Carnival in Brazil normally starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and finishes on Ash Wednesday itself, though in some places the celebrations tend to spill over until the following weekend. Most Brazilian offices and business close for the week of carnival in much the same way as companies in some other parts of the world close between Christmas and the New Year.
One of the traditional highlights of carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the parade of the top samba schools, always an extraordinary visual spectacle. This takes place on the Sunday and Monday nights along the purpose-built sambódromo on Avenida Marques de Sapucaí, close to the city centre. The parade is not just a celebration but also a competition in which the schools are judged according to various artistic criteria, the winning school being announced shortly after the end of carnival. The "champions' parade", an equally exuberant occasion featuring the highest placed schools, takes place on the following Saturday.
Organised by the League of Samba Schools and the Rio Tourist Board (RIOTUR), tickets for the parades can normally be reserved through most good tour operators. Tickets for the grandstand are priced at around £100 while a six-seater box will cost approximately £1,000 (£170 per head).
It is also possible to actually take part in the parade and dance with the samba schools. For more information, either contact the schools directly or contact one of the Latin American specialist tour operators, which are listed in the Tours & Cruises section of this site.
The dates of the parades in 2009 and 2010 are as follows:
- 2009: 22 - 23 February
- 2010: 14 - 15 February
The winning samba schools in recent years have been as follows:
- 2008: Beija-Flor
- 2007: Beija-Flor
- 2006: Vila Isabel
- 2005: Beija-Flor
- 2004: Beija-Flor
- 2003: Beija-Flor
- 2002: Mangueira
- 2001: Imperatriz Leopoldinense
- 2000: Imperatriz Leopoldinense
- 1999: Imperatriz Leopoldinense
- 1998: Mangueira
- 1997: Unidos do Viradouro
- 1996: Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel
Samba School links (in Portuguese)
Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel
Other Carnivals
Carnival is not just about Rio de Janeiro: it is celebrated, in a variety of styles, throughout Brazil. There are large-scale events in Salvador, Recife and Olinda, all of which attract a lot of visitors.