Other Things To Consider

One of the highlights of Carnival is attending a street party. You can easily find one as there are literally hundreds of different parties that occur at practically every corner. Popular street parties include Monobloco, Banda de Ipanema and Imprensa Que Eu Gamo. You can come in costume or just in your street clothes.

The Street Parties

One event that brings some of the most famous people to Carnival from all over the world is the Magic Ball. It takes place at the Copacabana Palace Hotel. Attendees show of some fairly elaborate costumes and even get to walk a red carpet. For those that can't afford tickets to the Magic Ball there are other balls to attend during Carnival. The Scale Gay Ball is open to everyone. Here you will find some pretty outrageous costumes that are fairly risque in nature.This ball occurs on February 13th.

The Magic Ball

One of the biggest parts of Carnival is the competition among samba schools and is held at the Sambadrome. They each compete in front of judges in order to win the top spot. The winners are announced on Ash Wednesday. Groups practice all year in order to try to perfect their routines and beat out the competition.

The Samba Schools

Carnival officially starts on February 9th when the major gives the keys of the city over to King Momo. The king will then announce that Carnival celebrations have now begin. As soon as this happens, the area is instantly transformed to include dancing, music and parades.

The Official Start

Get ready! Rio Carnival 2018 will be occurring February 9-14th. This huge party transports the streets into a competition zone as groups compete for prizes. Will you be one of the million people heading to the event? You can find out a little bit more information about it below.

If you want to attend Carnival you will need to make your reservations early. You need to get your tickets for the events as soon as you can because they do sell out. Even after Carnival is over consider staying in Rio a few more days. There is so much to see including Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer Statue, Iguazu Falls and the Tijuca Forest. A small group city tour can help you see some of the highlights of the city, including many of the more popular landmarks.