Brazil projects a 22.6% increase in international tourist arrivals during Carnival

After registering a historic record of international tourists last year, reaching a total of 9,287,196 foreigners visiting Brazilian destinations, Brazil begins 2026 with indicators that reinforce the consolidation of the country as one of the most desired destinations in the world. Visit Brasil (Embratur), responsible for promoting the country as an international tourist destination, projects a 22.6% growth in the arrival of foreign tourists during Carnival this February.

The numbers show the continuation of a virtuous cycle driven by the expansion of air connectivity, the diversification of the tourism offer and a more qualified international strategy for promoting the destination, led by Visit Brasil. According to the president of Visit Brasil, Marcelo Freixo, the numbers confirm that the growth of international tourism in Brazil has ceased to be sporadic and has become structural.

“The record for 2025 and the positive projection for Carnival show that Brazil is definitely on the radar of international tourists. It's not just about a big event, but about a country that presents itself to the world with more connectivity, more diversity of destinations and experiences that resonate with what the global traveller is looking for today. Carnival is the period when Brazil is most Brazilian. The whole world is invited to experience the best of our culture and energy at the biggest party on the planet”, he says.

In 2025, foreign tourists visiting Brazil injected US$7.865 billion into the Brazilian economy. This represents a 7.1% increase compared to 2024, when the total was US$7.341 billion.

The biggest party on the planet

Carnival is one of the greatest symbols of Brazilian culture and one of the greatest cultural manifestations on the planet: music in sync with the heart, the summer heat touching the skin, and an explosion of colours everywhere. Suddenly, you are no longer just watching, but you are part of the spectacle. That is Carnival in Brazil. At this time of year, the streets transform into vibrant settings, crowds into one big family, and moments into eternal memories. It's when Brazilians and foreign tourists come together to experience an unforgettable journey.

Although the world knows the iconic images of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is a country of continental dimensions, and the celebration manifests itself in different ways in each region, with great celebrations also in Salvador (Bahia), Recife and Olinda (Pernambuco), and Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais), just to name a few.

It's a pluralistic festival, where tradition meets modernity, and the sacred mixes with the profane. In 2026, the official calendar is already set: from February 13th (Friday) to February 18th (Ash Wednesday). However, the pre-Carnival festivities began to heat up the streets as early as January. Arriving a little earlier guarantees an immersion into the technical rehearsals and local street parties with smaller crowds.

Fuente: Embratur.