As the vibrant Rio Carnival kicks off in full swing, the streets of Brazil come alive with revelers adorned in glitter and elaborate costumes. This annual festival, known for its exuberance and extravagance, provides a final hurrah of indulgence before the solemnity of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. The festivities, spanning five days from Friday through Tuesday, are a testament to Brazil’s rich cultural heritage and its penchant for celebration.

Rio de Janeiro, a city synonymous with Carnival, is the epicenter of this grand event. With an anticipated attendance of around six million people, it sets the stage for a dazzling array of street parties and colorful spectacles. Musicians, percussionists, and stilt-walkers captivate audiences, drawing crowds from all corners of the globe to bask in the South American sunshine.

While Rio might be the most iconic locale, the spirit of Carnival sweeps across the nation. From bustling metropolises to quaint towns, Brazilians everywhere embrace the joyful chaos, turning their streets into vibrant theaters of dance and music.

A major highlight for many during this festive period is the elaborate dance parades. Samba schools take center stage, showcasing their talents with mesmerizing performances on colossal floats. Dancers, clad in intricate and flamboyant costumes, move rhythmically through the night, embodying the essence of Brazil’s most beloved celebration.

But the festivity is a nationwide phenomenon, with merrymakers also turning out in full force in towns and cities across the country. 

The highlight of the event for many is the huge organised dance parades, which see samba schools dance the night away on enormous floats and in elaborate costumes. 

Hosted in Rio, Sao Paulo, Vitoria and Olinda, the acts, which performers prepare for months, are judged by a panel, who will eventually crown a winner. 

Locals and foreigners alike will flood to Rio’s famed Sambodrome, among other venues across the country, to catch the dance parades.

The annual five-day festival, which began on Friday and will last until Tuesday, marks a last gasp of excess for the Catholic country before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. Pictured: A samba school parade in Sao Paulo this week 

It is world famous for its raucous street parties and colourful displays, with musicians, percussionists and stilt artists drawing thousands out into the south American sun. Pictured: A samba school parade in Sao Paulo this week 

The celebrations in the city of Rio de Janeiro, which some six million are expected to attend this year, are the most well known – but the festivity is a nationwide phenomenon. Pictured: A samba school parade in Sao Paulo

The facility, which seats some 80,000 spectators, will form the centrepiece of the city’s festivities, with drums, cymbals and trumpets taking over the Rio soundscape. 

This year’s parades celebrate a range of themes, including sex workers, the late Brazilian singer-songwriter Rita Lee and Black communities in the Amazon. 

But beyond the staged performances, thousands of partygoers, many scantily clad and covered in glitter, are also making their own fun out on the streets. 

Crowds have gathered all over the country to soak up the sun and music before the sacrifices of Lent begin. 

One such reveller roaming the streets of the historic Santa Teresa neighborhood in Rio on Friday was Braulio Ferreira, a 48-year-old entrepreneur. 

He participated in the city’s iconic Carmelitas street party dressed as Jason Voorhees, a character from the Friday the 13th horror movie franchise.

‘It’s very nice and satisfying to see so many people happy from abroad, enjoying carnival with full-on happiness,’ Mr Ferreira said.

The carnival begins when the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, selects a so-called King Momo, who will preside over the festivities. 

Merrymakers have also been turning out in full force in other towns and cities across the country. Pictured: A samba school parade in Sao Paulo

The highlight of the festival for many is the huge organised dance parades (pictured, one such event in Sao Paulo)

These performances (pictured, one such event in Sao Paulo) see samba schools dance the night away on enormous floats and in elaborate costumes

Hosted in Rio, Sao Paulo, Vitoria and Olinda, the acts (pictured, a performance in Sao Paulo), which dancers prepare for months, are judged by a panel, who will eventually crown a winner

Locals and foreigners alike will flood to Rio’s famed Sambodrome, among other venues across the country, to catch the dance parades. Pictured: A samba school parade in Sao Paulo

This year’s parades (pictured, a performer in Sao Paulo) celebrate a range of themes, including sex workers, the late Brazilian singer-songwriter Rita Lee and Black communities in the Amazon

But beyond the staged performances, thousands of partygoers, many scantily clad and covered in glitter, are also making their own fun out on the streets. Pictured: The iconic Carmelitas street parade in Rio 

Crowds have gathered all over the country to soak up the sun and music before the sacrifices of Lent begin. Pictured: The Carmelitas street parade in Rio

The carnival begins when the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, selects a so-called King Momo, who will preside over the festivities. Pictured: The Carmelitas street parade in Rio 

He gives the symbolic monarch the key to the city, which ushers in his five-day ‘reign’ over the celebrations. Pictured: The Loucura Suburbana street parade in Rio 

In that time, Momo’s role, which symbolises society being turned upside down during carnival, is simply to participate in the parades and promote the joy of partygoers. Pictured: The official Carnival opening ceremony in Rio 

But not all is plain sailing, as in Rio, a recent wave of thefts by groups of young people acting at carnival events have raised serious concerns. Pictured: A samba parade in Sao Paulo

Many have called on both Mayor Paes and the city’s governor, Claudio Castro, to do more to guarantee revellers’ safety. Pictured: A samba parade in Sao Paulo

The public order department of Rio’s City Hall, along with the municipal police, have said a special patrol operation has been set up to alleviate worries in the community. Pictured: A samba parade in Sao Paulo

He gives the symbolic monarch the key to the city, which ushers in his five-day ‘reign’ over the celebrations.

In that time, Momo’s role, which symbolises society being turned upside down during carnival, is simply to participate in the parades and promote the joy of partygoers. 

This year’s Momo is 30-year-old Danilo Vieira, a Rio native, who said before his symbolic coronation: ‘The rules still apply, of course. 

‘We have to follow the rules of our city, our country, but Carnival is run by me.’

He continued: ‘Carnival is love, carnival heals. A kind of magic happens, bringing joy to every heart, to all races, to everyone.’ 

In 2024, Mayor Paes issued a decree making the ceremony crowning Momo an annual official event, enshrining it as a regular day in the city’s calendar.

But not all is plain sailing, as in Rio, a recent wave of thefts by groups of young people acting at carnival events have raised serious concerns.

Many have called on both Mayor Paes and the city’s governor, Claudio Castro, to do more to guarantee revellers’ safety.

Former local councillor Luciana Boiteux took to Instagram earlier this month to voice her fears – and demand better lighting and preventative community policing. 

‘Carnival is meant to be a time of joy, but what we’ve been seeing at the street parties in Rio, beyond the fun, is fear,’ she wrote. 

The public order department of Rio’s City Hall, along with the municipal police, have said a special patrol operation has been set up to alleviate worries in the community. 

Around 1,100 agents have been assembled to monitor the street parties from start to finish for any potential trouble.  

And teams specialising in violence against women will also be present at key locations to offer support and guidance.