Rio Carnival 2027 First-Timer's Guide: Dates, Parades, Tickets and Blocos
Rio Carnival 2027 runs from Friday, February 5 to Ash Wednesday, February 10, and the celebrations stretch into the following weekend. It has two halves: the ticketed samba school parades at the Sambadrome on February 7, 8 and 9, and the free street parties called blocos all over the city. Pick your Sambadrome night and ticket type first, then fill the days around it with blocos.
When is Rio Carnival 2027?
Carnival 2027 officially runs from Friday, February 5 to Wednesday, February 10. Carnival is a moveable feast tied to the Catholic calendar, so it starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and runs through Ash Wednesday itself. Rio the Guide notes that in most cities, Rio included, the celebrations now take over the whole week and the weekend after. One ticket seller frames the festival as February 5 to 13, 2027, which fits that longer window.
The dates change every year. Rio the Guide lists 2028 as February 25 to March 1, so do not reuse last year's trip plan.
Rio the Guide also points out that most offices and businesses close for the week of Carnival. Treat it as a week when the city is fully on holiday, and do not schedule errands or work calls in the middle of it.
What actually happens at Rio Carnival?
Rio Carnival is a citywide takeover with two main parts, not one parade. The Sambadrome parades are what most people picture. Samba schools roll through the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí with towering floats, elaborate costumes and thousands of dancers and drummers, in performances that run well into the early morning hours.
The other half is the blocos. These are free street parties that pop up across Rio during Carnival season. Some are small neighborhood gatherings. Others draw hundreds of thousands of people, and the very biggest megablocos can pass a million. Music trucks, brass bands or DJs move through the streets while the crowd dances along.
The Travelling Sloth traces the whole thing back to Entrudo, a chaotic street festival the Portuguese brought to Brazil, where people threw water and flour at each other. Afro-Brazilian communities then shaped it into the samba-driven celebration it is today. The first samba schools formed in Rio's neighborhoods in the 1920s and 1930s.
Which Sambadrome night should I pick?
Pick the night that has the schools you most want to see, because the 12 Grupo Especial schools parade over three nights, four per night. In 2027 those nights are Sunday, February 7, Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9. Rio the Guide lists the running order below. It is organized by the League of Samba Schools (LIESA).
| Night | Schools in parade order |
|---|---|
| Sunday, Feb 7, 2027 | União de Maricá, Beija-Flor de Nilópolis, Paraíso do Tuiuti, Unidos de Vila Isabel |
| Monday, Feb 8, 2027 | Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, Unidos da Tijuca, Acadêmicos do Salgueiro, Imperatriz Leopoldinense |
| Tuesday, Feb 9, 2027 | Portela, Unidos do Viradouro, Acadêmicos do Grande Rio, Estação Primeira de Mangueira |
Here is a simple way to choose:
- If the reigning champion matters to you, go Tuesday. Viradouro won 2026 with a perfect 270 points and a tribute to Mestre Ciça, who was taking part in his 55th parade. Viradouro parades on Tuesday in 2027.
- If you like a close race, the 2026 scores are worth a look. Beija-Flor and Vila Isabel finished at 269.9, just behind the winner, and both parade on Sunday in 2027.
- If you only have one night, choose by schools, not by the day of the week. Check the running order against the schools you have heard of or the sambas you have listened to.
- If you can do two or three nights, the parades are the anchor of the trip, so book those first and plan blocos around them.
Keep the late finish in mind. Because the parades run into the early morning, plan the next day as a slow one.
What are the Sambadrome ticket types, and how much do they cost?
The cheapest Sambadrome seats start at US$38, and the VIP options start at US$388. One ticket seller lists these types for 2027, and Rio the Guide notes that parade tickets can also be reserved in advance through LIESA and tour operators.
| Ticket type | Listed from | What it is | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandstands | US$38 | Large concrete bleachers with a great view of the parade, described as the most lively seats | You want energy and a crowd, and you are watching your budget |
| Allocated Chairs | US$68 | Assigned seats with a great view, only in Sector 12 of the Sambadrome | You want a guaranteed seat without paying for VIP |
| Front Box | See seller | Ground level, four rows of boxes, the closest seats to the runway | You want to see costumes and drummers up close |
| Folia Tropical | US$388 | Parade viewing plus a VIP club experience | You want to party and watch in the same place |
| Camarote Mar | US$388 | A central 360° parade perspective with comfort and elegance | You want comfort over crowd energy |
Prices are "from" figures and can change, so confirm the current price and sector before you pay. Whichever type you choose, check which sector it sits in, since the view and the atmosphere differ across the Sambadrome.
How do blocos work, and which ones should I go to?
Blocos are free, scheduled street parties, and you can look up when and where each one happens. The Travelling Sloth stresses that, despite their chaotic reputation, they are planned ahead, which helps a lot when you are working out how to get around.
Each bloco has its own vibe, music and theme. There are family-friendly ones, ones geared toward the LGBTQ+ community, live-music blocos and electronic ones. The same source suggests getting help from a local or a veteran bloco-goer to find the type that fits you.
A few ways to plan around them:
- Decide your style first. Do you want a few hundred people dancing in a neighborhood, or a megabloco with a crowd in the hundreds of thousands or more? They feel completely different.
- Build each day around one anchor. Pick one bloco per day and treat everything else as a bonus, because crowds make getting around slower.
- Check the schedule the day before. Since the lineups are published, look up the time and location of your bloco in advance.
- Keep your Sambadrome nights separate. With parades finishing in the early morning, do not stack a big morning bloco on top of a parade night unless you like running on no sleep.
Should I book a tour or go independently?
Go independently if you like controlling every detail, and consider a tour if you want logistics handled. A tour is not for every traveler, and it is a common choice for first-timers who want the parade and the blocos covered.
As one example, TruTravels offers a six-day Rio Carnival tour for 2027 from £1,995, which it describes as covering the Sambadrome and the blocos over the festival period. If you plan on your own, the building blocks are simple: pick your Sambadrome night and ticket type, reserve through LIESA or a reputable operator, then choose one bloco per day.
What should first-timers know before they go?
Expect intensity. The Travelling Sloth calls Rio Carnival a complete takeover of the city and warns that, without preparation, a first trip can feel overwhelming quickly. Use this checklist:
- Confirm the dates: Friday, February 5 to Wednesday, February 10, with the celebrations running into the following weekend
- Choose your Sambadrome night(s) from February 7, 8 and 9
- Choose a ticket type and check its sector
- Pick one bloco per day and note its time and location
- Leave the morning after a parade night open
- Read a Rio Carnival safety guide before you go, since the Travelling Sloth describes the festival as unforgettable but intense
FAQ
When is Rio Carnival in 2027?
Rio the Guide lists Carnival 2027 as February 5 to 10, running from the Friday before Ash Wednesday through Ash Wednesday. The main Sambadrome parades are on the nights of February 7, 8 and 9.
How many samba schools parade, and on which nights?
Twelve schools of the Grupo Especial parade over three nights, four per night, on Sunday, February 7, Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
How much are Rio Carnival Sambadrome tickets?
One ticket seller lists grandstand seats from US$38, allocated chairs in Sector 12 from US$68, and Folia Tropical and Camarote Mar from US$388. Front Box seats are the closest to the runway. Prices are "from" figures, so check the current price before you buy.
Are blocos free?
Yes. The Travelling Sloth describes blocos as free community events, from a few hundred people to over a million at a megabloco. They are scheduled in advance, so you can look up the time and location.
Who won Rio Carnival in 2026?
Unidos do Viradouro won with a perfect 270 points, with the theme "Pra Cima, Ciça" in tribute to Mestre Ciça. Beija-Flor and Vila Isabel followed with 269.9 each.
