With attractions for the most varied profiles, the expectation is for record attendance. The diversity of attractions should please revelers of all ages, which reinforces the importance of the Rio Carnival.
The street carnival begins on February 1 and transforms the streets of Rio into a grand stage of joy and tradition. In 2024, around 6 million people participated in the festivities across the city and the forecast for 2025 is that this figure will be surpassed, with more revelers joining the popular festivities.
In addition to the traditional blocos, the Special Carnival Group will hold three days of parades for the first time this year. In total, Marquês de Sapucaí will offer the public five consecutive days of events, starting on Friday, February 28, with the Special Group parades taking place from Sunday, March 2 to Tuesday, March 4. Four samba schools will perform each day of the Special Group at the Sambadrome. This helps tourists stay longer in Rio, both to watch the parades and to explore other attractions in the city. The success of the new format is evident: all tickets for the parades have been sold out since September 2024, leaving only the VIP boxes, or “camarotes”.
Another important novelty is the technical rehearsals, with two parades for each samba school. The second parade will have the same sound and lighting system that will be used in the official presentations, which guarantees quality and anticipates the experience for the public.
In addition to the Sambadrome and street parties, the city also hosts the Intendente Magalhães parade, a space in the northern part of Rio where smaller samba schools perform. Private parties and popular dances also boost the economy, generating direct and indirect jobs during the days of festivities. Carnival is an essential tool for promoting the city and attracting tourists.
Source: Embratur.