Rio Carnival 2027 parade order

What is the parade order for Rio Carnival 2027?

Four Grupo Especial schools parade on each of Sunday 7, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 February 2027, in the order drawn in April 2026.

This is the order on Liesa's site. Each school has a set time on the avenue of a little over an hour, so the first school of the night and the last are hours apart.

Who parades on Sunday 7 February 2027?

União de Maricá, Beija-Flor, Paraíso do Tuiuti and Vila Isabel, in that order.

Sunday is a night with a story. União de Maricá won the 2026 Série Ouro and makes its first Grupo Especial parade. Beija-Flor finished second in 2026 by one tenth of a point, and Vila Isabel finished third, so two of last year's top three parade on the opening night.

Paraíso do Tuiuti sits between them. If you can only go once and want the new arrival plus two of the strongest schools, Sunday is a smart pick.

Who parades on Monday at the Sapucaí?

Mocidade, Unidos da Tijuca, Salgueiro and Imperatriz Leopoldinense parade on Monday 8 February 2027.

Monday has two of the 2026 top five. Salgueiro was fourth and Imperatriz fifth, and the two sit second and third in Liesa's all-time ranking since 1985. Mocidade opens the night and Unidos da Tijuca follows.

If you are in Rio before Carnival, watch Salgueiro rehearse in its own hall first, then see the same samba-enredo on the avenue. Few things make the parade mean more.

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Who parades on Tuesday 9 February 2027?

Portela, Viradouro, Grande Rio and Mangueira, in that order.

Tuesday is the heavyweight night. Viradouro parades as the champion, and Portela and Mangueira are two of the oldest and most loved schools in Rio. Grande Rio, the 2022 champion, sits between them. Mangueira closes the whole competition, which tends to make the end of the night emotional.

Expect Tuesday to be the busiest of the three nights. Book it early.

Why are there three nights of parades in Rio?

The twelve Grupo Especial schools are now spread over three nights, four a night, instead of six a night over two.

Spreading the twelve schools over Sunday, Monday and Tuesday means four parades a night, each a little over an hour on the avenue. The Série Ouro, the league below, parades on the Friday and Saturday before.

What time do the parades start in Rio?

The gates of the Sambódromo open at 7 PM. The parades run late into the night and end around dawn, with each school on the avenue for a little over an hour.

Liesa publishes the exact times close to Carnival. Plan for a long night. Eat before you go, bring water in a plastic bottle and decide early whether you will stay for all four schools. The avenue is 700 m long, and the Sambódromo holds about 90,000 people.

Getting home is the part people forget. The ticket with transfer runs hourly rides back to Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon from midnight to 4 AM, so you can leave after one school or after the last.

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Which night of the Rio parades should you choose?

Tuesday for the champion and the big traditional schools, Sunday for last year's runner-up and the newcomer, Monday for Salgueiro and Imperatriz.

The 2026 results are a fair guide to who has momentum. Viradouro won with 270.0 points, a tenth ahead of Beija-Flor, with a theme in honour of its drum master, Mestre Ciça. Our post on the 2026 results has the details.

When is the Champions' Parade 2027?

Saturday 13 February 2027, when the top six schools of the competition parade again.

The Champions' Parade, the Desfile das Campeãs, comes after the results, so it is pure celebration. The schools parade for the fun of it, the crowd knows the songs by then and the winners get a hero's welcome. It is a great night for anyone who reaches Rio after the competition.

The Série Ouro parades on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 February, and our Carnival 2027 dates post lists every night.

Frequently asked questions