, from where they can follow the passage of the trios and have fun with the attractions within a private space that contrasts with the experience of the streets.

The Largest Carnival Group in the World:

In Recife, Galo da Madrugada (the largest Carnival group in the world) performs, attracting millions of people throughout the city of Recife. The tradition of caboclinho, coco, frevo and maracatu (traditional rhythms of the region) also enchants, carrying everyone with its contagious energy. This multicultural Carnival also shows its Afro influence through music, afoxés and the ceremony of religious syncretism, the night of silent drums, which brings together maracatus from Pernambuco, to praise the Virgin of the Rosary, patron saint of black people. The historic and charming city of Olinda, a destination next to Recife, is known for the irreverence of its street blocks and the famous giant dolls that measure more than two meters tall and represent personalities from Brazilian politics and culture.

The recent explosion of the Belo Horizonte street Carnival

In recent years, Belo Horizonte’s Carnival has been growing and showing the strength of the culture and traditions of the State of Minas Gerais. More than 500 street blocks and millions of revelers take to the streets and famous slopes of Belo Horizonte. Irreverence, joy with hints of tradition and social criticism transformed this Carnival into one of the biggest street parties in the country. Attracting tourists from all parts of Brazil. In addition to having fun on the streets, you can discover the cuisine and architecture of this charming Brazilian destination.