Brazilian Carnival. The Greatest Show on Earth. The biggest event of the Brazilian cultural calendar each year is a feast for the senses and truly has to be seen to be believed. Whether you’re a younger reveller looking for the best party imaginable, or travelling with your family, Carnival is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives.
But Brazil is a massive country, and there's an overwhelming choice available depending on the vibe you’re after, so we’re here to tell you all the essentials. Tudo bem!
What is Carnival?
Carnival in Brazil is an annual celebration held before Lent, marking a time of freedom, music, and cultural expression. It’s rooted in European traditions; indeed you’ll find big Carnival celebrations in places like Cologne and Tenerife, right down to traditional, local offerings in small towns across Flanders. But Brazil has taken the concept and blended with Afro-Brazilian influences, it’s now evolved into one of the world’s most famous festivals, with cities like Rio de Janeiro and Salvador being particularly renowned for their extravagance. At its heart, Carnival is about community, creativity, and celebration (and caipirinhas), making it a must-see event for anyone seeking a cultural adventure, or to get swept up in the Samba rhythm.
When is Carnival?
Carnival takes place every year in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday. In 2025, the official dates for Carnival are from Friday, February 28th, to Tuesday, March 4th. However, preparations and festivities usually begin weeks earlier and continue in some places well beyond the official end. If you’re travelling to Brazil to party, you’re in luck. The Rio celebrations begin weeks in advance of the official dates, and you’ll sniff out plenty of block parties raging on long after the festival has closed!
What are the exact dates for 2025?
The official dates of Carnival change every year according to the date of Easter Sunday in the Catholic calendar, so the dates for specific events in different cities will vary.
Rio de Janeiro holds the largest Carnival celebrationWhile most smaller cities and towns across the country will host more intimate and traditional celebrations, here are the key dates for the major Carnival hotspots in 2025:
Rio de Janeiro: February 28th – March 4th (main Sambadrome parades on March 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Endless options for block parties and neighbourhood mini-parades..).
Salvador: February 27th – March 5th (famous even in Brazil for its strong Afro-Brazilian influences and trio elétrico street parties and infamous boombox trucks blasting Brazilian funk all night long).
Recife and Olinda: February 28th – March 4th (with the famous Galo da Madrugada parade on March 1st).
São Paulo: February 28th – March 3rd (featuring its own spectacular samba school parades. Expect a similar vibe to Rio, but with a modern twist reflecting the megacity’s diversity).
Special Mention: Salvador de Bahia
While this blog will mostly focus on Rio, as it’s the most visited place in Brazil and where most tourists will flock to, we wanted to give a special shout-out to Salvador for an unforgettable Carnival experience. If you’re more interested in brushing shoulders with locals (and Brazilian tourists) than fellow ‘gringos’, we strongly advise you to head a bit further north to the Bahia region and put Salvador on your itinerary. Ask any Brazilian and they’ll tell you Salvador is the one.
While Rio can’t be beaten for spectacle with its huge and meticulously choreographed samba parades, Salvador instead focuses on creating an energetic, spontaneous atmosphere and the world’s biggest street party, with mobile stages, and hundreds of thousands of revellers dancing behind to the funk rhythm. And with its distinct and vibrant Afro-Brazilian flavour stemming from the city’s pre-colonial history, it makes for an experience you can’t get anywhere else - even in Brazil. We’ve never danced (and sweated) so much or had so much fun. You’ll wake up the next day with a sore head and even sorer hips, but after a dip in the sea at one of Salvador’s stunning beaches, you’re ready to do it all over again.
Salvador is a 2-hour flight north-east of RioRio’s Carnival can be overwhelming and sometimes it can seem there’s almost too much choice for parades and block parties. Comparatively, Salvador's offering, while still chaotic (2.5 million people visit for the festivities each year), is an organised kind of chaos. There’s three primary Carnival circuits, so you simply pick one each night and follow the funk.
It’s also worth noting that Salvador de Bahia has one of the most beautiful historic centres in South America, with cobbled streets and stunning colonial-style architecture.
Salvador, BahiaIt’s in the Old Town where the more family-style festivities of Carnival take place. Expect to see smaller, more relaxed blocos throughout the route and Afro-drumming collectives like the world famous band, Olodum.
Rio de Janeiro
No trip to Brazil is complete without a visit to the so-called Cidade Maravilhosa, or Marvelous City. With its stunning, surrounding natural landscape of mountains, beaches and lush forest, and iconic landmarks like the Sugarloaf mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Sambadrome parades in RioWith its sweltering heat and unmatched energy, there’s no better time to visit Rio than during Carnival. And there’s options for everyone: from cheap street blocos to luxury camarotes in Apoteose, backed up by a great public transport system and infrastructure. The city is huge and there’s an unlimited number of things to do during the festival, but if you need a breather, there’s plenty of cultural delights on offer too, so you can step away from the madness for a breather.
What to expect
Preparation is key to making the most of your Rio Carnival experience. Book your accommodation and flights early, as demand is incredibly high during this time and prices spike for everything. Budget travellers should be aware, too, that even a hostel bed can cost £90 for a night during Carnival! If you plan to attend the Sambadrome parades, secure your tickets well in advance to avoid disappointment. A lot of the more famous blocos (neighbourhood block parties) like Copacabana and Ipanema are ticketed events too, but you don’t have to be quite so organised with these, and can usually pick up tickets a day or two in advance.
If you're flying into Brazil for Carnival, it's good idea to download an eSIM to have affordable mobile data available to you. It makes it easier to stay connected with friends and manage plans on the go. Don't rely on WiFi because it's not always easy to find. And worrying about roaming charges just isn't worth it.
The Atmosphere
Expect a city that never sleeps with the streets abuzz with excitement, music, and dancing from morning until late into the night. As you wake early in your hotel each morning to the sounds of crowds, trumpets and drums, you’ll ask yourself how Brazilians do it, day after day, year after year. Everywhere you go, you’ll find people in colourful costumes, laughter, and a shared spirit of celebration and non-stop party.
The Music
It goes without saying that Samba is the heartbeat of Carnival. Its infectious rhythm fills the air at all times beckoning you to test out those samba moves. Just remember, it's all in the hips. But you’ll definitely hear plenty of Brazilian Funk (also known as favela funk) around too, a hip-hop influenced genre rarely heard outside the country. If you need a night of respite, seek out one of Rio’s many bossa nova bars.
Check out this Spotify playlist — the music of Carnival.
The People
Carnival is a celebration for everyone and a time for freedom where anything goes. Locals and tourists alike come together, united by the joy of the event. Don’t be offended if someone says, ‘Hey, Gringo!’. In Brazil, unlike other parts of Latin America, it's always a term of endearment, and literally everyone from outside of Brazil is a gringo, even other South Americans. Brazilians are known for their warmth and hospitality and are naturally curious, so don’t be surprised if you’re invited to join a dance or share a drink.
The Food
The streets are lined with vendors selling traditional Brazilian snacks, as well as typical fast food fare to keep you energised.
Feijoada
Don’t miss out on trying feijoada (a hearty black bean stew) and pastels (crispy pastries filled with meat or cheese, similar to empanadas). We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the famous Brazilian barbecue and mountains of meat loved by locals. Just remember to pace yourself and embrace the meat sweats.
The Drink
Keep cool with a refreshing caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail made with cachaça, lime, sugar, and ice. Or for non-alcoholic options, try fresh coconut water or tropical fruit juices. Even when you’re in the middle of the crowd, you’re never far from a drink top up, with heroic sellers making their way through the throngs with their iconic polystyrene coolers stocked full of Brahma, Brazil’s national beer. The best part? Every seller in Brazil takes cards, so you won’t have to fumble for change or make currency calculations in the middle of the madness.
The Parades
It would be a shame to visit Rio during Carnival and not experience the magic of the parades held in Rio’s Sambadrome, which sees all the city's Samba schools battle it out with an extravagant display of floats, costumes and dance moves. Take our advice and book early, this kaleidoscope of sounds and colours has to be seen to be believed.
During and afterwards
Be sure to pace yourself throughout the festivities, and check off important sites like the beautiful Sugarloaf mountain (you can hike up if you’re feeling adventurous) and the iconic symbol of Rio, Christ the Redeemer, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Sugarloaf mountainStrut your stuff on the breathtakingly beautiful Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, or take the famous, and somewhat rickety bonde tram up to the Santa Teresa neighbourhood; this haven for Rio’s artistic elite now boasts impressive street art and quirky boutiques. Elsewhere, there’s no shortage of fantastic museums to visit, like the Museu do Amanhã, Museum of Tomorrow, which is worth a look for its architecture alone, while football fanatics will want to worship at the world famous Maracanã stadium.
Copacabana BeachWhen you’ve finally had your fill of the Marvelous City, unwind and explore island life with a visit to Ilha Grande. A favourite getaway of Rio’s upper crust, it offers pristine beaches, lush rainforests and plenty of great hiking. There’s no cars allowed on the island, giving this paradise a classic slower pace of life.
You can also pay a relaxed visit to the gorgeous colonial city, Paraty, nearby, for a glimpse into Brazil’s rich and dark history of slave trading, as well as waterfall excursions and cachaça distillery tours.
We highly recommend both spots, and they’re both within Rio de Janeiro state, so you won’t have to venture too far from Rio.
A luxury in this massive country.
- Cathal Prendergast is a freelance travel writer from Ireland.
.jpg)