Carnival 2026 samba queens set Rio ablaze in jaw-dropping costumes: PHOTOS

Up next

Author

Share article

The post has been shared by 0 people.
Facebook 0
X (Twitter) 0
Pinterest 0
Mail 0

The vibrant spectacle of the Rio Carnival, a highlight of Brazil’s cultural festivities, took center stage on Carnival Sunday, February 15, 2026. This year, the iconic Sambadrome became a dazzling arena as samba schools showcased their creativity with stunning costumes and elaborate floats, each vying for glory in what is the festival’s most thrilling evening.

1 of 24


Dazzling Samba Queens Ignite Rio Carnival 2026 with Show-Stopping Costumes [PHOTOS]
A reveller from the Portela samba school performs. REUTERS

2 of 24


Dazzling Samba Queens Ignite Rio Carnival 2026 with Show-Stopping Costumes [PHOTOS]
Members of Academicos de Niteroi perform. Getty Images

3 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A reveller from the Portela samba school. AFP via Getty Images

4 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A reveller from the Academicos de Niteroi samba school. REUTERS

5 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A member of Estação Primeira de Mangueira. Getty Images

6 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
Members of Academicos de Niteroi perform. Getty Images

7 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A performer from the Portela samba school. AP

8 of 24


Dazzling Samba Queens Ignite Rio Carnival 2026 with Show-Stopping Costumes [PHOTOS]
A member of Estação Primeira de Mangueira performs. Getty Images

9 of 24


Dazzling Samba Queens Ignite Rio Carnival 2026 with Show-Stopping Costumes [PHOTOS]
A member of Estação Primeira de Mangueira performs. Getty Images

10 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A reveller of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school. AFP via Getty Images

11 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
Brazilian actress Adriane Galisteu performs. Getty Images

12 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A member of Portela flies on a drone. Getty Images

13 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
Drum Queen Vanessa Rangeli from the Academicos de Niteroi samba school. REUTERS

14 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A reveller from the Mangueira samba school. REUTERS

15 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A reveller from the Portela samba school. REUTERS

16 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A member of Portela performs. Getty Images

17 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A reveller from the Mangueira samba school. REUTERS

18 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A reveller from the Portela samba school. REUTERS

19 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A reveller of the Mangueira samba school. AFP via Getty Images

20 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A member of Imperatriz Leopoldinense performs. Getty Images

21 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
A member of Estação Primeira de Mangueira. Getty Images

22 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
Members of Portela perform. Getty Images

23 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
Members of Portela perform. Getty Images

24 of 24


The Rio Carnival, the crown jewel of Brazil’s cultural calendar, exploded into full spectacle on Carnival Sunday, February 16, 2026. Held at the famed Sambadrome, samba schools paraded in dazzling costumes and towering floats, competing in the celebration’s most anticipated and electrifying night.
Members of Portela perform. Getty Images

You May Also Like

Retired NYPD inspector, Marine vet known as 'American hero,' dies at 79

Retired NYPD Inspector and Marine Veteran Hailed as ‘American Hero’ Dies at 79

Retired NYPD Inspector Charles Wells, hailed as an “American hero,” has died…
Off-duty firefighter rescues victims in fiery Mission Viejo salon crash

Off-Duty Firefighter Rescues Victims After Fiery Mission Viejo Salon Crash

An off-duty California fire captain rushed into a burning nail salon Wednesday…
Iowa Democrat Eric Armstrong wins state House race despite dropping out in September

Iowa Democrat Eric Armstrong Wins State House Race Despite Withdrawing in September

Democrats appear to have found a way to win—even after leaving the…
Roseland Community Hospital files for bankruptcy days after closing maternity ward on Chicago's South Side

Roseland Community Hospital Files for Bankruptcy After Closing Chicago Maternity Ward

CHICAGO — Roseland Community Hospital has filed for bankruptcy, but hospital officials…
North Carolina Dem LaKesha Womack has court appearance for car theft — after midterm win

NC Democrat LaKesha Womack Appears in Court on Car Theft After Win

North Carolina Democrat LaKesha Womack, who pulled off a surprise victory in…
Marine veteran working security hailed as hero after stopping active shooter at Florida Citibank campus

Marine Veteran Security Guard Stops Active Shooter at Florida Citibank

Newly released body camera video shows deputies escorting employees from a Citibank…
Indiana murderer Jeffrey Weisheit executed for 2010 double killing first of three scheduled in US

Indiana Killer Jeffrey Weisheit Executed in First of Three US Cases

Indiana executed a man early Thursday who admitted setting the fire that…
Video shows high-altitude rescue of hiker who fell hundreds of feet down Utah's Mount Timpanogos

Video Shows Dramatic High-Altitude Rescue of Hiker Who Fell Hundreds of Feet on Utah’s Mount Timpanogos

Utah officials have released striking video of a high-altitude rescue involving a…
Stocks crater as investors recoil from tech companies amid AI risks

Stocks Slide as Investors Flee Tech Shares Over AI Risk Fears

U.S. stocks plunged Thursday as investors weighed concerns that a shift in…
17 years after Fort Hood massacre, victims' families grapple with gunman's looming execution

17 Years After Fort Hood Massacre, Families Face Gunman’s Execution

U.S. Army soldiers salute their fallen comrades during the III Corps and…
Protests erupt across France after left-wing groups call for mobilization

Protests Sweep France After Left-Wing Groups Call for Mobilization

US warns Americans in France as nationwide protests intensify Fox News foreign…
Indiana, Florida and Alabama carry out rare US triple execution day

Indiana, Florida and Alabama Conduct Rare Triple Execution Day

Indiana, Florida and Alabama each carried out an execution Thursday, marking the…