Also, there are numerous private shuttle services offering transport between your hotel and the Sambadrome during carnival. If you aren’t staying near a subway or you don’t wish to take public transport, then you can easily take an official government taxi.

Public transport to the samba parades is always lively during carnival so it can be a lot of fun to join the hordes of people heading out. From the Copacabana/Ipanema area, where most tourists stay, you can take a subway and then a short walk. The Sambadrome is located in downtown Rio and there are several ways you can reach it. Musicians, dancers, float designers, fashion designers and choreographers spend a year creating an amazing ninety-minute mind blowing samba show. Samba Schools start preparing for the following year’s parade as soon as carnival is over for that year. The Samba Parades at Rio Carnival often feature strong cultural or political messages often taking aim at government corruption. The costumes, floats, dances and music are all meant to reflect that theme. Each Samba School has roughly 5000 members who parade slowly down the 700m length of the Sambadrome, singing, dancing, and drumming their hearts non-stop for ninety minutes with perfect precision, with the goal of being crowned The Best Samba School of 2019.Įach samba school portrays a different theme that’s influenced by their own traditions. The Grupo Especial features giant 20m floats, dazzling costumes and 60,000 performers. The Grupo Especial Samba Parades are held on the Sunday and Monday of Rio Carnival. They perform in the most extravagant 2-night spectacle, competing against each other from sunset to sunrise, in a performance so amazing it is broadcast to the world. They are the result of a years’ worth of hard work, dedication and passion! Visitors from all around the world fly to Rio to see the top 14 Samba Schools known as the Grupo Especial, or the Special Group. The Rio Samba parades are world famous and are known as the Greatest Show on Earth. The Special Group competes at the Sambadrome for the chance to be crowned the Best Samba School and receive cash prizes, nationwide fame and the adoration of the Brazilian people.įind out more: Your Guide to Rio Carnival Samba Parades – Greatest Show on Earth! The top league is called the Special Group and is made up of the 14 best and most creative samba schools. The 10 Best Places to Celebrate Carnival in Europe Each year all the samba schools compete because they want to move up to higher leagues or remain in the top league. Some samba schools are at the forefront of the samba scene and take the parades very seriously. The background and economic status of each of the schools varies widely. These Samba schools are large social groups with around 3000 – 5000 members. Each samba school has their own colors, flag and distinct costume styles. The Samba Schools are like football teams, each neighborhood has a samba school representing their neighborhood and they also have a loyal fan following. Rio de Janeiro is home to over 100 samba schools and they are the reason that Rio Carnival is so spectacular and unique. Rio Carnival Backstage Tour at Samba City with Cocktail (purchase tickets here).Rio de Janeiro Carnival 2023 Samba Tickets with Transportation (purchase your tickets here).Premium Rio Carnival Seating with Food, Drinks, & Transfer (purchase tickets here).Rio de Janeiro Carnival 2023 Samba School Parade Ticket (purchase tickets here).Rio Carnival Samba Parade Ticket Packages Samba is something that brings all Brazilians together, no not matter what your economic class is. Samba infiltrates all parts of Brazilian society, from the richest neighborhoods in Rio to the poorest favelas. Samba music and the Samba dance form evolved from the African slaves that brought their music, dance and rhythmic drumbeats from Africa.

It’s a contagious style of music that makes it impossible for the listener to resist standing still. Samba music is famous for its rhythmic beats and catchy rhythms. Anywhere you go in Rio, during carnival you will quickly discover that it is impossible to escape the catchy sounds of samba music. Samba is central to all the traditions seen during Rio Carnival. Samba music is the beating heart and soul of Rio Carnival and has been ever since it first appeared in the 1920s. Samba is a core part of Brazil’s cultural heritage and the Samba Parades reflect Brazil’s passion, culture and history. The Samba Parades held in the Sambadrome during Rio Carnival have consistently been called the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’! Watching the Rio Carnival Samba Parades is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Carnaval samba dancers