Last updated: November 2026
Rio Carnival 2027 runs from February 5 to 10, with the Sambadrome parades from February 5 to 9 and the Champions’ Parade on February 13. If you’re planning now, here’s what you need to know upfront: official grandstand tickets for the main parades, from Sunday to Tuesday, are sold out, but you can still get into the Sambadrome.
There are grandstand and front box seats for the Friday and Saturday parades, VIP boxes (camarotes) for every night, and packages for the main nights through tour operators. I explain every option below. You can also watch the samba schools for free at the technical rehearsals in January, and most of Carnival happens outside the avenue anyway, in the free street blocos.
I was born and raised in Rio, and I've lived Carnival from every angle: in the Sambadrome grandstands, front boxes and camarotes, in tiny neighborhood blocos and in the megablocos that take over Downtown. This guide is everything I'd tell a friend planning their first Carnival: when it happens, how the days unfold, which kind of Carnival fits you, and what to book first. Each topic has its own detailed guide, linked along the way.
Visiting outside Carnival? See my guide to where to stay in Rio de Janeiro.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Where to stay for Carnival 2027: Hotels quick pick
Ipanema Inn
Charming small property, steps from the metro and small Carnival blocos, with the beach just around the corner.
Windsor Florida Hotel
A central base in Flamengo, walking steps to the best blocos and metro to the Sambadrome.
Novotel RJ Praia de Botafogo
Mid-range hotel with metro access and easy connections to Carnival blocos.
For more hotel options and the best areas to stay, read where to stay in Rio during Carnival
When is Rio Carnival 2027?
Rio Carnival 2027 officially runs from Friday, February 5 through Ash Wednesday, February 10. The Sambadrome parades take five nights, from February 5 to 9, and the Champions’ Parade closes the season on Saturday, February 13. Carnival dates follow Easter, so they change every year.
The Special Group nights, from Sunday to Tuesday, are the most sought after. But if it’s your first Carnival and you don’t have a favorite samba school yet, the Friday and Saturday parades are just as spectacular, and tickets for those nights are still available. More details on tickets below.
February is the peak of Rio's summer: expect hot, humid days often above 30°C (high 80s–90s°F) and short, intense afternoon showers. For more on the weather and what else is happening that month, see my guide to Rio de Janeiro in February.
How to experience Rio Carnival: Sambadrome, blocos and parties
Rio Carnival is Brazil's biggest festival, and it happens in three layers at the same time: the samba school parades at the Sambadrome, the free street blocos, and the ticketed parties and balls. You can experience more than one, and each gives you a completely different Carnival.
The Sambadrome parades
The Carnival the world knows was born in the 1920s, when the first samba schools appeared in Rio's working-class neighborhoods. Their parades grew into a competition so big that the city built a stage just for it: the Sambadrome, designed by Oscar Niemeyer and opened in 1984.
Today each school parades with thousands of performers, giant floats and a full drum section, for over an hour. It's a ticketed show you watch from the stands, and it runs through the night.
This is the layer of Carnival that needs the most planning. Official tickets for the main parades, from Sunday to Tuesday, are sold out except for VIP boxes (camarotes), but you can still find grandstand and front box seats for the Friday and Saturday parades. I explain every option further down this post.
The street blocos
Alongside the Sambadrome, Rio has its street Carnival, made of blocos: free parties that move through the streets behind a band or a sound truck. Some traditional blocos have been parading for more than 50 years, and they're the most authentic expression of Rio's Carnival. Today more than 400 registered blocos draw millions of people across the city.
Some are tiny neighborhood gatherings, while the biggest ones, known as megablocos, pull hundreds of thousands of people through Downtown. Personally, I skip most megablocos and go for smaller blocos, where you can actually dance and hear the music. My street blocos guide explains how they work, which ones to choose and my personal favorites.
Carnival parties and balls
Carnival balls are the oldest layer of all, dating back to the 19th century. I grew up going to them, dressed up for the costume contests. Today they share the calendar with feijoadas, daytime parties built around Brazil's famous black bean stew, with live samba, indoors or on rooftops.
Private parties and balls are a good plan for a rainy night or a break from the street crowds. My guide to Carnival parties in Rio lists the ones worth your night.
Parties and balls are my favorite layer of Carnival: costumes and samba, without the street crowds.
Rio Carnival 2027 schedule, day by day
The official dates are only part of the story: Carnival in Rio starts weeks before and spills into the weekend after. Here's how the season unfolds, with my highlights for each day:
January: pre-Carnival
🎭 Sambadrome: free technical rehearsals by the samba schools - 23, 24 & 30, 31.
🎉 Blocos: pre-Carnival blocos every weekend.
More in my pre-Carnival guide
Friday and Saturday, February 5 - 6
🎭 Sambadrome: the Access Group parades with tickets available
🎉 Blocos: all over the city, day and night
Sunday - Tuesday, February 7 - 9
🎭 Sambadrome: Special Group parades, VIP boxes available
🎉 Blocos: the busiest days of street Carnival
Wednesday, February 10: Ash Wednesday
🎭 Sambadrome: results announced in the afternoon
Saturday, February 13: Champions' Parade
🎭 Sambadrome: the top-ranked schools parade one more time
🎉 Blocos: post-Carnival parades
For every party with tickets and details, see my guide to Carnival parties in Rio. For the full bloco schedule, my street blocos guide will help, and the Going to Rio Blocos App launches in January with every bloco and party by day and neighborhood.
Sambadrome tickets for Rio Carnival 2027
There are three ticket types at the Sambadrome. For the Special Group nights (Sunday to Tuesday), only VIP boxes are still available through official sellers, but for the Série Ouro parades on Friday and Saturday, February 5 and 6, you can still find grandstand and front box seats.
Grandstands (arquibancadas): the most affordable way in, from R$ 55 (~USD 10), with a wide view of the whole avenue. Sold out through official sellers for the Special Group (Sunday through Tuesday) nights, but still available for the Série Ouro parades on Friday and Saturday. Book through Ticketmaster.
Front boxes (frisas): small private boxes at ground level, at eye level with the performers. For the main nights, they’re sold out through official sellers, but there are still front boxes in sectors 12 and 13 for the parades on Friday and Saturday, February 5 and 6. Those sectors at the end of the avenue, but you’re still at ground level.
Book through Ticketmaster.
VIP boxes (camarotes): covered, all-inclusive spaces with open bar, food and round-trip transportation, from around USD 480. Still on sale, and the easiest option if you’re planning from abroad.
As for where to sit, aim for sectors 4 to 11, the stretch where the schools are judged and perform at their best. My personal pick, after years of watching from every type of seat, is a front box: ground level, closest to the spectacle, in a private space instead of a crowd. The trade-off is that they're uncovered, so rain is a real risk.
All official tickets are sold through Ticketmaster Brasil, which accepts international cards with no Brazilian CPF needed. For the full sector-by-sector breakdown and every camarote available, with prices, see my Sambadrome guide.
If you have your heart set on the Special Group parades from Sunday to Tuesday, you can still find grandstand tickets on Viator, usually sold as packages with round-trip transfers and at a higher price than the official one:
The Sambadrome's three seat types: front boxes (frisas) at ground level, VIP boxes (camarotes) on the second level and grandstands (arquibancadas) on top.
VIP Boxes available for Rio Carnival 2027
All official Rio Carnival tickets are sold through Ticketmaster Brasil with international cards accepted and no Brazilian CPF (Tax ID number) needed.
As of October 2026, VIP boxes are still available. These are my picks, all in sectors 4 to 11, the stretch where the schools are judged and perform at their best. They're all-inclusive, air-conditioned spaces with round-trip transfer included. Prices are for the Special Group nights, Sunday to Tuesday.
Camarote Camisa 10 — In Sector 8, with two floors and modern atmosphere. All inclusive with open bar and food. Prices from $480 (Sunday through Tuesday). Buy tickets at Ticketmaster.
Camarote Folia Tropical— Located in Sector 8, with 3 floors and accessible spaces. All inclusive service. Prices from $650 (Sunday through Tuesday). Buy tickets at Ticketmaster.
Camarote Verde e Rosa — Located in Sector 7, focusing in sophisticated spaces. All inclusive service with Prices from $1.000 (Sunday through Tuesday). Buy tickets at Ticketmaster.
Camarote Lounge Carioca — Located in Sector 7, in the middle of the avenue, with great views of the parade including a terrace lounge integrated. All inclusive service. Prices from $500 (Sunday through tuesday). Buy tickets at Ticketmaster.
Lounge Viradouro — Located in Sector 4, with a front terrace lounge. All inclusive service. Prices from $540 (Sunday through Tuesday). Buy tickets at Ticketmaster.
Where to stay during Rio Carnival 2027
Your neighborhood shapes your Carnival more than any other choice: it decides which blocos you can walk to, how noisy your nights are and how easy it is to get to the Sambadrome. During Carnival, Uber prices surge and some streets close, so being close to the metro matters more than ever.
For a full comparison of each area, with the pros and cons for Carnival week, read my guide on where to stay in Rio during Carnival.
How much does Rio Carnival 2027 cost?
Accommodation is the biggest expense, since prices rise sharply for Carnival week, followed by the Sambadrome if you go for a VIP box (camarote). The good news: the street blocos, which are most of Carnival, are free.
I break down every expense, from lodging to costumes, in my guide on how much Rio Carnival costs.
Tips for Rio Carnival week: safety and what to wear
Safety
The city prepares for millions of people, with dedicated police units, medical posts along bloco routes and controlled entry at the Sambadrome. The usual precautions still apply in crowds: a crossbody bag, your phone in a secure pocket, no expensive jewelry. My guide on what to expect at Rio Carnival explains what changes in the city during Carnival week, and if you're going alone, read my solo travel Carnival guide.
What to wear and bring
For blocos, light clothes and closed-toe shoes: flip-flops are a bad idea in dense crowds. Costumes are welcome but optional, and glitter is practically mandatory. My guide on what to wear to Carnival in Rio has outfit ideas, and my Rio packing list covers everything else for the trip.
What to book now for Rio Carnival 2027
Rio Carnival is one of the busiest weeks of the year for flights, hotels and attractions. In 2026, 8 million people joined the celebrations, including 310,000 international visitors, 18.5% more than the year before, and hotels reached a record 99% occupancy.
With Carnival just a few months away, these are the things to book first: accommodation, especially in areas with fewer hotels like Leblon, Ipanema and Flamengo; a VIP box at the Sambadrome, now that grandstand tickets are sold out; and popular attractions like Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, which book up fast during Carnival week.
Street blocos are the exception: they’re free, with no tickets required. Private parties, feijoadas and Carnival balls also tend to go on sale closer to the date. For when to book flights and how many days to stay, see my guide on what to expect at Rio Carnival.
🎭 First time at Rio Carnival?
If this is your first time, you're probably wondering about more than dates and tickets. Here's where to go next, from understanding Carnival itself to planning the rest of your trip
What to expect at Rio Carnival
What Carnival is really like, if it's your first time.
Where to stay in Rio during Carnival
The best neighborhoods for blocos, parades and getting around.
How much does Rio Carnival cost
A realistic budget for the whole trip.
Rio Carnival street blocos guide
How blocos work and which ones are worth your time.
Sambadrome first-timer's guide
Sectors, timing and getting there.
Carnival parties in Rio
Balls, feijoadas and private parties.
Rio Carnival solo travel
How to enjoy it on your own.
Pre-Carnival in Rio
Rehearsals and blocos in the weeks before, if you arrive early.
FAQ - Rio Carnival 2027
When is Rio Carnival 2027?
Rio Carnival 2027 runs from February 5 to 10, about two weeks earlier than usual, since Carnival dates follow Easter. The Special Group parades take place on February 7, 8 and 9, and the Champions' Parade closes the season on February 13. The blocos start weeks before, as my pre-Carnival guide shows.
What's the difference between the Sambadrome and the blocos?
The Sambadrome is the ticketed samba school competition, a show you watch from the stands. Blocos are free street parties where you're part of the show. Most first-timers do both, starting with my Sambadrome guide and my street blocos guide.
Do I need tickets for Rio Carnival?
Only for the Sambadrome and private parties; blocos are free and open to everyone. Grandstand tickets for 2027 sold out shortly after going on sale in August 2026, but camarotes are still available on Ticketmaster Brasil, which accepts international credit cards. For balls and feijoadas, see my guide to Carnival parties.
How much do Sambadrome tickets cost?
Grandstand tickets started at R$ 250 (~USD 50) and sold out fast. Camarotes start at around USD 480, usually with open bar, food and transportation included. The Sambadrome guide explains which sector fits your budget.
How much does a trip to Rio Carnival cost?
Accommodation is the biggest expense, since prices rise sharply for Carnival week. I break down every expense in how much Rio Carnival costs.
Where should I stay during Rio Carnival?
Your neighborhood decides which blocos you can walk to and how easy it is to reach the Sambadrome, so being close to the metro is key. Book as early as possible, because the best-located places go first. My Carnival where to stay guide compares each area.
Is Rio Carnival safe for tourists?
The city prepares for millions of people, with dedicated police units, medical posts along bloco routes and controlled entry at the Sambadrome. In crowds, use a crossbody bag and keep your phone in a secure pocket. See my Rio safety guide and, if you're traveling alone, my solo travel Carnival guide.
What should I wear to Rio Carnival?
For blocos, light clothes and closed-toe shoes, since flip-flops are a bad idea in dense crowds. For the Sambadrome, comfort still matters, as the parades run through the night. My guide on what to wear to Carnival in Rio has outfit ideas and what to bring from home.
Can I enjoy Rio Carnival without speaking Portuguese?
Yes. Blocos are self-explanatory: you show up and follow the music. Most hotels in Copacabana and Ipanema have English-speaking staff, and a few words go a long way: obrigado/obrigada (thank you), com licença (excuse me), onde fica o metrô? (where is the metro?).
Written by Karina
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Karina spent over a decade working in the tourism industry, with experience in some of the world's leading travel destinations. She created Going to Rio to bring that same standard of practical, traveler-first guidance to visitors exploring Rio de Janeiro. Learn more about Karina
Comfort first, glitter second. A local's guide to what to wear to Carnival in Rio, from street blocos to the Sambadrome, with outfit ideas for women and men and the costume pieces you can buy once you land.