Brazil welcomed 300,000 international tourists during Carnival 2026

The land of samba, drumming and smiles that transcend borders has shown that Carnival is a celebration, an identity, a living culture, and a spectacle that transforms streets into stages and the country into a showcase for the world. In 2026, this power translated into impressive numbers and consolidated Brazil as one of the most desired destinations on the planet.

During the Carnival period, the country welcomed 300,000 foreign visitors, a 17% increase compared to 2025. This figure represents about 30% of all international travel for an entire month concentrated in just seven days.

The economic impact was also significant. The revenue generated by international tourists during Carnival 2026 reached almost US$186 million throughout Brazil.

Embratur’s President Marcelo Freixo assures that the numbers confirm the strengthening of the country's image abroad. “We are reaping the rewards of an active international promotion policy. Carnival is our greatest cultural showcase, and today it is also consolidating itself as a strategic engine for generating revenue, jobs, and development. The world has once again chosen Brazil”, stated Freixo.

Diversity

Of the 300,000 foreign tourists who came to Brazil for the festivities, 110,000 had Rio de Janeiro as their destination. This number represents 36% of all international arrivals during the period. In practice, this means that four out of every ten international tourists who chose Brazil for Carnival had Rio as their destination.

Compared to 2025, the Marvellous City registered a 9% growth in international tourism during Carnival, consolidating itself as the country's main gateway during this period. In economic terms, approximately US$67 million was generated in the capital solely from the spending of foreign tourists.

In addition to Rio de Janeiro's leading role, other Brazilian states also registered a significant flow of foreign tourists during Carnival. São Paulo appears next, with approximately 23.5% of the total international tourists.

Of these numbers, Bahia received about 7.5% foreign tourists, while Pernambuco accounted for 4.9% of arrivals from other countries. Minas Gerais registered 1.5% of foreigners during the period, and 26.6% of tourists chose different destinations throughout the country, reinforcing the diversity of Brazilian Carnival.

As Marcelo Freixo explains, the success of 2026 is a result of the effectiveness of active policies promoting the Brazil brand, which uses cultural diversity and nature as pillars to attract more and more visitors and strengthen the economy through tourism.

Source: EMBRATUR